The Italian Americans of Major League Soccer

A look at Italian-Americans in the top Calcio league in the United States

Soccer is an international tradition carried on in the United States by people from many diverse backgrounds; Italians are no exception. Whether as a deadly goal-scorer or a shot-stopper, Italian American soccer players have made an impact in Major League Soccer since the league kicked off in 1996.

Here are nine Italian American players and one coach, in alphabetical order, who have stood head and shoulders above others:

GIANLUCA BUSIO (2017- 2021)

While only 20, Busio started a reputation for club and country. Busio is of Italian descent as his father was born in Brescia. He also holds Italian citizenship. At 15 years old, Busio signed with Sporting Kansas City in 2017, becoming the second-youngest player in history to sign with MLS in the process. He started his career with Swope Park Rangers (United Soccer League) in 2018, before making his MLS debut in July 2018. Busio played 65 times in three MLS seasons while finding the net on eight occasions. His performance caught the eyes of Venezia (Italy's Serie A), which purchased his contract for $6.5 million in 2021 (which could rise to $10.5 million with potential add-ons). Busio has played nine times for the USA.

PAUL CALIGIURI (1996-2001)

Caligiuri etched his name into U.S. soccer history on Nov. 19, 1989, when he scored the goal that lifted the USA into its first World Cup in 40 years in a 1-0 triumph over host Trinidad & Tobago. He also tallied the U.S.'s first World Cup goal since 1950 when he found the net in the 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia. Caligiuri, enjoyed a 14-year professional career, playing for Hamburger SV, SV Meppen, Hansa Rostock, and SC Freiburg in Germany before continuing in MLS with the Columbus Crew and LA Galaxy from 1996-2001. A National Soccer Hall of Fame member, Caligiuri earned 110 caps and scored five goals with the U.S. men's national team.

MIKE GRELLA (2015-2018)

No matter what level of the game in which he competed, Mike Grella always excelled. In 2004 he was the National High School Player of the Year before becoming an All-American at Duke University. He tried his hand at English soccer, playing for several clubs before returning to the states, as a lethal midfielder/winger for the New York Red Bulls. Grella connected 16 goals in 73 matches from 2015-17. After a stint with the Columbus Crew, the Glen Cove, N.Y. native retired in 2018. Now, Grella is a member of the CBS Sports Network and Paramount+.

PATRICK IANNI (2006-2014)

Perhaps not as well-known as others on this list, Ianni certainly left a unique mark of his own as a defender who won several titles. A standout at UCLA, he turned pro when he was chosen by the Houston Dynamo as the eighth overall selection of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft and was a member of the 2006 and 2007 MLS Cup championship sides. He was traded to the Seattle Sounders in 2009, helping the team with three consecutive Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Ianni also scored the 2012 MLS Goal of the Year. After five seasons with Seattle, he finished his MLS career with the Chicago Fire in 2014.

TONY MEOLA (1996-2006)

No other Italian-American player has achieved as much success as Meola. En route to backstopping the Kansas City Wizards to the 2000 MLS Cup title, the Kearny, N.J. native walked away with league and MLS Cup MVP honors, goalkeeper of the year, and comeback player of the year. Meola, who also played for his hometown MetroStars/New York Red Bulls, played in two world cups and made 100 National Team appearances. Meola was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012.

GIUSEPPE ROSSI (2020)

Rossi, an Italian kid from North Jersey, dreamed of playing for the Azzurri. He and his father moved to Italy to advance the young striker's career when Rossi was only 12 years old. Manchester United bought out Rossi’s contract when he was 17. He had a solid career in Europe including 136 appearances for Villarreal (Spain), in which he scored 54 times. Although Rossi’s MLS career consists of only seven games and a lone goal, he is undoubtedly one of the most widely known Italian American soccer players in the world. Rossi declined Coach Bruce Arena’s invitation to play for the United States National team, eliminating him from many talented American squads between 2006-2010. His international career amounted to 30 appearances for Italy, in which he tallied seven goals. 

SANTINO QUARANTA (2001-2011)

A third-generation Italian from a family of soccer players, Quaranta made his MLS debut for D.C. United at just 16 years, four months old. He was the youngest player in MLS at the time. He excelled quickly, but injuries ultimately limited his career. He was a member of D.C. United’s MLS Cup championship team in 2004 and of their U.S. Open Cup-winning squad in 2008. Quaranta also made 15 appearances for the United States National Team. 

GIOVANNI SAVARESE (1996-2000)

Savarese was a lethal goal-scorer and a dangerous presence in the box. A Venezuelan national team standout of Italian descent, Savarese was one of MLS scoring stars in the early years of the league. He accumulated 51 goals and 15 assists in 116 games with the MetroStars/New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, and San Jose Earthquakes. Today, Savarese coaches the Portland Timbers, who reached the 2018 and 2021 MLS Cup finals.

SAL ZIZZO (2010-2018)

Zizzo enjoyed a nine-year MLS career with five teams, Chivas USA, Portland Timbers, Sporting Kansas City, New York Red Bulls, and Atlanta United.  After starring for two years at UCLA, Zizzo left college and played with Hannover 96 in Germany for three seasons before competing in MLS. A reliable and versatile presence as a fullback or wingback, Zizzo totaled 168 MLS appearances, scoring twice with Portland. He featured for the New York Red Bulls team that won the Supporters Shield in 2015 and the MLS Cup Champion Atlanta United squad in 2018. He completed his professional career in the United Soccer League in 2021 with San Diego Loyal, a club owned by US Soccer legend Landon Donovan. 

BRUCE ARENA (COACH) (1996- PRESENT)

Bruce Arena is one of the builders of MLS, winning the Cup in the league's first two seasons (1996, 1997). The National Soccer Hall of Famer continued his success at the LA Galaxy with three more championships in 2011, 2012, and 2014. In 2021, the Brooklyn, N.Y. native coached the New England Revolution to the Supporters' Shield. Arena has an MLS-record 247 career wins and another 35 in the playoffs. He directed the USMNT in two World Cups, including a quarterfinal finish in the 2002 competition.