NPSL Team

Head Coach

Lucio Russo

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The Brooklyn Italians have named Lucio Russo head coach for the National Premier Soccer League team. The former New York Greek American Atlas and Jersey Express coach is no stranger to the Brooklyn Italians family -- he was a starting player on the club’s 1991 US Open Cup Championship team.

The Italy-born Russo takes over for Tony Noto, who was 7-1-2 last season and guided the team to the NPSL Conference Finals, where they lost 1-0 to the Erie Admirals. A keen judge of soccer talent with a winning mentality, he guided New York Greek American Atlas for 12 years, winning three Cosmopolitan League titles and many state titles and regional championships.

Atlas General Manager George Mellis said, “we had twelve great years with Lucio, we won all there is to win in local soccer, players respect him.” 

The 48-year-old also was the assistant coach for the Jersey Express of the PDL for the past two seasons, and is a member of both the Xavarian High School and St. Francis College Halls of Fame.

Brooklyn Italians President Jerry Valerio said, “I watched Lucio grow up as a player, he was a very gifted and hard working midfielder, he always wanted to win.

"Lucio is the best coach for the Brooklyn Italians and certainly one of the best coaches in the history of soccer in New York," said Valerio. "We have always felt that the Brooklyn Italians should aspire to be the club that sets the pace and tone in New York and the National Premier Soccer League. I believe Lucio sees it the same way and will put us back in that position."

The Brooklyn Italians had been interested in Russo for a while, but his loyalty to the Greek Americans made the move difficult "This is indeed a big score for our organization," Valerio said. "We could have been satisfied with a number of candidates, but ultimately we feel like we got it dead right, like 100 percent."