Neveleff's Dream Comes True Entering First Season As Strikers Head Coach

By Matthew Levine

Marcelo Neveleff has coached in Bolivia, in  the Copa Libertadores, and some of the best youth players in South Florida with Weston FC.  

However, his dream has finally come true as he embarks on his first season as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers head coach.

"The NASL is a league with a lot of history. To be a part of it, it makes me feel very, very proud. It makes my family and friends very proud. I am where I wanted to be for many years so I’m very, very happy," Neveleff told NASL.com.

"This season, to me, is going to be different than anything else. First of all, it’s a dream come true to work in this league and second of all, to coach the professional team in my area is always what I wanted to do."

The Strikers finished last season as runners-up after a 2-1 loss to the San Antonio Scorpions at Toyota Field in the NASL Championship Final. While acknowledging the road back to the final will not be an easy one, it’s a challenge the head coach isn’t backing down from.

"Last year the Strikers got to the final. It will be hard to achieve the same thing, but that’s the challenge. That’s what we’re looking forward to," he said.

Adding, "When you have an opportunity, you either take it or go in a different direction. We’re putting this team together, and I think we’re going to be a contender."

Neveleff noted that all of his previous coaching stops have helped him grow as he takes the helm of the Strikers. His most notable stint was guiding Club Jorge Wilstermann in the Copa Libertadores.

As one of the most prestigious tournaments in South America, Neveleff feels coaching in the NASL will be a very similar experience.

"When you play in Copa Libertadores, you play against a lot of international teams but players from all over the continent. I think this league, the NASL, is kind of the same thing. You have all the teams you play from Canada and the U.S. with all of the international players that the teams are signing," he said.

Having an extensive background in youth development, Fort Lauderdale’s head coach will  look to integrate young talent. Neveleff has also aided in the development of players that he will now be caoching,  such as Aly Alberto Hassan, who he coached at Bolivian club Aurora as well.

"South Florida has a lot of talented players," Nevelff said. He continued, "Hopefully at some point throughout the year we will be able to bring in some of the young talents around here."

Along with Neveleff, the Strikers will have several new faces in the playing squad. Needing the players to gel ahead of the 2015 season, he will do so by, "painting a nice picture in their head, showing them what being on the Strikers is all about, and showing them the Strikers history."

If Neveleff is successful in doing so, he may just be able to bring the Strikers back to the NASL Championship Final.

To get there and win, it would only further add to the dreams coming true.

"What’s better than to get to the final and to hopefully win it?" Neveleff added.