The inaugural MLS season saw a handful of Italians bid farewell to the comfort of calcio in order to get a taste of what North America had on offer.
The players themselves each had their own reasons for joining, yet even in 1996, if they thought an easy ride was in store, how wrong it would turn out to be.
Nicola Caricola: The Curse That Bears His Name
Barese center-half Nicola Caricola was the first to make the move, if he knew what was to follow, he may have had some regrets.
Caricola’s large amount of success came in the earlier days of his career during a four-year stint with Juventus, after signing from his boyhood club Bari. He won the Scudetto twice with La Vecchia Signora, along with grabbing a European Cup winners medal in 1985 after beating Liverpool, a game that will sadly be remembered for the tragic events that occurred at the Heysel Stadium.
Upon leaving Turin, Caricola began to mature in his game. He signed for Italy’s oldest club, Genoa, and became an ever-present member of the squad, making 261 appearances in all competitions. He spent the best part of eight seasons with Il Grifone, barring a short spell with his former Derby della Mole rivals Torino.
When the New York MetroStars hierarchy announced Caricola, those who had any amount of knowledge on the sport would have been delighted by signing a player of Nico’s pedigree. Albeit influenced by his wife Tanya’s aspirations to become a model, I’m sure he was every bit just as pleased.
The first game in MetroStars history, who were rebranded to New York Red Bulls in 2006, was a two-one loss to LA Galaxy. As the Metro looked to put things right in their first home game, perhaps they hoped they could turn to Caricola in order for him to make the Giants stadium a fortress.
Thirty-tree at the time of playing in the States, Caricola had previously gone unbeaten at home with Genoa in the 1990-91 season, time would prove not to be on his side. A bumper crowd of nearly 50,000 turned up to witness history of the wrong kind against New England Revolution, that being one of the most infamous goals in MLS to date.
Fifteen seconds were left on the clock and with no injury time in the MLS, a penalty shootout was certain. A shootout because draws were not permitted either, some rules hey! Revs forward Darren Sawatzky delivered a low-cross which was quickly palmed into the path of Caricola by goalkeeper Tony Meola. Instead of forcing a corner kick, he diverged the ball into his own net in quite stunning fashion, chipping the ball over his bewildered goalkeeper and awarding the away side all three points.
Caricola would go onto retire the following year with a still-standing club record of two own-goals in a single season to his name. However rocky the start, he wasn’t all that bad. Although his side failed to make significant progress in the playoffs, losing in the first round against would-be champions D.C. United, a respectable sixth place was achieved. Caricola played 25 times and did score two goals in the correct net.
The supposed “curse of Caricola” gained momentum over the years, with fans and pundits alike pointing to the Italian’s mistake as the start of the Metro’s struggles. They would develop a reputation for being consistent underperformers despite having some of the most talented players, waiting decades for their first taste of silverware.
Five-time Scudetto and double European Cup winner Roberto Donadoni couldn’t even help guide MetroStars to glory. He joined his fellow countryman a few weeks later and made his debut in a 4-3 shootout win against Tampa Bay Mutiny, the first point the club received.
Unlike Caricola, Donadoni was a key player for the MetroStars, scoring six goals and providing 11 assists in 23 appearances. He was named in the MLS Best XI and also a finalist for the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Ultimately, whether or not the curse is real remains a matter of debate. Some see it as a mere coincidence, while others believe it to be a genuine supernatural force. No matter what people believe, the tale of Caricola’s own goal has become a part of MLS folklore and will continue to be retold by fans for years to come.
Giuseppe Galderisi: Favoloso in Florida
Nicknamed ‘Nanu’ due to his miniature size, Giuseppe Galderisi was an icon of Italian football in the Eighties and early Nineties. Known for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, his work ethic and professionalism both on and off the field was what made him a such a likeable character.
Seen as a young prodigy at Juventus, he burst onto the big stage early, making his debut for the Old Lady on November 9, 1980, being just 17. The following season would prove to be the clear indication that Galderisi would be destined for great things. He managed six goals in 16 appearances, playing an active role in the second consecutive Scudetto won.
After leaving Juventus, Galderisi shone under the guidance of Osvaldo Bagnoli when playing for Verona. This is similar to Caricola, who Bagnoli managed sometime later at Genoa. Nanu would go onto form a formidable partnership with Dane Preben Elkjær during the 1984/85 season and lead Verona to a historic Scudetto of their own.
Injuries blighted his personal progression with both the Azzurri and future Italian clubs Milan and Lazio, that being his main reason to make the switch overseas.
Galderisi would first sign for the team that still haunts Caricola to this day, New England Revolution, but would struggle himself. Four appearances without a goal and the Revs had seen enough of the seemingly battered and bruised 33-year-old. A trade to Tampa Bay Mutiny would be the spark to set the league alight at last.
Joining midway through the inaugural season, Nanu netted seven times in 27 games to help win the MLS Supporters’ Shield as the Mutiny were the best team during the regular season.
This improved performance, along with scoring another five the following season, prompted new Revs head coach Thomas Rongen to bring Galderisi back to the Foxborough based side in 1997. Old habits die hard as he failed to score for the club again, playing another nine games.
Galderisi’s – and Donadoni’s – time in the MLS was spent, but their impact was significant. They were the pioneers for international stars (let alone Italians) to play in the United States, and helped raise the profile of the league at a time where there was no social media and advancements in technology were limited.