Nov 19 Impact Captain Mauro Biello Retires

During a sincere, heartfelt speech in front of much media, family, friends and some teammates, Montreal Impact team captain Mauro Biello announced his retirement, Thursday at Saputo Stadium, ending a 19-year career in professional soccer, including 16 seasons in the Montreal uniform.

Biello, a leader on and off the pitch, who is admired and respected by all who come in contact with him, pondered this decision during the last two seasons where he nursed numerous injuries that kept him from much pitch time.

“This wasn’t an easy decision to take; however the last two seasons were harder for me due to injuries. I always told myself that if I wasn’t able to play at the level I wanted, I would move on. I have worn the Impact jersey with great pride for 16 seasons and I never thought of playing anywhere else than in Montreal.”

Jokingly, however, he admitted the real reason why he felt it was time to “pass the torch” was because his son, when asked at Halloween what he wanted to be, responded with “a soccer player”. A proud Biello said “so you want to be like daddy?” and his son quickly responded “No, I wanna be Joey Gjertsen!”

The Impact captain made sure to thank all in attendance, singling out Team president Joey Saputo, coach Marc Dos Santos the training and medical staff,  as well as technical director Nick De Santis.

Again, in an emotional speech peppered with some humourous anecdotes that only endeared you more to him, Biello poked some fun at De Santis by thanking him (as a teammate) for allowing Biello to date De Santis’ sister. Biello has since married to Nick’s sister, Pina.

In his playing career, Bielloe helped the Impact clinch three playoff championships (1994, 2004 and 2009), five regular season championships (1995, 1996, 1997, 2005 and 2006), the Canadian championship in 2008 and the US Open Cup with Rochester in 1999, the season in which the Impact did not play.

The Impact also confirmed that Biello will now serve as assistant coach as well as serve as the director of Impact soccer schools. If Biello can impart any of his determination, grit, scoring touch and passion for the game to the young ones under his tutelage, Quebec youth soccer is in good hands for years to come.

Please read on for the official Impact press release for video, photos and stats.

Tags: Mauro Biello \ professional soccer \ retirement \ announced \ captain \ coach \ Joey Saputo \ Montreal Impact \ Nick De Santis \ Saputo Stadium \ USL