Peter Pinizzotto

Peter Pinizzotto is an Italian born Canadian soccer coach who serves as the head coach for Woodbridge Strikers in League1 Ontario.

Peter Pinizzotto
Pinizzotto in 2014
Personal information
Place of birth Italy[1]
Youth career
US Biel-Bienne
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
US Biel-Bienne
Hamilton Canadians
FC Delia
FC Pineto
FC Pratola
Toronto Italia
Managerial career
1991–1992 Woodbridge Azzurri
1993 Richmond Hill Kick of York
1994 Toronto Italia
1995 Italo Canadians
1996 Toronto Italia
1997–2003 Toronto Lynx
2004–2008 Montreal Impact (assistant)
2009– Woodbridge Strikers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Pinizzotto is known for managing the Toronto Lynx, and is the longest-serving manager in the history of Toronto Lynx, having managed from 1997 and 2003.[2] After his tenure with the Lynx, Pinnizzotto was appointed assistant coach to the Montreal Impact under Nick De Santis. He enjoyed success with the Impact winning the 2004 USL First Division league championship, as well as winning the Voyageurs Cup four years in a row. In 2009, he became associated with the Woodbridge Strikers.

Playing career

Pinizzotto was born in Italy, but shortly after moved to Switzerland where he joined the academy of FC Biel-Bienne eventually being called up to the first team.[3] In 1968, he immigrated to Canada where he spent time in the National Soccer League with Hamilton Italo–Canadians, and Toronto Italia.[4] He also played in Italy with FC. Delia, ASD Pineto Calcio, and FC. Patola.[4]

Managerial career

Early years

In 1991, Pinizzotto began managing in the Second Division of the Toronto and District League with Woodbridge Azzuri.[5] The following season he returned to the renamed Canadian National Soccer League with Richmond Hill Kick of York in 1993.[6] Toronto Italia hired him as head coach for the 1994 season where he secured Toronto the double. As a result of his success he was named the CNSL Coach of the Year.[7] In 1995, he managed Italo Canadians in the Canadian International Soccer League (Puma League), but eventually returned to Toronto Italia in 1996. In his second season with Italia he repeated his previous success, and was named Coach of the Year for the second time.[8][9] He also managed in the 1996 CNSL All-Star match for Toronto Italia, which featured Diego Maradona against the CNSL All-Stars.[10]

Toronto Lynx

When the USL A-League granted the Toronto Lynx a franchise Pinizzotto was appointed the inaugural head coach for the 1997 season.[11][12] He assembled a roster with several noted CNSL veterans along with future Canadian internationals. In his debut season he led Toronto to a USL record of ten consecutive wins for an expansion franchise.[13] As a result the club clinched a postseason berth by finishing fourth in the Northeast division, and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs to Montreal Impact.[14][15] In 1999, he was named general manager while maintaining his coaching responsibilities.[16]

Pinizzotto secured another playoff berth for Toronto in the 2000 season after finishing third in the Northeast division.[17] In the preliminary rounds of the postseason Toronto defeated Long Island Rough Riders, and Richmond Kickers.[18][19] In the Eastern Conference final the Lynx were eliminated by the Rochester Rhinos.[20][21][22] Pinizzotto's final notable season occurred in 2002 where Toronto nearly clinched the final berth playoff berth. Where the Lynx had to register a victory in the final match against Atlanta Silverbacks FC, but tied the match which allowed the Charlotte Eagles to secure the final berth in the Eastern Conference.[23]

Meanwhile in the inaugural 2002 Voyageurs Cup the club finished as runner's up to Montreal.[24] After the 2003 season the ownership of Toronto modified their club policy by deciding not to renew Pinizzotto's contract, and hired Duncan Wilde as his successor.[25] Throughout his tenure in Toronto he was known for providing young talent an opportunity to develop their skills, and as result produced several notable players to the Canada national team program.[26] He also served as an assistant coach under Gary Hindley for the Toronto ThunderHawks in the National Professional Soccer League for the 2000-2001 indoor season.[27][28]

Montreal Impact

In 2004, Pinizzotto accepted the position of assistant coach for the Montreal Impact under Nick DeSantis.[29] In his first season he helped the team win the league double, and the Voyageurs Cup.[30] The following season he helped the team set a league-record of a 15-game undefeated streak and total of only three losses, as well as a club-record nine-game undefeated stretch on the road.[30] As well as another regular-season title, and Voyageurs Cup. In 2006, he helped the team to its best start ever at home with a ten-game undefeated streak at Claude-Robillard Sports Complex winning another regular season title, and the club's third Voyageurs Cup.[30] In 2007, he signed a new deal to keep him at the club for the 2007 season.[31] After De Santis was promoted to Manager and Director of Soccer for Montreal Impact in 2008 he was dismissed from his coaching duties.[32][33]

