FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas Head Coach Steve Morrow today announced his coaching staff for the upcoming 2007 MLS season. Morrow, who became the fourth head coach in FCD history on Dec. 11, will be assisted by Oscar Pareja, Marco Ferruzzi and new goalkeeper coach Jeff Cassar.
"Both Oscar and Marco have shown the pedigree to be excellent coaches in this league and I fully believe that Jeff is capable of becoming the very same," Morrow said. "I have a superb working relationship with all three of these talented individuals and value their input on all coaching matters. I am very pleased with the staff that we have been able to put together here and expect that all three coaches will play a major part in the future success of this club."
Pareja, who is in his second season as an assistant with FC Dallas, will serve as Morrow's top assistant. The 38-year old former Colombian International played eight seasons in MLS, appearing in 189 games from 1998-2005 with all but 13 of those coming in a Dallas uniform. Prior to joining MLS with the New England Revolution in 98, he played for Deportivo Cali in Colombia, leading them to the Colombian Championship in 1996.
Marco Ferruzzi also returns for his third season as an FCD assistant. Ferruzzi will be in charge of the FC Dallas Reserve Team and be involved with the club's youth programs, in addition to his coaching role with the first team. The 36-year old former University of North Carolina star joined the Dallas staff in 2004 after a seven-year playing career that saw him play for the Tampa Bay Mutiny of MLS and the A-League's Richmond Kickers and Minnesota Thunder.
Jeff Cassar becomes the newest member of the 2007 coaching staff, joining as the goalkeeper coach. Cassar, who finished his 10th MLS season in 2006, was selected by Dallas with the 8th overall pick in the inaugural 1996 MLS College Draft. After missing the 1997 season with an injury, Cassar was selected by Miami in the 1998 MLS Expansion Draft and played the next four seasons with the club. He was re-acquired by Dallas in 2002 in the MLS Dispersal Draft, but spent time in England with Ipswich Town and Bolton Wanderers before returning to Dallas in the summer of 2003. The 32-year old Michigan-native has played in 79 career regular season and five playoff games for Dallas and Miami FC. However, injuries hampered Cassar over the past two seasons, limiting him to just five regular season appearances for FC Dallas.
With the addition of Cassar to the coaching staff, the club has elected to no longer retain the services of Alan Knight. Knight came to Dallas prior to the start of the 2006 season and served as the team's Goalkeeping Coach for one season before returning to his native England in November.
FC Dallas will open the 2007 season on the road on Saturday, April 7 against Real Salt Lake at 5 p.m. (CT).
