Blast From The Past – Giovanni Savarese

Giovanni joined us on the 13th of October 2000 just days after playing against Brazil for Venezuela. He made his league debut just 2 days later and became an instant hero by scoring both goals in the 2-1 defeat of Stoke city. Giovanni came in for some early criticism, not from the fans but from our good friend Mark Aizlewood. Aizlewood predicted that Gio wasn’t good enough and that he wouldn’t score 10 goals in the season. Aizlewood would soon have to eat humble pie as Giovanni finished the season with 14 goals, leaving many fans to wonder what could have been if he had been signed earlier in the season. Giovanni’s final game for us would end in disappointment as he was sent off in the 9th minute of the FAW cup final after elbowing Wrexham player Mark McGregor. After leaving the Vetch following our relegation Gio joined Millwall and was given a 3 month contract with an option to extend, however, after making just 1 substitute appearance Gio decided to leave Britain. Gio returned to Venezuela where he joined Deportivo Italchacao. After becoming an assistant coach at St. John’s University in New York, he tried out with the MetroStars in 2003, but failed to make the team. He would play one game for Italian Serie C club Torres Sassari, and then re-sign with the Long Island Rough Riders in 2004, scoring five goals with the team that first put him on the US soccer map. In 2005, he went back to the MetroStars as the head of their youth development. In May 2005 it was reported that the long island rough riders were hoping to resign Gio.

Submitted By Richard Francis