Marcelo Augusto Silva Serrano, known as Marcelo Serrano, is a Brazilian former professional association footballer and currently the head coach of Austin Bold FC and head coach and general manager of the U.S. Virgin Islands men’s senior national team.
Education and playing career
Born in Nova Lima, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Marcelo Serrano played professionally for Venda Nova Futebol Clube from 1998–99, then signed with Villa Nova Atlético Clube for the 1999–2000 season. Serrano is currently an instructor for the Brazilian FA “A” coaching license and has been a speaker for the “Pro” coaching license.
Coaching career
Brazilian Football Confederation
Serrano began his coaching career in 2011 with the Brazilian Youth National Team, serving as the technical supervisor and assistant coach for the U-15, U-17 and U-20 teams. That year the U-15 team won the 2011 South American U-15 Championship in Uruguay and the South America Cup in Venezuela, while the U-20 team captured the Mediterranean Cup championship in Spain. The following year, he helped guide the U-20 squad to a championship in the 2012 Cape Town International Challenge, also known as the EightNations Cup in South Africa. In 2013, the U-17 team captured the Mediterranean Cup.
Brazil Premier League (Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Campeonato Brasileiro Série B)
From 2012–2015, Serrano operated as a technical director, assistant coach and interim head coach for three professional teams in Brazil, reaching the final state tournament in all four seasons and capturing three state championships. Serrano was named the technical director and assistant coach for Joinville Esporte Clube of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2012, occasionally serving as the interim head coach of the squad that would win the Copa Santa Catarina championship. The following year, Serrano joined Coritiba Foot Ball Club as the technical director, first assistant head coach and interim head coach, winning a second straight state championship. Serrano won a third straight state championship in 2014 as a first assistant head coach with Esporte Clube Bahia, then returned to Coritiba FC in 2015 as a first assistant head coach and served as the interim head coach, reaching a fourth straight state final.
In 2016, Serrano joined the US Soccer Federation’s staff as an assistant coach with the U-17 men’s national team. During his time with US Soccer, the U-17 team qualified for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup with a runner-up result at the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. With Serrano on staff, the US U-17 squad won tournament championships at the Nike International Friendlies in Florida and the Montaigu Tournament in France, while also playing in the Final of the Aegean Cup in Turkey and the AIFF Youth Cup in India. While serving as the head coach for the 2016 IMG Super Cup, Serrano guided the team to a third-place result in the tournament, losing to champion Tottenham FC.
After a successful run with the USMNT, Serrano was hired in 2017 as the head coach and general manager of the U.S. Virgin Islands men's senior national team ahead of World Cup qualifiers, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and the CONCACAF Nations Cup.
Austin Bold FC
Seranno was introduced as the first head coach in Austin Bold FC history on 3 August 2018. He is currently coach of Austin Bold as well as the US Vrigin Islands national soccer team.
