Quick Facts
Biography
Andres J. De Abreu Chaffardet (born March 31, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional footballer who is currently signed to Miami United F.C. as an Attacking Winger. He is best known for his speed and ability to counterattack on both the left and the right flanks. He made his Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) professional debut on April 17, 2006 at 17 years old with Venezuela's five time Division 1 League Champion and three time Copa Venezuela Champion Deportivo Italia FC at the Olympic Stadium in Caracas under manager Eduardo Sarago. He is also the great-grandson of Venezuelan boxing legend Enrique Chaffardet.
Youth career
Deportivo Cumbres Futbol Club
In 1995 at the age of 6 he was recruited to join the ranks of Deportivo Cumbres Football Club. This organization is one of the major institutions in Venezuelan soccer along with Centro Italo Venezolano FC and Caracas FC which focus on professional youth development to the top tier of promising national stars. After five years with the club and serving four as youth Captain, De Abreu was attracting the attention of major Venezuelan teams.
In 2000 scouts regularly attended training sessions, including the great 1986 World Cup winner and Real Madrid player Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri from Argentina. After a week of tactical and physical analysis, Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri placed a bid to the club requesting to loan out 11 year old Andres De Abreu and a teammate to first division club River Plate's youth squad in Argentina. Eventually the deal fell through because management could not agree upon the terms in the event that River Plate would offer to buy the two players after loan expiration, with the intention of having them debut in Argentina's first division.
In 2001, after receiving offers from Centro Italo Venezolano FC and Caracas FC De Abreu signed with Centro Italo Venezolano FC at 12 years old.
Centro Italo Venezolano Futbol Club
In 2002 and again in 2003 De Abreu got called to represent the 22 man roster for Distrito Federal's State team in the U-15 National Tournament.
In 2004 De Abreu was selected from players nationwide to form part of the 22 man team that traveled to Italy for a U-17 International Tournament. There where many major teams such as A.C Milan, Inter Milan, Napoli, Roma and Fiorentina just to name a few.
Club career
Deportivo Italia Futbol Club
In 2005 De Abreu caught the attention of coaches Nelson Carrero and Eduardo Saragó who at the time where also the coaches for Venezuela's U-20 National Team and recruiting for the rosters of the 2006 Argentina Tour and the 2007 Sudamericano in Paraguay. After a string of goals with Deportivo Italias U-17, U-20 Venezuela National Team coach Nelson Carrero requested for De Abreu's incorporation into the Miranda U-20 State team so that he could get experience in the National Tournament before the FIFA U-20 Sudamericano in Paraguay, 2007.
That same year Luigi Celli, Miranda's U-20 State coach and former Caracas FC U-15 manager, signed De Abreu to the roster. Miranda's U-20 State won 6-7 matches losing only to Distrito Federal State in the National Finals. De Abreu got called to represent Miranda in the U-20 national tournament as a starting Winger for three years running, 2005, 2006, 2007.
Florida International University
In 2007 De Abreu opted out of a professional contract with Deportivo Italia FC to accept a Division One Soccer Scholarship at Florida International University under head coach Munga Eketebi, a 2 time U.S All American from The Republic of the Congo. During the 2007 season De Abreu teamed up with rising Venezuelan star and FIU captain Juan Guerra. According to Florida International University's newspaper The Beacon, De Abreu's NCAA Division 1 Clearing house request for approval to play in the 2007 Fall Season was rejected on NCAA's Amateurism Policy Code. Guerra eventually went on to play in Spanish first division club Las Palmas, and played the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers with the Venezuelan National Team.
Miami Krew
In November 2008 De Abreu signed with Miami Krew a local team who disputed tournaments such as the Copa Latina and the pre-qualifying rounds for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Soon after he signed the club was placed under the management of Wagneau Eloi, a former striker at AS Monaco FC, Head Coach of the Haiti national team, and most recently the Head Coach of FC Miami City. De Abreu wore number 9 and started alongside Martín Núñez. Miami Krew played the qualifying rounds of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for 3 consecutive years (2008-2009-2010). In December 2010 De Abreu suffered multiple fractures on his ankle and wrist after being tackled by two rivals in the semifinals of the Haiti Unification Cup.
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
In July 2013 De Abreu got called up to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers preseason by former FIU teammate, and assistant coach Raoul Voss. After an injury during training camp, De Abreu revealed to the club that he would not be fit for the 2013 season.
Miami United FC
In October 2013 De Abreu signed a professional contract with Miami United FC. The Club's President Roberto Sacca and former New York Cosmos starting forward with Pele, Ferdinando De Matthaeis, presented De Abreu and the rest of the new signings in big publicized event in Downtown Miami. De Abreu was featured on ESPN Deportes, ESPN 2, Meridiano Television, Telemundo, Vamos TV, Actualidad Radio Influence Communications, and occupied the cover of the popular paper Miami New Times titled "Beckham, Shmeckham: Meet the Hot Young Soccer Hunks of Miami United"
Soon after the MSL held preliminary discussions with David Beckham's advisers about several expansion targets, but specifically Miami United FC . David Beckham attended a MUFC practice along another soccer legend Enzo Francescolli to outline the commitment and the vision they had for Miami United FC. Other investors, including Italian financier Alessandro Butini and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross expressed interest in owning a Miami franchise as well. In December 2013 state of the League address, Garber identified Beckham and Simon Fuller as potential owners in Miami. Later that month, on December 17, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted unanimously to allow Mayor Carlos A. Giménez to negotiate with the Beckham-led group on a new stadium in downtown Miami. The league announced that Beckham exercised his option on February 5, 2014, and that Miami Beckham United, the investment group led by Beckham, Fuller and Claure, would own an expansion franchise in Miami, assuming that financing for a stadium could be agreed upon. That year Miami United FC were crowned champions after a record breaking, undefeated seasonsecuring a spot in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup.
Following the 2014 season, De Abreu was listed as a potential candidate for the Venezuelan National Team better known as La Vinotinto.
In 2015 Miami United FC management split ways as a result of Beckham's investment group failure to secure a contract for its stadium location and the Miami Fusion was brought back by former Miami United Owner and well known Inteligensa CEO Venanzio Cipollitti. Concequently De Abreu negotiated a one-year contract break to determine the next step in his career. In March his agent began talks to loan out the winger to C.S Maritimo in Portugal's first division where his former coach Nelson Carrero began his career. Caracas FC is also reporting interest in the Venezuelan.
In June 2016 De Abreu returned to Miami United FC to sign for the 2017 season. The current manager Ricardo Páez [1] is also Venezuelan and the son of the legendary national team coach Ricardo David Páez. De Abreu's agent confirmed the possibility after Adriano Leite Ribeiro left Miami United FC due to injuries that sidelined him for the rest of the season.