Carlos Metidieri

Jose Carlos Metidieri (born December 18, 1942 in Votorantim, Brazil) is a retired Brazilian-born American soccer forward. He played professionally in Canada with Toronto Italia. In an exhibition game between Torino of Italy and a German side at Varsity Stadium, Meditieri in the beginning of the second half, donned a Torino uniform and substituted a Torino player to the surprise of all fans. In the United States, he was the leading scorer of the North American Soccer League in 1970 and 1971 and named the league's Most Valuable Player - the only player in the league's history to accomplish both awards in consecutive seasons.^[1] He also earned two caps with the United States national soccer team in 1973.

Professional

Known as Topolino ("Little Mouse" in Italian) due to his 5'4" stature and explosive speed on the field,^[2] Metidieri began playing soccer professionally at age 16, when he moved from Brazil to Canada to play. He joined Toronto Italia of the Eastern Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1963 where he was the 1965 and 1966 league leading scorer and the 1966 Most Valuable Player.^[3][4] In 1967, he moved to the Boston Rovers in the United Soccer Association before joining the Los Angeles Wolves, alongside cousin Gilson, for the North American Soccer League's first season. After one season in Los Angeles, Metidieri moved to the Rochester Lancers. He achieved his 'double double' with the Lancers, a team he played with for four summers. In 1971, he was the MVP and league leading scorer.^[5] Rochester fans affectionately remember his game-winning goal in the longest professional soccer match ever played lasting 176 minutes in duration at Holleder Stadium against the visiting Dallas Tornado in 1971. He scored 35 points in 23 games in 1970 and 46 points, including 19 goals, in 24 games in 1971. In 1971 as a member of the Lancers, Metidieri also took part in the league's first ever indoor tournament, scoring one goal and earning two penalty minutes.^[6] Metidieri finished his NASL career in 1974 playing for the Boston Minutemen. He made a brief and final return to the professional spotlight for the Major Indoor Soccer League's Buffalo Stallions from 1979 to 1980.

National team

Metidieri played in two 'A' internationals for the United States national soccer team in 1973. His first game was a 4-0 loss to Bermuda on March 17. His second was a 4-0 loss to Poland on March 20. He also played an unofficial match, a 6-0 loss to Belgium, on March 29.^[7]

After his retirement from soccer he lived in Rochester, New York where he owned a pizza restaurant.^[8] He later moved to Phoenix, Arizona.^[9]

He now resides in Gilbert, Arizona with his wife and youngest daughter.

Honors

NASL Championship (1)

• 1970

NASL Most Valuable Player (2)

• 1970, 1971

NASL Scoring Champion (2)

• 1970 (14 goals, 7 assists, 35 points) • 1971 (19 goals, 8 assists, 46 points)

NASL Goal Scoring Champion (1)

• 1971 (19 goals)

NASL All-Star First Team selection (2)

• 1970, 1971

References

External links

• Carlos Metidieri at National-Football-Teams.com
• NASL/MISL stats