Dub Narcotic Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Toronto FC announced Monday that the club has signed KIA Toronto FC Academy midfielder Christopher Mannella as a Homegrown Player. He becomes the tenth player in club history to sign for the first team. As per team and league policy terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We are pleased with Christopher’s development over the past five years in our Academy and he deserves this after proving himself while training with the first team starting back in pre-season as well as with our affiliate Wilmington Hammerheads during the season,” said Toronto General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko. “He is a versatile player with great character who has the potential to do great things with the club. We want to thank our Academy staff for their contributions to Christopher’s development as a soccer player.” Mannella, 20, was named captain of the KIA Toronto FC Senior Academy Team. He appeared in 11 matches, scoring two goals and logged 945 minutes this year in the inaugural League 1 Ontario season. Mannella originally joined the KIA Toronto FC Junior Academy Team in 2009 at the age of 15. Christopher Mannella Position: Midfield Height: 5’8 Weight: 173 lbs Birthdate: June 7, 1994 Birth Place: Toronto, ON Hometown: Toronto, ON Nationality: Canadian Last Club: KIA Toronto FC Senior Academy Team How Acquired: Signed with Toronto FC on September 15, 2014 Pronunciation: “Ma-nel-a” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub Narcotic Posted March 20, 2015 Author Share Posted March 20, 2015 Loaned to, and made captain of, TFC 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince193 Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Contract not picked up by TFC. Never even got a chance with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soccerpro Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 1 hour ago, Vince193 said: Contract not picked up by TFC. Never even got a chance with them. He never stood out on any teams I've seen him play on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bison44 Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 I would not go that far (ie not given a chance). After 2 seasons (30-40games) with TFC2 so they can evaluate and he can prove himself. Ucello, Skylar Thomas, Edwards, Johnson, Hundal etc have all done better than Manella. If Jason Bent saw something special in him, they would have kept him around. 22years old and out from his USL squad. Hopefully he lands somewhere else (as we still have no CPL) and doesnt give up on soccer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zem Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 4 hours ago, Bison44 said: I would not go that far. After 2 seasons (30-40games) with TFC2 so they can evaluate and he can prove himself. Ucello, Skylar Thomas, Edwards, Johnson, Hundal etc have all done better than Manella. If Jason Bent saw something special in him, they would have kept him around. 22years old and out from his USL squad. Hopefully he lands somewhere else (as we still have no CPL) and doesnt give up on soccer. League1 is a fine choice at least if he can't find a pro team to play with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shermanator Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Not a surprise to me that he was let go. Whenever I watched TFC II play Mannella was pretty poor. IIRC, Liam Fraser had taken Mannella's starting role at DM near the end of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopePouri Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Lost his spot to Liam Fraser who looks quite a player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obinna Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Never really rated him, but good luck to him. Hope he can be part of the CPL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted December 13, 2016 Share Posted December 13, 2016 Couldn't take it to the next level and eventually got eclipsed by other younger prospects (i.e. Fraser). Cruel fact of life in pro team sports. I wish him all the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1996 Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 I think he is done will probably go back to school and get an education joins a long list of players who just did not have what it takes to take it to a higher level, will probably play University soccer or college soccer like so many young ex pros have done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazlo_80 Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 On 12/12/2016 at 9:07 PM, Obinna said: Never really rated him, but good luck to him. Hope he can be part of the CPL By this you mean "hope he can get good enough to play in CPL" right? I don't think we want players who couldn't hold their position in the USL given automatic contracts in the CPL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floortom Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 I remember many in this forum we're extremely impressed with Manella and especially hyped him up pre Pan Am games. I never rated him in any way but clearly he must have done something at some point to impress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obinna Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 3 hours ago, lazlo_80 said: By this you mean "hope he can get good enough to play in CPL" right? I don't think we want players who couldn't hold their position in the USL given automatic contracts in the CPL. Well I am not quite sure what the talent level will be for the CPL. I'd think a 22 year old with 3 senior caps and 38 USL Pro appearances would find his way in our new league? He is exactly the sort of player this league will prevent from falling through the cracks. Without the CPL, it's probably CIS ball in Ontario somewhere, instead of continuing his journey in a professional environment where he can earn a stable pay check and find his way as a footballer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shway Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 4 hours ago, Floortom said: I remember many in this forum we're extremely impressed with Manella and especially hyped him up pre Pan Am games. I never rated him in any way but clearly he must have done something at some point to impress I was one. But only after seeing him doing nothing with TFCII, I digressed from that stance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopePouri Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 He's not very athletic which means he only has a shot as a pro at centre back or in midfield. At CB, he's undersized and in midfield, he's not good enough on the ball. He's very similar to JGL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pint Posted December 15, 2016 Share Posted December 15, 2016 He never really took that next step to get 1st team minutes and was passed by younger canadians on the USL team. He is considered a domestic from what I have seen so maybe he catches on with another USL or mls team this year similar to how Kaye went to Louisville. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shermanator Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Looks like Mannella may have signed in Spain? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 4 hours ago, shermanator said: Looks like Mannella may have signed in Spain? Without researching, I see he has the RFEF patch on the sleeve, which would be at least 2B, third tier. Then, the shirt is Kelme, which is a brand from Elche in the south of the Valencia Community (region). They of course have many clubs around the world even, but are very frequent in that region being local. Now to do a bit of searching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 Ok, had enough, don't know the team. I think that field is in Quart de Poblet, though, a town on the outskirts of Valencia near the airport. Or it's in Paterna, Manises, Burjassot, one of those in the north-west of Valencia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 He signed there like 2 months ago. I thought someone posted about this then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 So where is he, what team? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 10 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said: So where is he, what team? Why did I get such good responses and likes for pure silly speculation on Mr Mannella's whereabouts? And the big question, for Christopher: why can't you just frigging well tell us where you are with what club not so damn hard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruffian Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 5 hours ago, Unnamed Trialist said: Why did I get such good responses and likes for pure silly speculation on Mr Mannella's whereabouts? Why do you always have to be such an ass about a simple thing. The likes were for the effort you put in to help give us more info about a player who could rep the Canadian national team, the thing people tune into this forum for. If you thought your comments were so worthless, why did you even post them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bikerack Posted August 23, 2017 Share Posted August 23, 2017 On August 21, 2017 at 10:40 AM, matty said: He signed there like 2 months ago. I thought someone posted about this then what team/division? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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