SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC announced on Wednesday that the club had appointed Marco Ferruzzi as its Sporting Director.

Ferruzzi joins SAFC after spending the past 19-plus years in multiple roles with FC Dallas, most recently as Director of Methodology, where he was responsible for establishing a development program that was used for the youth and academy programs for North Texas SC and the FC Dallas First Team. He also oversaw the implementation of cohesive staff training and education philosophies for coaches throughout the organization. Additionally, Ferruzzi served as FC Dallas’ 2023 chief soccer officer for the MLS Player Education Focus Group/Cultural Awareness.

A San Antonio native, Ferruzzi has led FC Dallas’ draft strategy and preparation for the MLS SuperDraft since 2011. Midway through the 2021 season he took over as FC Dallas’ interim head coach leading the club for the final eight games. Prior to that, he served as the club’s director of soccer operations, a role he held since January 2019. Ferruzzi also stepped in as interim head coach during the 2008 season leading the club to a 2-2-1 record. He originally joined FC Dallas as an assistant coach in 2004. In 14 seasons as an assistant, FC Dallas compiled a regular season record of 186-147-123 in MLS play.

“Returning to San Antonio where I was born, raised, began my soccer career and started my family is a special moment,” said Ferruzzi. “Working for SAFC, a champion club and organization, is a great opportunity. I look forward to advancing the high standard that the club has established and building on the success that the USL continues to achieve.”

Ferruzzi holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” coaching license. He served as a reserve team, pre-academy and premier team coach at the FC Dallas youth level. In 2012, Ferruzzi coached the FC Dallas Reserves, leading the team to a 6-3-1 record where it finished in second place of the MLS Reserve League’s Central/Mountain Division.

A graduate of San Antonio Keystone High School, Ferruzzi played collegiate soccer at the University of North Carolina from 1989 to 1992. In 1990, he spent the collegiate offseason with the San Antonio Generals. In 1993, he turned professional when he signed with the San Antonio Pumas of the USISL where he spent two seasons.

Ferruzzi was later selected sixth overall in the 1997 MLS Supplemental Draft by the Tampa Bay Mutiny, where he had two assists in 19 games. He also played four seasons with the Richmond Kickers (1999-2002) and two seasons with the Minnesota Thunder (2003-2004). In six seasons, Ferruzzi captained both sides to the USL A-League final.