Cleber Américo

Our Executive Team

Marco Meccia

MARCO MECCIA

Director of Soccer / Partner

Marco Co-Founded the school and was the driving force behind bringing a world class soccer school to Celebration. Marco’s passion is unmatched when it comes to community and soccer. His dream of having year-round soccer for everyone in his community was realized on February 28^th when the deal with Orlando City was finalized after working for nearly a year on the school project. A graduate specialist in sports law, Marco’s professional background is in law and the courts in Brazil. The soccer community in central Florida on all levels are familiar with Marco and what he has accomplished here in a short period of time. He assisted with the start and support of the Florida Cup, provided guidance and assisted with Sporting Orlando, and most recently helped with guiding UPSL’s Barcelona to the 2019 Southeast Conference Championship before losing in the National Tournament in Savannah GA. His Celebration Soccer Stars are two-time Florida Fan Cup champions and have raised thousands of dollars for various charities including relief for the Bahamas and more. Soccer is a way of life in the Meccia family. Marco started the first ever adult soccer league in Celebration and Monday nights community soccer night boast of nearly a hundred players always. Marco, his wife and two children are synonymous with the word soccer in Celebration and central Florida. The dream is now a reality, year-round soccer for all children and all levels.

Daniel Rocha

DANIEL ROCHA

Director of Operations / Partner

Daniel and Marco Meccia have been in soccer together since 2014 starting the Celebration’s first adult recreation soccer programs. Originally from Brazil, Daniel has a business bachelor’s degree and has been a part of his family’s business since he was 15. A huge soccer fan his entire life, Daniel follows many leagues and teams and has been an Orlando City SC fan since the beginning. Daniel still plays regularly in the adult recreation leagues and with Marco’s Celebration Soccer Stars. Daniel oversees much of the day to day operations and is one of the most knowledgeable soccer enthusiast you will meet.

Grillo

CRISTIANO GRILLO

Investor/Business Development Partner

Cristiano is a business investor from Brazil with more than 30 years of experience in corporate business management. Cristiano is a Celebration resident owner and huge fan of Orlando City Soccer Club. He splits his time between Celebration and Brazil where his family companies export to more than 40 countries including the United States. He graduated from one of Brazil's most renowned business schools, Getulio Vargas Foundation holding a degree in business administration, and a Masters in management, marketing, and group dynamics. Cristiano hopes to make the Celebration community strong growing new businesses like Orlando City Soccer School - Celebration and calls his American home, Celebration Florida.

Our Head Coaches

Renato Abreu

RENATO ABREU

Sr. Head Coach Youth Programs

Renato is a soccer star to this day in Brazil where he played for both Flamengo and Corinthians scoring 29 goals during his career with the two powerhouse clubs. He scored 78 goals as a professional between 1998 and 2013. And in 2011 he played for Brazil’s National team for 61 minutes for Coach Mano Menezes, which is one of the highest honors for a player in Brazil. Renato is amazing with kids and heads up the development for the program. Passion for soccer and the Orlando City Soccer School is an understatement! His quality as a person is matched with his soccer skills.

HEITOR BOVER

HEITOR BOVER

Head Coach Tactical & Technical

Heitor has been licensed by U.S Soccer since 2017 and carries a National E designation. A great player to this day, he played in the minor leagues in Brazil. Coach Bovar has experience in several youth soccer categories and championed a team in the Florida Youth Soccer League in 2018. As the tactical coach he prepares a player for adapting to any situation and fit into a team. On the technical side he makes sure the player understands the most important skills for each position. Heitor has been a Celebration resident for four years with his wife and son and has been instrumental in youth soccer in central Florida since 2016.

Cleber Américo

CLEBER AMERICO

Head Coach Competitive

Cleber had a storied professional career playing for more than 13 years and managed professionally as well. Playing for Palmeiras, Santos F.C, and the Brazilian national team for a decade, Cleber was a fierce defender playing on the biggest stages of soccer at the highest level. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a manager and player to our kids. We are blessed to have his talents and our parents, players and staff love his warm personality and coaching style. A true professional star and mentor to everyone, Cleber was soccer director for one of the top private sports prep schools in the united states prior to coming to Celebration.

ALMIR SCHMITT

ALMIR SCHMITT

Head Coach Physiologist & Performance

Celebration may be one of the only organizations with the highest qualified and caliber of Physiologist and Performance trainers. Almir Graduated in Physical Education from the Center for Health and Sport Sciences at the State University of Santa Catarina. Master (2015) and Doctor (2019) in Human Movement Sciences from the State University of Santa Catarina. During 2009, he was a physical preparation assistant at Avaí Futebol Club, and in the following year he became a Physical Trainer for the youth of this club. In early 2012, he became a Scientific Initiation Scholar at the same time. In 2014 he became a physiologist for the professional team Figueirense Futebol Club. The difference he has made for our players in a short period of time is truly remarkable.

Elivelton Couto

Elivelton Couto

Head Coach Recreation Training & Teams

Elivelton comes to Celebration from the Southington Soccer Club in Connecticut where he coached for the academy and travel teams. Southington has a 40 year history of top level soccer and championships. It takes only a minute the first time you watch Elivelton on the pitch with players to realize he is a special coach. He was a great player in his own right as well growing up in Brazil and coming up through the Fluminense club as a junior player.

Rebecca Camis

REBECCA CAMIS

Head Coach Fitness

Ms. Camis is an Illinois native where she was an accomplished competitive soccer player and track and field athlete. A graduate of Ashford University. Rebecca has a bachelor’s degree in Sports and Recreation Management along with a health and fitness concentration and coaching endorsement. She is currently coaching both soccer and track & field for Celebration High School and Celebration K8. In 2019/20 she helped coach the Lady Storm of Celebration High School to their first district final for the first time in school history. Coach Camis brings a wealth of experience to our soccer school on the physical fitness side and soccer. She is one of our original coaches starting in 2020.

Rafael Rocha

RAFAEL ROCHA

Head Coach Youth Recreation / Competitive

Rafael has been with Celebration Soccer School since the beginning in 2020. He worked with the younger players as an assistant for the past three years. He began playing in the US at age 9 for many of the top competitive teams throughout central Florida. Playing for 4 years at Windermere High School here in Florida, Rafael continued to improve his skills and help lead his Windermere team to the district championship. Soccer has been a passion for him since he was a toddler. Having a younger talented head coach who relates to the players has proven to be a great benefit to the staff.