CFMTL Media

Impact Souvenir Magazine: Delivering Marco Di Vaio

Marco Di Vaio 2014 magazine web 620x350
Impact Souvenir Magazine: Delivering Marco Di Vaio -

By Joey Strizzi
Bringing the Italian bomber to MLS took a year of hard work; breaking down the signing of the club’s first Designated Player.

When it became known that the Montreal Impact was going to join MLS as its 19th franchise back in May 2010, Nick De Santis got to work immediately in identifying potential Designated Players for the club—almost a full two years prior to the team’s first game in North America’s top flight.


After careful study, the former Impact player, captain, coach and current sporting director used his wealth of knowledge and experience to produce a list of forwards targeted by the club as Designated Players in MLS, and Di Vaio was at the top of that list.


“I followed his career for a long time, but even more so while with Bologna,” said De Santis. “He averaged between 12-15 goals a season in a very tough league for scoring. He played over 30 games over his four years at Bologna and was the captain of a team that always battled to avoid relegation and remain in Serie A. It takes a mentally strong person to carry your team on your shoulders in both good and bad times. He was always an important element to the team’s success.”


To read the full article, purchase the 2014 souvenir magazine at the Impact's next home game, this Saturday, March 29, at the Olympic Stadium, for the special price of $2.