The Impact de Montreal's Marco Di Vaio (white jersey) announced his retirement on October 3, 2014. (Photo: Dennis Concordel/www.widgic.com)
MONTREAL – Impact de Montreal forward Marco Di Vaio announced Friday that he will be retiring from professional football at the end of the current Major League Soccer (MLS) season.
The former Italy international has been instrumental in helping Montreal advance to the quarterfinals of the current CONCACAF Champions League, scoring four of its five goals while leading it to the Group 3 title.
"After a 20-year career, I am pleased to announce that I will be retiring in Montreal as a member of the Impact," said Di Vaio. "I am very proud of what I've accomplished over two decades as a pro. It was a dream of mine to play at the highest level and I will look to make the best of my final month as a player."
Il bomber joined the Impact on May 24, 2012, after earning a deserved reputation as one of the finest scorers in Italian Serie A history. In 342 games with Lazio, Bari, Salernitana, Parma, Juventus, Genoa and Bologna, he netted 142 goals. He also played with Spain’s Valenicia and Monaco in the French league.
In three seasons with Montreal, the 38-year-old tallied 31 goals in in 72 regular-season matches.and will end his career as the club's all-time leading goalscorer in MLS.
He won 14 caps for Italy and helped the Impact win two consecutive Canadian Championships (2013, 2014).
