Orlando City SC have named Marcelo Neveleff as academy director, the club announced Wednesday.
Neveleff, 55, most recently was an assistant coach with the New England Revolution since 2017. He also worked with U.S. Soccer as both a technical advisor for the Boys’ Development Academy and as an assistant for the U-20 Men’s National Team. In 2017, he was part of a staff that helped lead the U-20s to win the Concacaf U-20 Championship.
“Marcelo is a very experienced professional – as a coach, as an academy director, as a scout," executive vice president of soccer operations Luiz Muzzi said in a club statement. "He lived in Florida for a long time, he was an academy director for Weston, so he knows the Florida landscape, he knows the players here. He brings a different culture, as well, and he’s been involved in the development of players in the United States for a long time. I think Marcelo is a great fit, he’s a guy that has a lot of talent and emotions and is very excited to be here. It couldn’t be a better fit.”
Neveleff has extensive experience in Florida, where he was technical director of Weston FC, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy club. He was also head coach of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in NASL in 2015. In 2009, he was an assistant coach for Miami FC.
“I am very happy to join Orlando City SC," Neveleff said. "First of all, I would like to thank club management for trusting me to lead such an important part of the organization. I believe the Academy is a vital pillar for the future success of Orlando City SC as an organization and for the MLS as a growing league.
"The players we are responsible for developing will lay the foundation and help us achieve our vision to create a first team with impactful Homegrown Players that are not just great soccer players, but also great human beings.”
