Colton Bly | Head Coach
A native of Bradford, Pennsylvania, Colton Bly made his debut as the youngest head coach in American professional soccer after being named Interim Head Coach of Flower City Union on May 2nd of the club’s inaugural 2022 season. Shortly after taking over at the age of 28, Bly guided the club to its first-ever home victory, a 2-1 win against the Maryland Bobcats after being defeated twice earlier in the season. Later in the season the club won its first trophy, defeating New Jersey Alliance 2-0 in the NISA Independent Cup Northeast Final.
An unorthodox rise to the professional game, Bly was never a professional player. Rising through the youth and academy ranks with clubs at both the grassroots and elite levels of youth soccer in the United States, he quickly grew a reputation through the clear identity and attacking playing styles his teams and programs possessed.
Soon after, Bly’s abilities were discovered in the advanced-level U.S. Soccer Coaching schools, leading to his first opportunity as assistant coach with Flower City Union. He currently is among the few to hold both the U.S. Soccer National ‘A-Youth’ and National ‘A-Senior’ Licenses. Bly is currently pursuing the U.S. Soccer Pro License held by the grand minority of top coaches in Major League Soccer and USL Championship.
Outside of Flower City Union, Bly owns and operates Twin Tiers Soccer Club back home in Olean, New York. He also serves as a volunteer assistant coach with the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford women’s soccer team in the offseason.
Jordan Sullivan | Assistant Coach
Marcelo Moreira | Goalkeeper Coach
A native of São Paulo, Brazil, in addition to his duties with Flower City Union, Moreira serves as a goalkeeper coach for the WNY Flash Academy, Monroe Community College Mens and Womens soccer teams and Nazareth College men’s soccer program. Marcelo also runs More Keepers, his own Goalkeeper program where he trains keepers of all ages throughout WNY.
Moreira was also the goalkeeper coach for the WNY Flash professional team (2016).
As a player, Moreira grew up playing in the youth development programs of some the best clubs in Brazil, including Corinthians, before turning pro at the age of 18. He would spend ten years competing for Palmeiras, Série A, before spending five years as the team captain of Juventus (Brazil), where he helped lead the club’s promotion to Série A. Moreira is listed as a Juventus Hero with the club and earned more than 100 appearances.
He also spent time competing in Brazil’s Série A for Londrina and São Caetano.
In 2013, Moreira moved to the United States, where he continued his soccer career as an indoor player; competing for the Syracuse Silver Knights, St. Louis Ambush, Utica City FC, and Rochester Lancers.
Throughout his professional playing career, Moreira had the opportunity to play with Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Cafu, and Marcos. He was also able to spend time under the direction of Luis Felipe Scolari, who won a World Cup as the coach of Brazil in 2002.
In addition to holding a USSF National “E” License and USSF Advanced National Goalkeeper License, Moreira has an associate’s degree in Sports Management from the University of São Marcos in Brazil.
Moreira and his wife, Kayla, currently reside in Rochester, N.Y. with their five children – Igor, Pedro, Jilliana, Thiago and Gabriella.
Organizations, groups, or individuals interested in helping grow the game of soccer in the Rochester area can reach out to Flower City Union at soccer@flowercityunion.com