Ruy Da Silva

Ruy Da Silva Castelo Branco is heading into his fifth season as the Florida National University Men’s Soccer Head Coach. In his first two seasons, his teams achieved a .646 winning percentage. In 2021, his Conquistadors earned a regular season victory over the eventual NAIA national champions, finished runner-ups in the Continental Athletic Conference Championship, earned a birth to NAIA Nationals, and finish the season ranked 20th in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll.

In 2022, Da Silva’s team advanced to the second round of NAIA Nationals for the first time in program history following an impressive 4-2 win over No. 14 Life University. The 2023 season was another stellar year for FNU on the field, as the Conquistadors (11-2-6) made it to the second round of NAIA Nationals for the second year in a row after remaining ranked in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll through the entire season.

Coach Da Silva became the third head coach in the history of FNU’s men’s soccer program in Spring 2020. Prior to head coaching, Da Silva spent three years at FNU serving as a men’s soccer assistant coach (2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20). The first two years were served as a student assistant, and he later took on a full-time position in his third year which included performing Sports Information Director responsibilities. During Da Silva’s seasons as an assistant coach with the Conquistadors, the program made three USCAA National Championship appearances with two USCAA National Championships in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

Additionally, Da Silva has served as soccer head coach for the Davie United Soccer Club and Florida Crushers Futsal Club where Coach Da Silva was awarded a National Championship and got second place at the World Futsal Championship with the U-11 team. He is a United States Soccer Federation and a United States Youth Futsal Federation licensed coach.

Da Silva was a decorated player before transitioning into coaching. He played Beach Soccer for the Brazilian National Team and also played eleven years for the Brazilian prestigious team C.R. Flamengo, a highly selective group where he won a World Championship in 2012.

Coach Da Silva began learning the tactics and techniques of South American soccer from a young age when he started playing at the highest level of the youth categories in Brazil for Flamengo and Fluminense. The training and knowledge he received during this time are reflected in his coaching style. Da Silva tries to truly understand his players in order to maximize their potential.

“My goal as a Head Coach is to work in the development of the players to help them to become better human beings with moral values they will bring for life as Integrity, Respect, responsibility and sportsmanship.” Coach Da Silva said. “If I can help them to become a better person, it will be easier to help them become better soccer players.”

Coach Da Silva attended Estacio de Sa University School of Law (Brazil) graduating in 2011 with a Law School Degree along with a minor in Psychology. Ruy Da Silva, a Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, native, resides in Coconut Creek, Fla., with his wife Juliana and his son Lorenzo.