Giovanni Savarese is a well-known name in the soccer world. He is a professional soccer coach currently serving as the head coach of Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers. It has been many years since Giovanni started coaching, and he has already succeeded on the soccer field.
One of Giovanni Savarese’s facts is that the coach used to play as a forward. Since his fantastic spell in MLS, people have been interested to learn about the coach’s personal life and professional career. So, here we present you with seven interesting facts about the renowned coach.
7. Born To Italian Parents
The coach was born to Italian parents Gina Savarese and Carlo Savarese on July 14, 1971, in Caracas, Venezuela. Giovanni Savarese’s parents were originally from Italy and raised him in Venezuela. Sadly, his father, Carlo, passed away in 2019. Furthermore, when he was 18, the family relocated to Italy, where he attended school and played for a club team. However, Savarese, who friends and family nicknamed Gianni, wasn’t prepared to settle down.
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Savarese believed that further soccer possibilities must be available for him outside Italy, and he needed to seize them. Therefore, he started outlining his travel plans to the United States to his father. His mom believed they should let Giovanni try it, even if his father felt he was crazy.
6. Made His Professional Debut At 15
Giovanni earned his professional soccer debut at the age of 15 with Deportivo Italia of Venezuela in 1986. He stayed with the team through the 1988–89 campaign, contributing six goals. There, he was a striker, and the team frequently arrived home late at night after long road trips. Yet, his dad constantly came to pick him up, take him home, and then drop him off at school every day.
As mentioned earlier, the coach felt there were other opportunities outside of Italy that he needed to seize. The United States came to his radar when Cheche Vidal, a Boston University alum, had taken him under his wing. Out of the blue, Vidal asked him if he had ever thought of going to America to get a scholarship.
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5. Move To the United States At A Young Age
A year after Vidal’s question, Savarese thought about going to the USA for a scholarship, and he finally convinced his dad. After reaching the USA, Savarese visited Boston University and Long Island University in Brooklyn. While both colleges provided him with scholarships, he accepted the one from the latter.
After that, Giovanni prepared for his arrival in the USA by doing well on the SATs. And in 1990, he arrived in the States and joined the illustrious amateur team Greek-American Atlas while attending Long Island University Brooklyn to play collegiate soccer. He became one of LIU’s highest scorers in school history, netting 50 goals.
After graduating from college, Savarese joined the USISL’s Long Island Rough Riders, winning the league title and being voted league MVP in 1995. Another MLS soccer coach, Jim Curtin, played for most of his soccer career with the Chicago Fire.
4. Professional Soccer Career
Giovanni Savarese was picked by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in the ninth round of the 1996 Major League Soccer Inaugural Player Draft. Savarese played the 1999 MLS season with the New England Revolution after his three seasons with the MetroStars. With the Revolution, he played 27 games and netted 10 goals.
The Venezuelan signed with Serie A team Perugia and was loaned to A.S. Viterbese in 2000. In the 2000 MLS season, he returned stateside as a mid-season signing for the San Jose Earthquakes. After a brief stint there, he joined Swansea City, netting 14 goals. In 2001, he signed with Millwall F.C. and concluded his playing career with the Long Island Rough Riders in 2004. With the latter team, he netted 5 goals in 10 appearances.
3. Fired From Managerial Position After 2 Years Of Serving
After ending his professional career, Giovanni Savarese returned to MetroStars as the director of the club’s effective youth development program in 2005. He remained in his post throughout the change in Red Bull ownership before being fired in March 2007 due to a philosophical conflict with the new management. Then, Savarese arrived at the New York Cosmos in August 2010 as the Cosmos Academy director.
Savarese was promoted to head coach in the New York Cosmos on November 19, 2012. However, after serving there for a long time, the South American coach departed from the club on December 13, 2017. The Cosmos announced that Giovanni would depart the team to seek other coaching options. In December 2017, he joined the Portland Timbers as their third head coach in their MLS history.
2. Giovanni Savarese’s Facts About Scoring Against Argentina
Giovanni Savarese was a dedicated player for his country who earned 30 caps for Venezuela. Nevertheless, he was a prolific forward who scored ten goals throughout his international career, three of which came in a World Cup qualifier.
Savarese’s most memorable goal came in 1996 against continental rival Argentina. The player received enormous praise for scoring a spectacular finish against one of the greatest soccer teams in history.
1. Father Of Two
Giovanni Savarese has been married to his wife, Michelle Savarese, for quite a long time. The couple has been blessed with two adorable daughters, Valentina Savarese, 16, and Alessandra Savarese, 12. The family is now set to start a new journey in Rose City.
The 52-year-old has also served as a soccer analyst for ESPN Deportes and ESPN International. The South American coach and his family currently live comfortable lifestyles. With his long record as a player and coach, Giovanni Savarese’s facts are pretty fascinating, and we wish him the best of luck in the future.
