The late Domenic Mobilio will be inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum on Thursday evening.
The former Vancouver Whitecaps and Canadian international striker, who was also inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007, will join a 2008 induction class that includes the likes of former NHL star Danny Gare, former tennis player Helen Kelesi, former Canadian national rugby team standout Gareth Rees, and three-time World and Olympic mountain biker Alison Sydor. In all, 11 new faces will formally enter the Hall of Fame at Thursday evening's Banquet of Champions at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Considered one of Canadian soccer’s greatest goalscorers, Mobilio was one of the first players to sign for the Vancouver 86ers (now the current Whitecaps) ahead of the inaugural Canadian Soccer League season in 1987. A prolific marksman, Mobilio was the CSL’s all-time leading goalscorer with 81 goals in 121 league appearances.
He continued to play for the club when it changed its name from the 86ers to the Whitecaps before retiring in 2001 after a 15-year career. By the time Mobilio had hung up his boots, his goalscoring total of 170 goals in 286 games made him the second-highest goalscorer in North American professional soccer history after New York Cosmos legend Giorgio Chinaglia.
As a member of the Canadian national team, Mobilio earned 25 international caps for his country between 1986 and 1997. He scored three goals, all coming in a nearly successful qualifying campaign for the 1994 World Cup finals in the USA.
Following his retirement from playing, Mobilio became a coach with the Coquitlam Metro-Ford Soccer Club, having passed on his vast soccer knowledge to the club’s young players.
Sadly, Mobilio’s life was tragically cut short in November 2004 when he died of an apparent heart attack. He was 35.
In honour of Mobilio’s career with the club, the Whitecaps present the ‘Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot Award’ to the men’s team’s top goalscorer each season. Current Whitecaps striker Jason Jordan was the first recipient of the award in 2005, while former Vancouver forward Joey Gjertsen claimed the Golden Boot in 2006. Last season, current Whitecaps hit-man Eduardo Sebrango was the recipient after leading the club with seven goals during the campaign.
Whitecaps FC would like to congratulate the members of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum 2008 induction class on receiving their honours this week.
