Marcello Polisi
PROFILE
A midfielder from Coquitlam, BC, Marcello Polisi joined Whitecaps FC Residency in Sept. 2011 after being a member of the club’s Prospects program and representing Western Canada at youth level.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC PROSPECTS
Polisi was a member of Whitecaps FC Prospects, where he trained under Residency staff coach Bart Choufour. He served as captain of both the U-11 and U-12 Prospects teams, and appeared for the U-11 squad in Europe, where he played against Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven and German clubs Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen.
BELGIAN PRO LEAGUE
In the summer of 2008, Polisi had a one-week trial with the youth set-up of Belgian Pro League club Royal Standard de Liège. The midfielder was then invited back to Standard Liège for a three-week training spell in the summer of 2009. This included appearances for Standard Liège in the 2009 Bierbeek Tournament versus Belgian giants Club Brugge and England’s Chelsea FC. He also scored against French club LOSC Lille.
YOUTH/AMATEUR/REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS
As a member of Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club from 2001 to 2011, Polisi played one to two years up from U-5 to U-16 Select B levels. He also represented his home province of British Columbia as U-13 captain and as a member of their U-14 squad. As a U-13 player, the midfielder also trained in the Canadian Soccer Association’s National Training Centre program (British Columbia region). In June 2009, Polisi was captain and Most Valuable Player with the Western Canadian U-12 side at the Danone Nations Cup. He was then selected to represent Canada at the 2010 Danone Nations Cup in South Africa.
Polisi represented Canada's U-15 boys' team at an eight-team tournament in Mexico in June 2012.
PERSONAL
As a student in Coquitlam, BC, Polisi attended Harbour View Elementary School from 2003 to 2007 before spending the 2007-08 school year at Parkland Elementary School. The striker then attended Hillcrest Middle School from 2008 to 2011 before enrolling at Dr. Charles Best Secondary School at the start of the 2011-12 school year.
INTERESTING FACTS
Polisi’s favourite team is Spanish and European giants Barcelona, while his favourite player is Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi. His dream is to play in Barcelona’s famous Camp Nou home. Off the soccer pitch, Polisi enjoys working out, spending time with friends, watching movies, and watching soccer. His favourite food is pasta.