MLS 30 YEARS: Carlos Alberto Parreira, a World Cup Champion coaching in MLS | OneFootball

In Major League Soccer’s early days, when much of the landscape was still uncharted, one move stunned the footballing world. In just its second season, the New York MetroStars—now known as the New York Red Bulls—hired Brazilian coach CARLOS ALBERTO PARREIRA, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994. This installment in our series on Brazilians in American soccer explores Parreira’s brief but memorable tenure in MLS.

BIOGRAPHY AND ACCOLADES

CARLOS ALBERTO GOMES PARREIRA, widely known simply as "Parreira," was born on February 27, 1943, in Rio de Janeiro. He spent his formative years in the city and graduated with a degree in physical education in 1966. Before stepping into management, he worked as a fitness coach for several clubs, including Fluminense.

Carlos Alberto Parreira and Scolari / Image: ESPN Brasil

Parreira’s coaching career began in 1967 with the Ghana national team. Although he didn’t qualify Ghana for the 1970 World Cup, he was present at that tournament—as Brazil’s fitness coach—working with legends such as Pelé, Tostão, Jairzinho, Gerson, and Carlos Alberto Torres. Brazil would go on to win the tournament in Mexico, earning Parreira his first World Cup title.

Over the years, Parreira built a truly global coaching résumé. He holds the record for the most World Cup appearances by a head coach—six tournaments with five different nations. He’s also the first coach to win the AFC Asian Cup twice, with two different countries.ARRIVAL IN MLS

Following a turbulent 1996 season that saw the MetroStars exit in the first round of the playoffs and cycle through two head coaches—including Portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz—the club sought to make a statement. With soccer’s profile rising in the U.S. after hosting the 1994 World Cup, the MetroStars pursued Parreira.

Though he had previously turned down an offer to coach the U.S. Men’s National Team, Parreira eventually agreed to a two-year deal with the MetroStars. According to The New York Times, he was reportedly set to earn $500,000 per season—making him the highest-paid coach in the league at the time.

Carlos Alberto Parreira presentation / Image: Stan Honda/Getty Images

1997 SEASON: HIGH HOPES, MIXED RESULTS

Parreira inherited a talented squad. Brazilian fullback Branco—renowned for his powerful left foot and a World Cup winner in 1994—was on the roster, as was Italian great Roberto Donadoni, an AC Milan icon and 1994 World Cup runner-up. Future MLS coaches Gio Savarese and Tab Ramos also featured on the team.

Carlos A. Parreira poster card / Major League Soccer

Despite the optimism, the MetroStars finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with 35 points in 32 games—making them the only Eastern team to miss the playoffs. Savarese led the team in scoring with 14 goals. In the U.S. Open Cup, the team reached the semifinals before falling to eventual champions Dallas Burn.

Parreira left MLS after just one season, accepting a lucrative offer to coach Saudi Arabia’s national team. He became one of only three managers in tournament history to be dismissed during the World Cup.

BEYOND MLS: LEGACY AND LATER YEARS

Parreira continued coaching top-tier clubs in Brazil, including Corinthians, Fluminense, Santos, Atlético-MG, and Internacional. After the 2002 World Cup, he returned to lead Brazil’s national team, winning the Copa América and FIFA Confederations Cup before bowing out in the 2006 World Cup quarterfinals against a star-studded French team led by Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry.

Parreira with Cafu and Roberto Carlos / Courtesy of VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/GettyImages

In 2010, he coached host nation South Africa in the World Cup—the first to be held on African soil—finishing the group stage with one win, one draw, and one loss. He retired from coaching following the tournament.

In January 2024, Parreira was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His family and medical team at Samaritano Hospital in Brazil confirmed he has been responding well to treatment and expressed gratitude for the widespread support.

Parreira’s brief time in MLS may not have delivered silverware, but it marked a pivotal moment in the league’s evolution—signaling that even the biggest names in global football saw potential in the American game. His legacy, both in Brazil and internationally, is defined by his adaptability, tactical acumen, and willingness to embrace challenges across continents. For MLS and the New York MetroStars, his arrival was more than a headline—it was a sign that soccer in the United States was ready to dream bigger.