Flávio Ferri

Youth

The son of lower division Brazilian footballer, Ferri spent his early youth in Brazil. His family moved to Matawan, New Jersey before settling in Miami, Florida. Flavio attended the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas where he enjoyed a stellar college career in which he received several accolades including: three-time All Conference selection, three-time All District selection, three-time All Region honors, two- time Conference MVP, and two- time All American. Flavio was a 1992 NAIA third team and 1994 NAIA first team All American soccer player.

Professional

In 1993, he began his professional career with the San Antonio Pumas of the USISL. In 1995, he led the USISL with 29 goals in 19 games, and was voted to the All-Star team where he earned game’s Most Valuable Player Award. In February 1996, the Tampa Bay Mutiny selected Ferri in the 10th round (97th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. On March 26, 1996, the Mutiny waived Ferri before he had played a game. He began the 1996 season with the Austin Lone Stars before moving to the Long Island Rough Riders. He spent the 1997 season with Long Island and reached the National Semifinals each year. Flavio then spent the 1998 season with the Staten Island Vipers. In 1999, he played for the New York Freedom in the Premier Development League. He then trained for six months with the UNAM Pumas in Mexico before retiring.

Coaching

Following his retirement from playing, Ferri moved back to New York where he became a youth coach for the Blau-Weiss Gottschee club. In 1999, Flavio joined Globall Soccer Concepts where he helped develop one of the premier level soccer training organizations, training more than 70 travel soccer teams on Long Island. At Globall, Flavio helped manage a training staff over 30 instructors who primarily were recruited from oversees. Apart from designing curriculums for intramural based clinics to advanced travel team sessions, Flavio also trained and coached high level travel teams, including one of the best known boy’s teams in the East Meadow Soccer Club, the East Meadow Falcons. In 2006, Flavio took over the coaching and management responsibilities of the Long Island Rough Riders professional men’s team that played in the 2nd division league in the United Soccer Leagues. During his professional coaching tenure with the Rough Riders, Flavio helped restructure the men’s soccer franchise while helping players with their professional careers, including but not limited to Ruben Diaz (Puerto Rico Islanders USL 1), Rob Fucci (Crystal Palace Baltimore USL 2nd Division), Christopher Megaloudis (Red Bulls, MLS) Michael Grella (Leeds United, England 2nd Division) and Paul Robson (Crystal Palace, England 2nd Division). . He is currently the vice president and general manager of the Rough Riders.