[uclajames]

Found this while reading online. I don't know if he's a US citizen so I'm sorry if this is in the wrong forum. Maybe a mod can move it.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...e/15955273.htm

Gulliver lost two of the biggest factors of its championship run to graduation: Defensive midfielder Gaby Da Silva, The Miami Herald's Class 4A-1A Player of the Year, and forward Pablo Rodriguez-Fraile, the team's leading scorer (29 goals).

The team also lost forward Marco Francescoli, who would have been a senior this season.

Francescoli, the son of former Uruguayan soccer star Enzo Francescoli (who played in two World Cups), chose to play professionally this season in Italy.

I did a search on Google and it looks like he's playing for the Cagliari Primavera. That would make sense since his father played for Cagliari too. Maybe someone who understands Italian can translate this.

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/08...es/d-05403.htm

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/08...m-01248603.htm

[Parmigiano]

Originally Posted by uclajames

I did a search on Google and it looks like he's playing for the Cagliari Primavera. That would make sense since his father played for Cagliari too. Maybe someone who understands Italian can translate this.

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/08...es/d-05403.htm

http://www.clarin.com/diario/2006/08...m-01248603.htm

Well that's Spanish and it basically says what you say. He's with the reserves, the primavera, of Cagliari. Can't imagine this kid is a Yank. Francescoli was a fantastic player who I had a chance to watch a few times. Truly fine player. And a Uruguayan national hero.

[bkn0528]

Originally Posted by Parmigiano

Francescoli was a fantastic player who I had a chance to watch a few times. Truly fine player. And a Uruguayan national hero.

he was Zidane's idol - even named his son Enzo.

[voros]

It seems unlikely he's a citizen but I certainly don't know for sure.

According to this:

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/050708/1/43u6.html

Enzo has been here since 2002 and has been living in Miami being one of the founders and directors of GolTV.

Marco is an '89 from what I can tell and Enzo was playing in France at the time. I have no reason to believe that Enzo was involved with the USA in any way in 1989, so Marco was likely born in Europe or Uruguay.

Unless the mother is an American, it seems unlikely Marco is a citizen.

[sidefootsitter]

Steve Amoia (SA): Señor Francescoli, bienvenidos al Calcio Connection! You spent four years of your playing career in Italy. The first three with Cagliari, and the last season with Torino. Would you be kind enough to share your impressions about Italy as a country, along with the level of play that you encountered in the Serie A?

Enzo Francescoli (EF): Yes that is the case; I had the honor of playing for both Cagliari and Torino. I must say that this continues to be one of the most competitive fields of play for any professional player. The level of play, well some of the best in the world. Only seven countries have won the World Cup Championship since it began in 1930 and Italy has taken that honor three times only second to Brazil, which has won on five occasions. I, who lived and played in the Calcio, know firsthand the thrill that Italian soccer plays in action can bring to the fan.

As a country, what can I say, Italy is fantastic, but then it is very close to my roots and my heart as my grandfather was Italian himself… From Novara in Northern Italy. And although Uruguayan myself, I have a lot of Italy within me and make it a point to visit often....

(SA): As a former player who competed at the highest levels around the world, what advice or suggestions could you share with younger players who aspire to make soccer their profession?

(EF): Giving advice is a touchy thing because each individual’s circumstance is different. Based on my experience, I think it is important not to make soccer the single one priority in life. One must apply one’s self and study other things and take soccer as the game that it is. Then later one can contemplate going professional. Why I say this, is because reaching professional league play is not only dependent on talent unfortunately. There are other variables such as timing that may be involved. So basically it is important not to put all your eggs in one basket.

I played because it was my passion and I enjoyed it but I had other interests as well until I was 18 when my number was called and I was able to take my passion professionally. It unfortunately does not happen for all, regardless of talent. Today I see many doing it backwards and concentrating only on soccer as the single one option. I have two children and they love soccer as well…but I can tell you I always have encouraged them that their studies come first. The youngest is 17 and already being recruited to play and he will go, WHEN HE HAS FINISHED his studies that is.

http://www.cuginisoccer.com/generic62.html