Match and Studio Analyst
Giovanni Savarese is a Spanish‑language match and studio analyst for MLS on Apple TV. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Savarese brings a uniquely global perspective shaped by a successful career spanning more than two decades as a player, coach, sporting director, and broadcaster.
An original MLS standout, Savarese was selected ninth overall by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in the inaugural 1996 MLS Draft and scored the first goal in club history that April. Over his 20‑year playing career (1986–2005), he competed in MLS, the Venezuelan Primera División, the English Championship and League One, Serie C in Italy, and the USL. He earned 30 caps and scored 10 goals for the Venezuelan national team, including three in World Cup qualifiers.
Savarese transitioned into coaching and player development in 2005, first leading the MetroStars/New York Red Bulls youth programs. He then served as head coach and sporting director of the New York Cosmos from 2012–17, guiding the club to three regular season titles and three NASL Soccer Bowl championships. As head coach of the Portland Timbers from 2018–2023, he led the team to two Western Conference titles, MLS Cup runner‑up finishes in 2018 and 2021, and the MLS is Back Tournament title in 2020. Fluent in Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and English, Savarese also spent more than a decade as a broadcaster with ESPN’s MLS coverage (2006–17).