Carlos Metidieri
Encyclopedia
Jose Carlos Metidieri is a retired Brazilian-American soccer forward
. He played professionally in Canada and the United States where 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. He also earned two caps with the United States national soccer team
in 1973.
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 MPV and league leading scorer. 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. 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.
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.
After his retirement from soccer he lived in Rochester, New York where he owned a pizza restaurant. He later moved to Phoenix, Arizona
.
He now resides in Gilbert, Arizona
with his wife and daughter and owns a Brazilian/Italian restaurant known as "Brasitalia" http://www.brasitalia-az.com
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He played professionally in Canada and the United States where he was the leading scorer of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
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. He also earned two caps with the United States national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1973.
Professional
Known as Topolino ("Little Mouse" in Italian) due to his 5'4" stature and explosive speed on the field, Metidieri began playing soccer professionally at age 16, when he moved from Brazil to Canada to play. He joined the Toronto Italia Falcons of the Eastern Canadian Professional Soccer League where he was the 1965 and 1966 league leading scorer and the 1966 Most Valuable Player. In 1967, he moved to the Boston RoversBoston Rovers
Boston Rovers were a United States soccer team that competed in the United Soccer Association league in 1967. The team was based in Lynn, Massachusetts and played their home games at the Manning Bowl. The USA league was actually made up of visiting club teams from Europe and South America...
in the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
before joining the Los Angeles Wolves
Los Angeles Wolves
Los Angeles Wolves are a former United States professional soccer team, owned by Jack Kent Cooke, that played for two seasons during the 1960s...
, alongside cousin Gilson, for the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
's first season. After one season in Los Angeles, Metidieri moved to the Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
. He achieved his 'double double' with the Lancers, a team he played with for four summers. In 1971, he was the MPV and league leading scorer. 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
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
in 1971. He scored 35 points in 23 games in 1970 and 46 points, including 19 goals, in 24 games in 1971. Metidieri finished his NASL career in 1974 playing for the Boston Minutemen
Boston Minutemen
The Boston Minutemen were a soccer team based out of Boston that played in the NASL. They played from 1974 to 1976. Their home fields included Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Schaefer Stadium in Foxborough, Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy and Sargent Field in New Bedford.Portuguese legend...
. He made a brief and final return to the professional spotlight for the Major Indoor Soccer League's Buffalo Stallions
Buffalo Stallions
The Buffalo Stallions were a soccer team based out of Buffalo, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 to 1984. Their home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.-History:...
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 BermudaBermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
on March 17. His second was a 4-0 loss to Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
on March 20. He also played an unofficial match, a 6-0 loss to Belgium, on March 29.
After his retirement from soccer he lived in Rochester, New York where he owned a pizza restaurant. He later moved to Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
He now resides in Gilbert, Arizona
Gilbert, Arizona
-Demographics:As of July 1, 2009, Maricopa Association of Governments, Census 2000. United States Census Bureau. there were 217,521 people, 74,147 housing units, and 3.01 persons per household....
with his wife and daughter and owns a Brazilian/Italian restaurant known as "Brasitalia" http://www.brasitalia-az.com