VSI Tampa Bay FC News Release -- www.vsi-fc.com
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. -- VSI Tampa Bay FC is pleased to announce the signing of 2012 USL PRO Championship winner, veteran midfielder Tony Donatelli, of the Charleston Battery. Donatelli joins VSI Tampa Bay FC for the club's inaugural season and brings a wealth of experience and talent. Donatelli featured in 20 of the Battery's 24 regular-season games in 2012 and was an integral part of the team’s success in winning the Championship.
"To sign a player of Tony’s pedigree in our first season is great news for the club and our supporters here in Tampa," Head Coach Matt Weston said. "We are assembling a roster brimming with talent and experience alongside some quality younger players we are bringing up from South America. We are going to play a very technical brand of attacking soccer and this is what persuaded Tony to sign on the dotted line with VSI for our debut season.”
Donatelli began his career with the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2006 and was part of the club's USL First Division Championship side that season. After three years in Vancouver, Donatelli was traded to the Montreal Impact, where he played two seasons and scored the opening goal of the 2009 USL First Division Championship game, helping the Impact win the championship against his former club.
A native of Glenside, Pa., Donatelli was signed by Major League Soccer's San Jose Earthquakes in January 2011 but was waived prior to the MLS season. He subsequently signed with USL PRO's Rochester Rhinos in 2011 before moving to the Battery to star in 2012's Championship run.
“I am really excited to be a part of the new VSI Tampa Bay FC team," Donatelli said. "After hearing about the club's ambitions and Coach Matt Weston's style of play I knew it was going to be the right place for me to play in 2013. I am really looking forward to playing in front of our fans and competing for a championship this season.”
“VSI Tampa Bay FC is thrilled to have Tony joining us in our inaugural season," Director of Soccer, Clay Roberts said. "Tony is an established veteran, and proven champion. Donatelli will bring a dynamic element to our style of play, and will always be a scoring threat. I have played with Tony and he represents the meaning of a professional. We are looking for him to do big things as we establish our club in this league.”
Donatelli joins VSI Tampa Bay FC after the conclusion of the 2013 MISL Season with the Baltimore Blast, in which the Blast won another championship. Tony scored four goals in the Championship series against the Missouri Comets on their way to the championship.
Donatelli brings his goal scoring abilities outdoors for VSI Tampa Bay’s final two preseason matches against the University of Tampa on Thursday night at 7 p.m., and the University of South Florida on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
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