VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Saturday that the club has re-signed Italian goalkeeper Paolo Tornaghi to a one-year deal, with a club option for 2017, ahead of Sunday’s season opener against Montreal Impact (2:30 p.m. PT at BC Place).
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“Paolo is a true professional,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “The boys absolutely love him to bits and we’re confident in his abilities as a goalkeeper. He trains hard, has the right attitude, and is a role model for the younger goalkeepers in our club. We’re happy to have him back.”
WHITECAPS FC GOALKEEPER PAOLO TORNAGHI
- Helped Whitecaps FC claim first-ever Voyageurs Cup in 2015 with three ACC starts
- 2015 Whitecaps FC Humanitarian of the Year
- Former Inter Milan youth player
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Tornaghi, 27, joined Whitecaps FC in 2014 after two seasons with Chicago Fire.
The Garbagnate Milanese, Italy native has yet to appear in an MLS regular season match with Whitecaps FC, however last year he did appear in four CONCACAF Champions League matches (posting a 1W-2L-1D record and 1.25 GAA) and three Amway Canadian Championship fixtures (1W-0L-2D and 1.33 GAA), helping Whitecaps FC claim their first-ever Voyageurs Cup.
He also started seven matches with WFC2, the club’s United Soccer League team, and was named the Whitecaps FC Humanitarian of the Year for his work in the community, which included a special hospital visit to an injured C.D. Olimpia player.
“I’m happy to re-sign because I know what we’re building here as players and also as a club,” Tornaghi said. “I will continue to give my all for the fans, staff, and my teammates.”
As a member of the Fire, Tornaghi goalkeeper started each of his nine regular season appearances, accumulating one clean sheet and a 3W-4L-2D record, as well as a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match and a pair of international fixtures against Aston Villa and Santos Laguna.
Before joining MLS in 2012, Tornaghi was a member of storied Italian club FC Internazionale Milano. While on loan from Inter Milan between 2008 and 2011, Tornaghi enjoyed two stints with Serie C side Como, where he appeared in six league matches and two Coppa Italia matches.
Tornaghi also played the 2009-10 season on loan with northern Italian side Rimini, where he appeared in two league matches and one Coppa Italia match.
At the international level, Tornaghi has represented his native Italy at every level from U-16 to U-20 and was part of the Azzuri side that participated in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship, where he appeared in two matches.
Tornaghi obtained his permanent residency status (green card) from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in September 2013, and therefore counts as a domestic player in MLS.
Paolo Tornaghi
Pronunciation: TOR-nah-GEE
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-4
Weight: 185 pounds
Date of Birth: June 21, 1988, in Garbagnate Milanese, Italy
Hometown: Cormano, Italy
Citizenship: Italy
Status: Domestic (Green Card)
Previous Club: Chicago Fire (MLS: '12-'13)
How Acquired: Signed to a MLS contract on February 18, 2014, re-signed on March 5, 2016
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