Our Team

RICHARD ORTEGA
Director of Coaching

Originally from Lima, Peru, Coach Richard has over 14 years coaching experience. Richard is the founder of FC Sudamerica and Sudamerica Futsal. His background includes coaching top level teams for DA, Academy, Select, Athena, Middle School, and High School programs, ages U8 to U19.

Personally, Coach Ortega has played soccer throughout his life. Beginning in Lima, Peru at a young age, Coach Ortega continued to play soccer at high school and collegiate levels in the United States. As a forward and outside midfielder for Reinhardt University, Coach Ortega excelled at the NAIA level of soccer where he had the opportunity to play with a variety of international players. In 2011, Coach Ortega graduated from Reinhardt University with a Business Information Systems Degree where he was the School of Business Student of the Year.

Coach Ortega is an intensely passionate coach displaying a strong commitment to the recruitment process. He consistently has transformed meager teams into extraordinary teams with winning records. His preferred mode of play is the free-flowing style with a heavy concentration on passing.

Coach Ortega is a very enthusiastic coach who describes the game as “the perfect way to develop character, creativity, team skills, and passion all at once”, and he is excited to make a difference in our community.

RUDI PIRES
Director of Development

Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Coach Rudi has over 14 years of coaching experience. Rudi’s background includes coaching top teams from Academy to College levels. Coach Rudi is an inspiring addition to FC Sudamerica’s diverse leadership and coaching lineup.

Rudi holds two Bachelor Degrees. He graduated in 2012 from the University of Johannesburg with a Bachelor’s in Sports Science, and in 2016 he graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelor’s in Exercises Science. Rudi is a certified U.S. Soccer coach. He is also certified in CPR, Life Guarding, and First Aid.

As a player, Rudi was known for his goal scoring ability. He played as a striker and as an attacking midfielder. Rudi represented several prestigious soccer teams which include Platinum Stars (South Africa), the South African U/17 and U/18 National Team, and the FC Porto Academy (Portugal).

Rudi lives and breathes soccer; he has a passion for sharing his knowledge and experience in the game with others, especially with younger athletes who share his passion for the game. Rudi enjoys competing at the highest level, as well as transforming teams that have previously been overlooked, or have struggled to achieve results in the past.

SEAN McNEW
Director of Goalkeeping

25 Years of Coaching Experience
University of North Georgia Player

Goalkeeper Coach with NASA 91’s (State Champions)

Goalkeeper Coach with AFU 91’s DA (Including Atlanta United GK Alec Kann)

Goalkeeper Coach with Pope High School

Goalkeeper Coach with United Futbol Academy (UFA)

BRYAN FAGAN
Coach

Coach Fagan has been around the game of soccer as a player and a coach for many years. Growing up in Germany, he played for a small city club in Oftersheim, before moving to Georgia and playing for Richmond Hill High School. He is currently the head coach for the Lumpkin County Middle School girls soccer program.

Coach Fagan believes that youth sports, particularly soccer, is a great place to develop strong leaders, creative thinkers, and confident decision-makers. This belief, which drives his training and coaching philosophy, formed from countless pick-up soccer games on the streets of Europe, South America, and the United States.

Coach Fagan’s fondest soccer memories include playing soccer with his daughter, living in Germany when they won the World Cup in 1990, meeting Jurgen Klinsmann, and watching Lionel Messi score the game-winning goal at Camp Nou in Barcelona.

He is extremely excited to join the FC Sudamerica coaching staff!

DANIEL RAMIREZ
Coach

Born in Dahlonega, Georgia, Coach Dani has been involved in coaching at various different levels, namely, Academy, Select and High School. During his first year at FC Sudamerica, Dani had a fantastic track record with our 2007B Gold team as well as with our 2004B Gold team. As a player, he grew up playing the game for the majority of his life and competed at the collegiate level. Dani is a very driven natural leader and an essential coach at FC Sudamerica.

JESUS “CHUY” RAMIREZ
Coach

Chuy grew up playing soccer for several well known teams including Lumpkin County High School, DUSA, ASA and UFA. He suffered a severe back injury during his high school playing days, but has since then recovered and rediscovered his passion for soccer. He has now found a new passion for working with players at the youth soccer level.

SANTANA VITAL
Coach

Coach Santana was born in Trinidad, West Indies and moved to Georgia in 1987. He grew up playing soccer through the high school level and continued to play in a men’s league until his late 20’s. Santana now lives and breathes soccer and has a passion for developing young talent. This is Coach Santana’s eight season as an Academy coach, and four years as a middle school coach. Previous experiences also include coaching at Cherokee/Georgia Impact where he turned promising talent into fine players. Coach Santana is an essential part of FC Sudamerica and will head all operations at the Academy level.

SHAUN GREENFIELD
Technical Performance Trainer

With an impressive track record as a player, Shaun has accomplished so much throughout his career. His playing record includes 31 games at Atletico de Madrid FC (Spanish Youth Honor Division), 32 games at Lorca Deportiva SL (Spanish Youth Honor Division), professional third and second division with over 50 combined appearances for Lorca Deportiva SL (Spain), San Roque De Lepe (Spain), and Sporting Clube Farense (Portugal). Upon making his return back to the United States, Shaun played for the Atlanta Silverbacks FC (2016) and Georgia Revolution FC (2017), both in the NPSL.

Coach Greenfield has already made an impact in our soccer community. His coaching experiences include Concorde Fire (U10/U11), All-In FC (U8-U12), North View High School (Varsity Assistant Coach), and Upper90Elite Soccer Training (Founder) where his specific focus is on developing technical, physical, and mental skills in a personal/small group environment.