Canadian champion Nevio Pizzolitto has announced his retirement from professional soccer. The 35-year old centre back officially announced his retirement on Wednesday 28 March in Montréal, QC. The Montréal-born footballer spent 16 seasons with his hometown Impact before this season.
In the inaugural Amway Canadian Championship in 2008, Pizzolitto led the Impact to the national title, earning the Impact a spot in the first CONCACAF Champions League season. The Impact went on to reach the quarter-final stage that year, the highlight of which was a home 2:0 win over Santos Laguna in front of more than 55,000 fans at Stade Olympique.
Also at the club level, Pizzolitto helped the Impact win three playoff championships and five regular-season titles.
At the international level, Pizzolitto represented Canada in one FIFA World Cup Qualifiers cycle and one CONCACAF Gold Cup. At the youth level, he played in one FIFA U-17 World Cup (Japan 1993), one CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying tournament, one CONCACAF Men’s Under-20 Championship, one CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship, and one Jeux de la Francophonie (gold in 1997).
“I would like to thank the Impact for all the great moments I’ve experienced over the course of my career in Montréal,” said Pizzolitto. “I am proud to have contributed to the club’s success. A big thank you goes out to President Joey Saputo for giving me the opportunity to play as a professional in my home town. I need to thank my family and friends as well who have supported me over my career.”