Marcello Polisi

Canadian soccer player

Marcello Polisi
Marcello Polisi
Polisi with HFX Wanderers in 2021
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-01-24) January 24, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Valour FC
Youth career
2001–2011 Coquitlam Metro-Ford
2011–2016 Vancouver Whitecaps
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Simon Fraser Clan 51 (6)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 TSS FC Rovers 22 (0)
2021–2022 HFX Wanderers 32 (0)
2023– Valour FC 22 (1)
International career‡
2012 Canada U15 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of September 29, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of July 11, 2021

Marcello Polisi (born January 24, 1997) is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Canadian Premier League side Valour FC.

Early life

Born in Burnaby, British Columbia, Polisi grew up in nearby Coquitlam.[1] He began playing soccer at age four with Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC, from 2001 to 2011.[1][2] In 2008 and 2009, he had training stints with the youth teams of Belgian club Standard Liège.[2][3] In 2011, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy, after having previously been part of the Whitecaps Prospects program, which he captained the U11 and U12 levels and appeared with the U11 squad in Europe against European club academy teams.[2] He also played on the British Columbia provincial team, serving as U13 captain and as a member of their U14 team and also trained in the Canadian Soccer Association’s National Training Centre program at U13 level.[2] While with the Whitecaps Academy, he often served as captain at the various age levels.[4] In 2015, he helped his high school win the AAA provincial championship.[5]

University career

In August 2016, he committed to attend Simon Fraser University, where he would play for the men's soccer team.[6] In his second game of his first season, he suffered an ankle injury against Seattle Pacific Falcons, which ended his season.[7] He scored his first goal on August 31, 2017, against the University of Mary Marauders.[8] In 2017, he was named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a GNAC First-Team All-Star.[9][10] He was also named an NCAA D2 All-American in 2017.[11] In 2019, he was named to a GNAC First Team All-Star for the third consecutive year and was named to the All-West Region Second Team.[12] His 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] Over his time with Simon Fraser, he scored six goals and added seven assists in 51 appearances.[14] He declared for the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, but was ultimately not selected.[15]

Club career

In 2017, Polisi joined USL PDL club TSS FC Rovers,[7] and played for the club through the 2019 season.[16] In 2017, he made 5 appearances,[17] followed by 14 appearances in 2018,[18] and 3 appearances in 2019.[19]

In June 2021, Polisi turned professional, joining Canadian Premier League side HFX Wanderers on a one year contract, with an option for a further year.[20] He made his debut for the Wanderers on July 3 against Cavalry FC.[21] In January 2022, the Wanderers announced they had exercised Polisi's contract option for the 2022 season.[22] After the conclusion of the 2022 season, HFX announced Polisi would be departing the club.[23]

In January 2023, Polisi signed with Valour FC.[24]

International career

In June 2009, Polisi was captain and Most Valuable Player with the Western Canada team at the Danone Nations Cup. He was then selected to represent Canada at the 2010 Danone Nations Cup.[2]

Polisi was called up to the Canadian National U-15 Team for the Copa Mexico de Naciones Sub-15, a boys' U-15 tournament in Ciudad de Mexico from June 16 to 25.[25]

Personal life

He is the older brother of Matteo Polisi, who is also a professional soccer player.[26][27]

References

  1. ^ a b Marcello Polisi at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. ^ a b c d e "Marcello Polisi Vancouver Whitecaps profile". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015.
  3. ^ Tait, Ed (March 30, 2023). "Marcello Polisi: "I enjoy every moment of this. You've got to enjoy the suffering, the running, the mental fight through being injured… all of it."". Valour FC.
  4. ^ Briggins, Jonathan (July 2, 2021). "Worth the Wait: Marcello Polisi joins his HFX Wanderers teammates in Winnipeg". HFX Wanderers FC.
  5. ^ Bartel, Mario (September 14, 2017). "Polisi pair powers pitch for SFU soccer". Tri-City News.
  6. ^ Frost, Steve (August 14, 2016). "Whitecaps Youth Captain Marcello Polisi Chooses SFU". Simon Fraser Clan.
  7. ^ a b McColl, Michael (April 15, 2017). "Get To Know Your TSS Rovers: Marcello Polisi". Away from the Numbers.
  8. ^ "Polisi brothers lead Clan to season-opening win". Tri-City News. September 5, 2017.
  9. ^ "Polisi brothers on top for SFU". Tri-City News. November 9, 2017.
  10. ^ Davidson, Neil (January 20, 2021). "Canadian brothers Marcello and Matteo Polisi eagerly await MLS SuperDraft". Toronto Star.
  11. ^ Frost, Steve (June 11, 2021). "Polisi brothers to play professional soccer on opposites coasts". Simon Fraser Clan.
  12. ^ "Polisi brothers all-stars again". Tri-City News. November 20, 2019.
  13. ^ Bartel, Mario (June 12, 2021). "Both Coquitlam's soccer-playing Polisi brothers turn pro — at opposite ends of the country". Tri-City News.
  14. ^ "Marcello Polisi SFU profile". Simon Fraser Clan.
  15. ^ Bartel, Mario (February 25, 2021). "One of Coquitlam's Polisi brothers is turning pro". Tri-City News.
  16. ^ McColl, Michael (May 7, 2019). "Vancouver TSS Rovers Roster Reveal: Part One – 11 Rovers return for 2019 season". Away from the Numbers.
  17. ^ "Marcello Polisi 2017 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  18. ^ "Marcello Polisi 2018 PDL Stats". USL League Two.
  19. ^ "Marcello Polisi 2019 USL2 Stats". USL League Two.
  20. ^ Jaques, John (June 11, 2020). "Halifax Adds Canadian Midfielder Marcello Polisi". Northern Tribune.
  21. ^ Jacques, John (July 3, 2021). "Halifax Collects First Point In Draw Against Cavalry". Northern Tribune.
  22. ^ "Halifax Wanderers 2022 Roster Update". HFX Wanderers. January 5, 2022.
  23. ^ "Halifax Wanderers announce year-end roster moves". HFX Wanderers. December 6, 2022.
  24. ^ "Valour FC sign Canadian midfielder Marcello Polisi". Valour FC. January 4, 2023.
  25. ^ Lawrence, Dylan (June 11, 2021). "HFX Wanderers sign Canadian Midfielder Marcello Polisi". HFX Wanderers FC.
  26. ^ Rowan, Samuel (January 16, 2020). "Family First: Why the Polisi Brothers are Just Getting Started". Simon Fraser Clan.
  27. ^ McColl, Michael (October 12, 2017). "Brotherly Bond: Polisi brothers leading SFU Clan's playoff push". Away from the Numbers.

External links

  • Marcello Polisi at Soccerway
  • v
  • t
  • e
Valour FC – current squad
  • Head coach: Dos Santos
  • Assistant coach: Bhindi
  • Assistant coach: Rocke
  • Goalkeeper coach: Di Stefani