Last Updated on September 23, 2026 by Laurinda Jocias
Pablo Mastroeni is an Argentine-born American soccer coach and former United States international whose family story stretches from Mendoza, Argentina, to Arizona, Colorado and Utah. Born on August 29, 1976, Mastroeni moved to the United States when he was only four years old and eventually developed into one of Major League Soccer’s most recognizable midfielders before beginning a successful coaching career.
Pablo is married to Kelly Long, and the couple have two children, Gianluca “Luca” Mastroeni and Giuliana Mastroeni. His parents are Frank and Elci Mastroeni, and he has one younger brother, Diego Mastroeni. Soccer played a particularly important role in Pablo’s relationship with his father, who played the sport in Argentina and introduced his son to the game at an early age.
Who Is Pablo Mastroeni’s Wife?
Pablo Mastroeni’s wife is Kelly Long. Their relationship has been publicly documented throughout much of Pablo’s Major League Soccer career.
Kelly was with Pablo during his years as a player with the Miami Fusion and Colorado Rapids and remained an important part of his life as he transitioned from playing into coaching.
MLS reporting has continued to identify Kelly as Mastroeni’s wife, including during his coaching career when professional responsibilities occasionally required him to spend significant periods away from his family.
How Did Pablo Mastroeni Propose to Kelly Long?
Mastroeni’s marriage has one of the more unusual proposal stories in Major League Soccer history.
On September 5, 2000, while playing for the Miami Fusion, Pablo proposed to Kelly during a halftime television interview at a match against the MetroStars.
The proposal became a memorable part of his official MLS biography and has continued to be mentioned in profiles of the former United States international.
Rather than arranging a completely private proposal away from soccer, Mastroeni connected the moment with the sport that already occupied such a large part of his life.
Pablo and Kelly Built Their Family During His MLS Career
Much of Pablo and Kelly’s married life unfolded alongside the demanding schedule of professional soccer.
After Pablo left Miami for the Colorado Rapids in 2002, Colorado became the family’s home for more than a decade.
Mastroeni spent 11 seasons as a Rapids player and later became the club’s head coach, meaning Kelly and their children spent an important part of their lives in Colorado.
When Pablo briefly moved to the LA Galaxy near the end of his playing career in 2013, the family initially remained in Denver while deciding whether relocating to Southern California was the right choice.
Pablo explained at the time that major career decisions had to work for the entire family rather than simply for him as a footballer.
Does Pablo Mastroeni Have Children?
Yes. Pablo Mastroeni and Kelly Long have two children: a son named Gianluca, often called Luca, and a daughter named Giuliana.
Both children have generally remained outside the public spotlight despite their father’s long playing and coaching career.
Pablo has nevertheless spoken about fatherhood as something that changed his perspective on professional soccer and helped him understand that family was more important than the game.
Pablo Mastroeni’s Son: Gianluca “Luca” Mastroeni
Gianluca Mastroeni is Pablo and Kelly’s son.
He was born in 2005 and was premature, weighing less than five pounds at birth, according to an NC State profile published while Pablo was still an active United States international.
The family chose the name Gianluca because of Italian goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca, another reflection of the strong soccer and Italian influences within the Mastroeni family.
Pablo frequently refers to his son simply as Luca, including in his retirement statement from professional soccer.
Unlike his father, Luca has not developed a highly public professional soccer profile, and details about his current career and private life are best left outside public speculation.
Pablo Mastroeni’s Daughter: Giuliana Mastroeni
Giuliana Mastroeni is Pablo and Kelly’s daughter.
MLS and LA Galaxy biographies confirm that Pablo and Kelly have one son and one daughter, identifying the children as Gianluca and Giuliana.
Giuliana has maintained a private life, and reliable soccer sources provide very little information about her education, occupation or personal interests.
Pablo has nevertheless publicly included both children when discussing the importance of family in his life.
His Children Changed Pablo Mastroeni’s Perspective on Soccer
When Mastroeni retired from professional soccer in December 2013, he thanked his wife Kelly and his children in his farewell statement.
He said Luca and Giuliana had helped him understand what was bigger than soccer.
It was a revealing comment from a player who had spent nearly his entire adult life competing professionally.
For Mastroeni, retiring was not simply about ending a career. It also represented an opportunity to devote more attention to the family that had lived through the demands of MLS seasons, international travel and World Cup participation alongside him.
Who Are Pablo Mastroeni’s Parents?
Pablo Mastroeni’s parents are Frank Mastroeni and Elci Mastroeni.
Both parents are of Italian ancestry, although Pablo was born in Mendoza, Argentina.
When Pablo was four years old, Frank and Elci decided to leave Argentina and move their family to Phoenix, Arizona.
The move profoundly changed Pablo’s future. He would grow up primarily in the United States, become an American citizen in 2001 and eventually represent the U.S. national team in two FIFA World Cups.
Pablo Mastroeni’s Father: Frank Mastroeni
Frank Mastroeni is Pablo’s father and one of the most influential people behind his soccer career.
Frank loved football and had played the sport competitively in Argentina.