Woodbridge Strikers

In 2009, Pinizzotto became involved with Woodbridge Strikers SC as a technical director, and managed their reserve team in the Reserve division of the Canadian Soccer League.[34][35] In 2014, when Woodbridge became a founding member in League1 Ontario he continued to serve as head coach.[36] After the conclusion of the season he was named League1 Coach of the Year.[37] In 2015 and 2017 he secured for the club the league cup.[38][39] He also led the team to the league championship final in 2017, and 2018.[40][41] In 2017, he was inducted into the York Region Soccer Association Hall of Fame.[42]

Managerial statistics
Team From To Record
GWLDWin %
Toronto Lynx April 16, 1997 August 21, 2003 19074953438.94%

References
  1. York Region soccer 2017 Hall of Fame Inductee Bios
  2. "LynxSoccer.com". 2003-04-07. Archived from the original on April 7, 2003. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  3. Woodbridge Soccer Flyer Archived 2009-11-27 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Scuola Calcio - 2009 Summer Camp Archived 2009-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 227.
  6. Laskaris, Sam (July 29, 1993). "Off-field battles continue to plague Kick soccer team". Toronto Star. p. NY4.
  7. "1994 Canadian National Soccer League". The Canadian National Soccer League. 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  8. "1996". The Canadian National Soccer League. 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  9. "Canadian National Soccer League 1993 to 1997" (PDF).
  10. Glover, Robin (September 2, 1996). "Special Exhibition game between Toronto Italia plus Diego Maradona vs the CNSL All-Stars". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  11. Da Costa, Norman (February 14, 1997). "Canada breathes easier for big game". Toronto Star. p. C11.
  12. "New Lynx coach". Newspapers.com. The Windsor Star. February 14, 1997. p. 39. Retrieved 2020-03-23.
  13. "Lynx Do Themselves In - An own goal ends Toronto's ten gaming losing streak". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Sports Report Service. June 22, 1997. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  14. "Lets Get Physical - Montreal battles Toronto for a 1-0 series lead". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Sports Report Service. September 6, 1997. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  15. "Tilley Time - Revenge is sweet for hat trick hero". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Sports Report Service. September 8, 1997. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  16. Bailey, David (June 24, 1999). "Nikki's Night - Hat-trick leads Lynx to second straight win". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  17. Bailey, David (September 1, 2000). "Lynx Lose to Long Island - Rough Riders clinch first place". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  18. Koreen, Mike (September 16, 2000). "Questionable call lifts Lynx". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  19. "Lynx Kick Richmond - Toronto sweeps series". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canada Kicks. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  20. Koreen, Mike (September 23, 2000). "Lynx Travel to Rochester Equal". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  21. DiVeronica, Jeff (September 25, 2000). "Bring on the Thunder - Rhinos head to A-League finals thanks to Demmin". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  22. "Rhinos Advance to A-League Final". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Canadian Press. September 24, 2000. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  23. Koreen, Mike (August 31, 2002). "Lynx come up empty". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  24. Irwin, Rob (August 27, 2002). "Do or die time for the Lynx". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Toronto Lynx media release. Retrieved 2019-07-24.
  25. "Lynx Appoint New Head Coach". October 3, 2003. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  26. "League 1 kicks off Ontario soccer season, offering a chance to rise up the ranks". CHAT News Today| Medicine Hat, Southern Alberta | News, Sports, Weather, Obituaries, Real Estate. Canadian Press. Apr 28, 2017. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  27. Davidson, Neil (October 19, 2000). "Thunderhawks set flight on Friday". CBC Sports.
  28. Davidson, Neil (August 10, 2000). "ThunderHawks Hindley no stranger to expansion". CBC Sports.
  29. DeSantis Will Lead Impact Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
  30. "Technical Team". 2007-08-24. Archived from the original on August 24, 2007. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  31. NEW DEALS FOR ASSISTANTS COACHES Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
  32. shooters woodbridge.pub
  33. "Nick de Santis steps down as Impact coach". The Globe and Mail. June 10, 2008. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  34. "Italia Shooters - PRESS RELEASE" (PDF).
  35. "Peter Pinizzotto joining the Shooter organization". January 20, 1998. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  36. Rollins, Duane (May 29, 2014). "Introducing Woodbridge Strikers". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  37. "League1 Ontario Awards Banquet 2014". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. November 7, 2014. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  38. "League 1 Ontario Cup--Woodbridge Strikers vs Sigma FC (from League 1 Ontario press release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. August 9, 2015. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  39. "League 1 Ontario--Match Recap: League 1 Ontario Cup Final Woodbridge Strikers vs Vaughan Azzurri (from League 1 Ontario)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. August 8, 2017. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  40. "League 1 Ontario League Championship recap: Woodbridge Strikers vs Oakville Blue Devils (from League 1 Ontario website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. October 20, 2017. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  41. "League 1 Ontario--Vaughan Azzurri vs Woodbridge Strikers L1O Championship Final (from League 1 Ontario website)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. October 20, 2018. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
  42. "Hall of Fame | YRSA". www.yrsa.ca. Retrieved 2019-07-27.
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