John Maisano
Encyclopedia
John Maisano is an Australia
n former footballer.
John Maisano was born in Melbourne
to Italian parents. He holds dual nationality and began his professional football career at Italian
Serie A
team Atalanta
. However his introduction to football came at the world renowned Australian Institute of Sport
and it was after a year there (1996–1997) he moved overseas.
squad in the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship
in Ecuador
and the Australia under 20
squad that took part in the under 20 World Championships in Nigeria
. Harry Kewell
was a team mate in the under 17 competition while Brett Emerton
was a team mate in the under 20 tournament.
and signed for Greenock Morton
. This was only a few months after younger brother Marco Maisano had joined the club. He (John) originally came to Scotland for a trial with Kilmarnock
but their manager, at that time, Jim Jefferies
said that he was an excellent player but was not quite what he was looking for at that time. Although most thought that he was too good to play in the Scottish Third Division
he was enticed by the opportunity to link up with his brother in addition to how impressed he was with the set up at Morton when he went along to watch his brother play.
Maisano was an integral part of the Scottish Third Division championship winning side in season 2002/03
. He left his biggest performance for the most important match, where the title was won on the final day of the season versus Peterhead
. He was later voted man of the match for a performance that included crashing a free kick off of the crossbar from around 40 yards from goal.
Maisano's inconsistency and his lack of appetite in less glamorous matches resulted in his release from Morton. His technical ability was unquestionable, however his consistency and work ethic certainly could be called in to question.
After Morton he had brief spells at Ayr United
and Stranraer
.
Maisano retired from professional football in 2006, aged only 27 years old. He continues to reside in Greenock
, Scotland
with his Scottish wife, whom he married during his time at Morton.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n former footballer.
John Maisano was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Italian parents. He holds dual nationality and began his professional football career at Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
team Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
. However his introduction to football came at the world renowned Australian Institute of Sport
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
and it was after a year there (1996–1997) he moved overseas.
International
During his time at Atalanta, Maisano represented his country at international level. He was part of the Australia under 17Australia national under-17 football team
The Australia national under-17 association football team, more commonly known as the Joeys, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia in international Under 17 or youth football competitions.-FIFA U-17 World Cup:...
squad in the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship
1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The FIFA U-17 World Championship 1995 was held in the cities of Guayaquil, Portoviejo, Quito, Ibarra, Cuenca, and Riobamba in Ecuador between 3 August and 20 August 1995. Players born after 1 August 1978 could participate in this tournament...
in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and the Australia under 20
Australia national under-20 football team
The Australia national under-20 association football team, more commonly known as the Young Socceroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia in international Under 20 or youth football competitions....
squad that took part in the under 20 World Championships in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Harry Kewell
Harry Kewell
Harold "Harry" Kewell is an Australian professional football midfielder who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Internationally he has received 55 caps, and scored 16 goals, while playing for the Australian national team...
was a team mate in the under 17 competition while Brett Emerton
Brett Emerton
Brett Michael Emerton is an Australian football player who plays for Sydney FC and the Australia national team...
was a team mate in the under 20 tournament.
Club
Maisano returned to Europe in 2002 when he left Marconi StallionsMarconi Stallions
The Marconi Stallions Football Club is an Australian football club located in Sydney, Australia. The club won the National Soccer League title a record four times, along with South Melbourne FC and Sydney City SC...
and signed for Greenock Morton
Greenock Morton F.C.
Greenock Morton Football Club are a Scottish professional football club, who currently play in the Scottish Football League First Division. The club was founded as Morton Football Club in 1874, making it one of the oldest senior Scottish clubs....
. This was only a few months after younger brother Marco Maisano had joined the club. He (John) originally came to Scotland for a trial with Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
but their manager, at that time, Jim Jefferies
Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
said that he was an excellent player but was not quite what he was looking for at that time. Although most thought that he was too good to play in the Scottish Third Division
Scottish Football League Third Division
The Scottish Football League Third Division is the lowest division of the Scottish Football League and the fourth overall in the Scottish football league system....
he was enticed by the opportunity to link up with his brother in addition to how impressed he was with the set up at Morton when he went along to watch his brother play.
Maisano was an integral part of the Scottish Third Division championship winning side in season 2002/03
2002-03 in Scottish football
The 2002–03 season was the 106th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Scottish Premier League:The 2002–03 Scottish Premier League was won on goal difference by Rangers by a single goal over Celtic. Both Rangers and Celtic qualified for the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League and...
. He left his biggest performance for the most important match, where the title was won on the final day of the season versus Peterhead
Peterhead F.C.
Peterhead F.C. are a football club based in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. They currently play in the Scottish Football League Third Division, following promotion in the 2004–05 season.Their home ground is Balmoor in Peterhead, with a capacity of 4,000...
. He was later voted man of the match for a performance that included crashing a free kick off of the crossbar from around 40 yards from goal.
Maisano's inconsistency and his lack of appetite in less glamorous matches resulted in his release from Morton. His technical ability was unquestionable, however his consistency and work ethic certainly could be called in to question.
After Morton he had brief spells at Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
and Stranraer
Stranraer F.C.
Stranraer Football Club is a Scottish semi-professional football team based in the town of Stranraer, Dumfries and Galloway. They are members of the Scottish Football League, and currently play in the Third Division.-History:...
.
Maisano retired from professional football in 2006, aged only 27 years old. He continues to reside in Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
with his Scottish wife, whom he married during his time at Morton.