Oct 24, 2014
Butler: Di Vaio bows out surrounded by family and 20,000 of his closest friends
Marco Di Vaio steps out on the pitch for a final time in Montreal on Saturday. On the eve of his retirement, TSN Radio Montreal 690's Noel Butler chats with the Roman about his time in Montreal and how the Impact has changed over the course of his Montreal stay.
By Noel Butler
He arrived to great fanfare at Pierre Elliott Trudeau airport on a warm Sunday evening back in late May, 2012. He departs to league wide critical acclaim at Saputo Stadium Saturday afternoon.
In his time in Montreal Marco Di Vaio has mesmerised opponents, mentored the homegrown talent which the Impact Academy has harvested, whilst all along nurturing and nourishing the club’s Major League Soccer roots as he went.
Instilling fear and admiration with opponents in equal measures Di Vaio defines what MLS set out to do when introducing 2007’s Beckham Rule.
Simply put Di Vaio is the quintessential Designated Player.
The mutual adulation with the club’s supporters is a wonder to hold. As were so many of the goals the natural born predator potted for the cause.
Through wind, rain, or sleet, Di Vaio so often lit up the darkest of night time Stade Saputo skies.
Fiercely competitive on the pitch, charismatic beyond belief off it. He will be celebrated forever more.
Since the Impact set out on the search for MLS game-changer when first awarded the franchise in spring 2010 - the likes of Nicolas Anelka, David Trezeguet, Michael Ballack, even Alessandro Del Piero were all passed over in favour of a 35-year old native Roman.
Club President Joey Saputo could not have wished for more.
His patience and perseverance surely tested through a two year process which would finely pay off following his and Nick De Santis’ encounter with Di Vaio on a snowy Bolgona day back in early February, 2012.
Di Vaio, though, previously disclosed to TSN.ca he was not immediately Montreal and MLS smitten during lead up phone calls ahead of that meeting.
"I met Joey and Nick in Italy when I was playing with Bologna before that I spoke with them two or three times but I was not convinced to go and play in MLS," he said.
"After I met with Joey and Nick I [made] the decision to come. I understood them as two very good guys,"
"They convinced me when I met them in Italy. We spoke about the life, the kids everything and afterwards I made the decision to come."
Arriving at the mid-point of the 2012 season Di Vaio struggled.
Psychologically and physiologically scarred from a gruelling relegation battle with Bologna, Di Vaio was unable to replicate his goal scoring form that in large part secured Serie A survival for Bologna as a member of the Impact.
Through 17 appearances he only managed to score five goals. Di Vaio took it personally.
Lessons learned he arrived into town well ahead of the opening of 2013’s training camp. Di Vaio felt he owed Joey Saputo, the club and supporters for his meagre output and disjointed performances of 2012.
Rightfully amongst the MVP candidates on the back of a rare MLS milestone of a 20-goal season, an MLS All-Star appearance and a first playoff position for the Impact heralded quite the repayment.
All that came crashing down, though, in the Houston horror that unfolded in that solitary playoff match, which ultimately concluded for Di Vaio a few minutes before the final whistle. A completely out-of-character verbal and physical encounter with several Houston players rightfully led to Di Vaio’s dismissal.
Matters of the heart had disrupted Di Vaio during summer 2013 leading to a July return home to tend to family matters. For an extended period there was a deepening uncertainty one of the leading scorers in modern Serie A history would return for his option year.
It was only late in the season that all the anxious uncertainty evaporated with the club announcing last October that Di Vaio would indeed grace MLS pitches through 2014.
Suspended for the first three games, Di Vaio marked his return with the equalizer down in the city of brotherly love.
The club however didn’t ever recover from a winless seven-match start to the campaign. Klopas was always up against it to affect an immediate return to the playoffs.
The spiral in league form which sees the Impact finishing as Eastern Conference cellar-dwellers this season was more than made up for in the season’s two other competitions. We saw the Impact retain the Voyageurs Cup and - courtesy of Di Vaio’s goals and inspired form - a return next February to the knock out stages on the CONCACAF Champions League.
Although no medals will have been awarded for last Saturday’s gutsy performance and draw in Toronto - which led to the Impact’s nearest and not-so-dearest missing the playoffs for an eighth straight season certainly adds to the 2014 folklore, as does the arrival of Ignattio Piatti whose performances since his August arrival have rejuvenated Di Vaio. In doing so ensured the Impact legend in waiting bows out.
In his penultimate performance at Saputo Stadium the crowd were treated to a Di Vaio brace which would have graced any league on planet futbol.
What Saturday afternoon holds when Davy Arnaud’s Eastern Conference champions D.C. United pay a visit is not certain.
What is certain is there will be very few dry eyes at the final whistle as Di Vaio bows out from a very distinguished playing career.
Surrounded by family and childhood friend Alessandro Nesta it will be a very emotional Di Vaio who would likely be willing to shake hands with every single spectator gathered but will likely opt for the microphone and PA system to bid his fond farewells.
Au Revoir. Grazie, Marco.
Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca
@TheSoccerNoel
Di Vaio’s farewell - Montreal Impact vs. DC United can be heard live on TSN Radio Montreal 690 at 4pm et/1pm pt.