corazzin signs with the 'caps.

[bettermirror]

this is great. he should be a great tempering presence and a wonderful partner for jordan to play off of.

WHITECAPS TO SIGN VETERAN CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL

STRIKER CARLO CORAZZIN

After 10 years in England, Corazzin returns to play for his hometown Whitecaps

VANCOUVER (Thursday, June 26, 2003) - It was announced today that the Whitecaps F.C. Men's Team will sign Canadian international striker Carlo Corazzin of Coquitlam, BC, effective July 1st 2003.

Corazzin joins Vancouver from Oldham Athletic of the English FA Second Division, where he has played for the last three seasons. He could be in the line-up as early as Tuesday, July 1st (Canada Day), when the Whitecaps take on the Portland Timbers in a 7:00 p.m. start at Burnaby's Swangard Stadium.

The 31-year-old has made 55 appearances for Canada's National Team dating back to 1994, scoring 10 goals to rank fifth in Canada's all-time scoring list. He won the Golden Boot as the top scorer of the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup with 4 goals, including the insurance marker on a penalty kick in Canada's 2-0 win over Colombia in the Final. His most recent appearance was in a 2-1 loss to Estonia on March 29, 2003.

Corazzin in action

Corazzin played for Vancouver in the 1993 APSL season, finishing second in team scoring behind Domenic Mobilio, with 7 goals and 5 assists in 24 games. He then headed to England where he has played the last 10 seasons, totalling 121 goals in 421 games for four different teams, with all but one-and-a-half seasons spent in the Second Division.

Whitecaps Director of Soccer Operations, Bobby Lenarduzzi said of the signing, "Carlo has made a football career for himself in Europe where he competed at a very high level. He is a fierce competitor and a very talented forward. It is great to have him back in Vancouver where he can return to his hometown and contribute to his local team once again."

After leaving Vancouver, Corazzin joined Cambridge United of the Second Division, signing on December 10, 1993, and scoring 43 goals in 117 games over two-and-a-half seasons. The club was relegated to the Third Division for his final year, during which he moved to Plymouth Argyle of the Second Division on March 28, 1996, for a transfer fee of £150,000. In two-and-a-half seasons at Argyle, Corazzin scored 24 goals in 86 games. He then joined Northampton Town of the Second Division on June 26, 1998, netting 32 goals in 89 games over two seasons. Northampton Town were relegated in 1999, but with Corazzin's help regained promotion in 2000, at which point he signed with Oldham on July 28, 2000. He scored 22 goals in 129 games for Oldham.

Oldham Athletic are currently in a financial crisis, and could face liquidation if a fund-raising effort falls short this week. They finished fifth in the Second Division this past season with a 22W-8L-16T record but were eliminated in the promotion playoffs by Queens Park Rangers.

Corazzin began his professional career in Italy at the age 16, where he spent over four years playing for Giorgione and Pievigina of Serie C2. He returned to Canada, and in 1992 played one preseason game for the Vancouver 86ers, a 2-2 tie with English club Chelsea, before signing with the Winnipeg Fury of the Canadian Soccer League. He scored 10 goals in 24 games for the Fury, and helped lead Winnipeg to their 1992 CSL Championship win over Vancouver. Corazzin signed with Vancouver the following year, after the CSL folded.

From 1990 to 1992, Corazzin also played for the Canadian U-23 team attempting to qualify for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He scored 4 goals in 11 games for the U-23s. He made his full National Team debut on June 1, 1994 in a 1-1 tie with Morocco.

Carlo Corazzin (5'11" 170 lb; 180 cm 77 kg) was born in New Westminster, BC, on December 25, 1971. He grew up in Coquitlam, where he played his youth soccer with Metro Ford.

*interesting to note. they mentioned standout rookie tyler hughes from victoria in the toronto lynx notes. i played against him in my british columbia metro days. he was always 1 of the three or five best players in the league. class and skill. he was a wonder to play against. the only player in our league to compete with the u20 national team. hopefully he gets some action at the game on saturday night at swangard. he'd enjoy that, i'm sure.

there ain't gonna be any middle any more.

[Mimglow]

This may help us answer the eternal question: How does the A-League compare to English football? If Corazzin scores a goal-a-game, we'll have to say that the A-League is no more than 3rd division. On the flipside, if he struggles, then we'll have a heck of a good time debating!

Mimglow, Ottawa

_________________________

Where are the weapons of mass destruction?

[DJT]

Why is it that the Lynx are always sending players to Europe while the Whitecaps are always getting players from Europe?

[Desigol]

quote:Originally posted by DJT

Why is it that the Lynx are always sending players to Europe while the Whitecaps are always getting players from Europe?

Holger is biased towards the Lynx.

You don't win friends with salad!

[bettermirror]

djt: that's a good question!? my guess is that the caps are so used to having a top quality side that they must sustain (ala, barce, manchester united) rather than develop for the good of the game (ala, west ham, and all the 'b' italian sides).

true the caps don't win every year. but, every year they are feared across the league.

should be really interesting to watch at the game on saturday night at swangard to see the two philosophies clash. i predict a 1-1, or 2-1 game. corazzin won't debut until tuesday against portland.

there ain't gonna be any middle any more.