Historical profiles describe him as having played as a forward in Argentina’s lower divisions before the family moved to the United States.
Although Frank never reached the level his son later achieved, his passion for soccer became an important part of Pablo’s childhood.
Frank Introduced Pablo to Soccer
Pablo’s introduction to the sport came extremely early.
An NC State feature recalled that Frank placed a plastic ball at his young son’s feet when Pablo was approximately two years old and encouraged him to dribble through the hallways of the family home.
After the family moved to Arizona, Frank continued encouraging Pablo’s soccer development.
Pablo has acknowledged that his father placed considerable expectations on him because Frank cared so deeply about the sport.
That pressure could be demanding, but it also helped make football a central part of Pablo’s life from childhood.
Frank Mastroeni Played Soccer in Argentina
Soccer was part of the Mastroeni household long before Pablo became a professional.
Frank told media during the 2002 World Cup that he had played in Argentina’s lower divisions but recognized that he did not possess the level necessary to establish a major professional career.
He hoped one of his sons might eventually possess the ability he believed he had lacked.
Pablo ultimately exceeded even those ambitions, becoming an MLS Cup-winning captain and a United States international with 65 senior appearances.
Frank Was a River Plate Supporter
The family maintained a strong connection with Argentine football after moving to Arizona.
Pablo recalled that his father was a passionate supporter of River Plate.
As a child, Pablo’s bedroom also featured images of leading Argentine footballers such as Diego Maradona, Diego Simeone and Fernando Redondo.
Although Pablo eventually represented the United States internationally, the football culture inside his childhood home retained a distinctly Argentine influence.
Pablo Mastroeni’s Mother: Elci Mastroeni
Elci Mastroeni is Pablo’s mother.
Like Frank, Elci moved from Argentina to Arizona when Pablo was four.
A 2002 profile from Argentina’s La Nación reported that Elci worked as a secondary-school teacher in the United States.
She and Frank continued speaking Spanish inside the home so their sons would retain a connection with their family’s language and culture.
Pablo later admitted that as a child he often answered his parents in English rather than Spanish and eventually wished he had paid more attention to maintaining the language.
Why Did Pablo Mastroeni’s Family Leave Argentina?
Mastroeni was born in Mendoza, where members of his extended family were involved in a butcher-shop business.
Pablo later explained that his father believed the economic situation offered limited opportunities for the family.
Frank therefore decided to take Elci, Pablo and Pablo’s younger brother to the United States.
They settled in Arizona, where relatives were already living.
Frank worked in several occupations after arriving in the United States while trying to establish a more secure life for the family.
The Mastroeni Family Settled in Phoenix
Phoenix became the place where Pablo spent most of his childhood.
He attended Thunderbird High School and developed through youth soccer before eventually enrolling at North Carolina State University.
Although the family had emigrated from Argentina, Pablo described his upbringing as strongly Latin and Argentine inside the home while simultaneously becoming increasingly connected with American culture outside it.
That dual identity later became particularly important when he gained U.S. citizenship and began representing the United States internationally.
Does Pablo Mastroeni Have Siblings?
Yes. Pablo Mastroeni has one brother named Diego Mastroeni.
Official MLS and LA Galaxy biographies identify Diego as Pablo’s only publicly documented sibling.
Diego is younger than Pablo and made the move from Mendoza to Arizona with his parents and older brother when the family immigrated to the United States.
Pablo Mastroeni’s Brother: Diego Mastroeni
Diego Mastroeni is Pablo’s younger brother.
Unlike Pablo, Diego did not develop a professional soccer career in Major League Soccer.
He has nevertheless remained connected to sports and has appeared in Arizona reporting discussing athlete health and concussion awareness.
Pablo publicly thanked his brother alongside his mother and father when announcing his retirement in 2013, demonstrating Diego’s importance within his support system.
Pablo’s Brother Also Grew Up Around Soccer
Frank Mastroeni hoped that one of his sons might eventually succeed at a high level in soccer.
Both boys therefore grew up in a household where the sport was constantly present.
Pablo became the family member who eventually turned football into a long-term professional career.
His success eventually took the family name from an immigrant household in Arizona to the World Cup stage.
Pablo Mastroeni’s Italian Heritage
Although born in Argentina, Mastroeni has Italian family ancestry through his parents.
Official MLS biographies have consistently identified him as Argentine-born and of Italian heritage.
The Italian connection can also be seen in the name selected for his son Gianluca, which was inspired by former Italian international goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca.
Pablo’s family story therefore brings together Argentine, Italian and American influences.
How Pablo Mastroeni Became an American International
Mastroeni moved to the United States at four but did not become a U.S. citizen until 2001.
That citizenship allowed him to represent the United States national team.
He made his senior international debut against Ecuador that year and quickly became an important member of Bruce Arena’s squad.
His parents watched the family journey come full circle when the Argentine-born midfielder represented his adopted country at the 2002 World Cup.
Frank Mastroeni Supported the United States Team
Having grown up around Argentina’s football culture, Pablo naturally faced questions about which national team his father would support.
Frank remained an admirer of Argentina, but once Pablo began representing the United States, his allegiance changed considerably.
During the 2002 World Cup, Pablo jokeded that Frank owned more U.S. national-team clothing than Argentine gear.
Frank still supported both countries, but his son’s involvement gave the United States a particularly strong place in the family.
Pablo Mastroeni’s Family During the 2002 World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup became one of the defining moments of Mastroeni’s career.
He was a relatively surprising selection for Bruce Arena’s roster but eventually started against Portugal, Mexico and Germany as the United States reached the quarterfinals.
For Frank and Elci, it represented an extraordinary outcome from the decision they had made roughly two decades earlier to leave Mendoza and raise their children in Arizona.
The boy whom Frank had introduced to a soccer ball inside the family home was now playing on the world stage.
Pablo Mastroeni’s Family During His Colorado Rapids Career
Colorado became another important home for the Mastroeni family.
Pablo joined the Rapids in 2002 and remained with the club until 2013.
He became captain and ultimately lifted the 2010 MLS Cup, the first league championship in Colorado Rapids history.
Kelly, Luca and Giuliana spent much of Pablo’s playing career in Colorado, and the family remained based there even when he briefly joined LA Galaxy.
Pablo and Kelly’s Home Life
Pablo’s personality away from the field was notably different from the aggressive defensive midfielder supporters saw on matchdays.
He enjoyed cooking, playing guitar and composing music.
An NC State profile also revealed that Pablo and Kelly maintained a large herb and vegetable garden at their home during his Colorado years.
The couple shared produce with neighbors and Pablo’s teammates.
Those interests offered a quieter contrast to the highly competitive environment of professional soccer.
Pablo Mastroeni Retires and Thanks His Family
Mastroeni retired from professional soccer in December 2013 after 16 MLS seasons.
His retirement statement placed his relatives prominently among the people he thanked.
He mentioned his mother, father and brother for helping him pursue his dream, thanked Kelly for her understanding and credited Luca and Giuliana with helping him appreciate that life extended beyond soccer.
The statement summarized the role family had played through every stage of his playing career.
Family Life During Pablo’s Coaching Career
Mastroeni transitioned almost immediately from playing into coaching, taking charge of the Colorado Rapids in 2014.
After leaving the Rapids in 2017, however, his career entered a period of uncertainty.
He eventually returned to MLS as an assistant coach with Houston Dynamo in 2020.
That job required him to spend long periods away from Kelly, Luca and Giuliana, who remained in Colorado.
Mastroeni later described that period as an important learning experience professionally, although the distance from his family added another challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pablo Mastroeni’s Family
Who is Pablo Mastroeni’s wife?
Pablo Mastroeni’s wife is Kelly Long. Their relationship has been publicly documented since Pablo’s early Major League Soccer career.
How did Pablo Mastroeni propose to Kelly Long?
Mastroeni proposed to Kelly during a halftime television interview at a Miami Fusion match against the MetroStars on September 5, 2000.
Does Pablo Mastroeni have children?
Yes. Pablo and Kelly have two children, a son named Gianluca and a daughter named Giuliana.
Who is Pablo Mastroeni’s son?
Pablo’s son is Gianluca “Luca” Mastroeni. He was named after former Italian goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca.
Who is Pablo Mastroeni’s daughter?
Pablo’s daughter is Giuliana Mastroeni. She has maintained a private life away from her father’s public soccer career.
Who are Pablo Mastroeni’s parents?
Pablo Mastroeni’s parents are Frank and Elci Mastroeni. Both are of Italian ancestry and moved their family from Mendoza, Argentina, to Arizona when Pablo was four.
Who is Pablo Mastroeni’s father?
Pablo’s father is Frank Mastroeni. Frank played soccer in Argentina’s lower divisions and introduced Pablo to the sport as a young child.
Who is Pablo Mastroeni’s mother?
Pablo’s mother is Elci Mastroeni. Historical Argentine reporting identified her as a secondary-school teacher in the United States.
Does Pablo Mastroeni have siblings?
Yes. Pablo has one publicly documented younger brother named Diego Mastroeni.
Where was Pablo Mastroeni born?
Mastroeni was born in Mendoza, Argentina, on August 29, 1976.
How old was Pablo Mastroeni when he moved to the United States?
He was four years old when Frank and Elci moved the family from Argentina to Phoenix, Arizona.
Is Pablo Mastroeni Argentine or American?
Mastroeni was born in Argentina and raised primarily in the United States. He became a U.S. citizen in 2001 and represented the United States internationally.
Does Pablo Mastroeni have Italian ancestry?
Yes. Both of Mastroeni’s parents are of Italian ancestry.
Is Pablo Mastroeni still Real Salt Lake’s coach?
Yes. As of now, Pablo Mastroeni remains Real Salt Lake’s head coach after signing a new multi-year contract extension in November 2025.
Laurinda Jocias is a football writer covering English women’s football, including the Women’s Super League. Her work focuses on players, clubs, and the continued development of the women’s game in the UK.
