Portland Timbers Sign Chivas USA Midfielder Salvatore "Sal" Zizzo
by Geoff Gibson on Feb 16, 2011 4:00 PM PST
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In a surprise announcement this afternoon, the Portland Timbers FO announced that they had acquired Chivas USA midfielder Salvatore "Sal" Zizzo in exchange for allocation money.
Additionally, while I can't confirm anything, I'd say that this deal pretty much seals the deal on our mystery CM that was supposed to be the "best in the league." My guess would be that whatever deal the Timbers had been working on fell apart sometime back in January. Since then Sal Zizzo, who himself is a quality midfielder, became a target acquire.
Moving on towards the player himself, Sal Zizzo, a native of San Diego, is currently a member of the US Men's National Team. He was signed by Chivas USA last year from Bundesliga side Hannover 96 where he made 8 first team appearances and played for the German club's reserve team.
Zizzo is a player we've been interested in acquiring for some time now," said Wilkinson. "We are delighted to add such a quality player to our roster."
Here are his stats:
Salvatore "Sal" Zizzo
Pronunciation: ZEE-zoh
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Weight: 165
Born: April 3, 1987, in San Diego, Calif.
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Previous Club: Chivas USA
College: UCLA
Citizenship: United States
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Haha...
I definitely prefer to refer to him as “Salvatore.”
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Feb 16, 2011 4:05 PM PST up reply actions
That really doesn't help the perception, in my eyes.
I write for Stumptown Footy, SB Nation's Portland Timbers blog.
by thehemogoblin on Feb 18, 2011 1:48 PM PST up reply actions
Zizzo!
I remember his time at UCLA quite well.
I think he was only there for a couple years, though he played on the NCAA national championship runner-up squad in 2006. I think he scored a few times that year but was really known for dishing the ball out to David Estrada (now on the Sounders) up top.
It’s nice to be reunited with one of the players on my college’s team.
"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon
If you have any insider information about him...
Do spill!
RCTID - Stumptown Footy
Moderator of /r/MLS
by Geoff Gibson on Feb 16, 2011 4:11 PM PST up reply actions
Well
Sadly, I don’t know any of UCLA’s players personally.
"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon
But I might know people who know him.
"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon
Zizzo is taller
1 whole inch taller.
"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon
Also, Dax's name doesn't lend itself to the nickname 'The Sizzle" nearly as well
But I’d be interested in seeing some analysis beyond that.
volatilelyle.com
by almost awesome on Feb 16, 2011 4:30 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Hey, DAX happens to be my initials
They work just fine for sizzle, tyvm…. lol
Blazers win!
by The X-man on Feb 16, 2011 5:01 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Ask and you shall recieve
Zizzo is a true protypical winger, playing on the outside of midfield, hugging the sideline to send in crosses into the box. Dax is a central midfielder, though his true effectiveness is not as a distributor, but more as a energy guy that just harasses opposing players in the center of the park like a terrier.
Zizzo was a standout on the U-20 USMNT WC team, that featured current USMNT’s Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley. He got a full national team cap shortly after. He played 2 years at UCLA before signing a 3 year deal to Hannover in the Bundesliga, but failed to break into the first team and also suffered an ACL injury in 09 that ended his season. Last year he came back to the States in an allocation lottery and went to Chivas, where he played 10 games but didn’t really standout. He’s probably just getting back to real fitness after that ACL injury/moving, etc, but if healthy is a likely starter in midfield. He’s primarily right sided, but Spencer and Gavin did talk about him playing on the left (given his talents, expect to see alot of him on the right).
Really good pick-up for what we gave up (just allocation money). Its not the central midfielder we were looking for, and are still short in that position, but this is a guy that could be really good….he’s just 23. Gotta stay healthy though, after 4 years of spotty play.
Zizzo
Worth taking a flyer, but I wonder about his speed after tearing his ACL in October of ‘09. Jury’s out on this one… we’ll see.
ACL injuries do not scare me that much anymore
ACL injuries can now be fixed for the most part. It may take a while there’s something they can do.
It’s meniscus injuries that there’s still nothing doctors can do once it’s gone.
Here's the first video I found of some of his highlights..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DgOkYb01ZI
Most of the stuff is near the beginning – mid. of the film. Looks like good speed and great vision.
Born in Maryland,
Lived in D.C,
Lived in Florida
Lived in Pheonix...
...Fell in love with Portland
Rose City till I Die.
I actually watched that game. That U-20 team was really exciting. They also beat Brazil in the same tournament. Altidore and Bradley were the only two that went on to play big roles for the Senior team but Adu, Szetela and Zizzo were so impressive in that game.
long live the jd.
Yeah, he looks great here
I just want to see some more recent film.. this was three years ago.
Born in Maryland,
Lived in D.C,
Lived in Florida
Lived in Pheonix...
...Fell in love with Portland
Rose City till I Die.
by Portland Love on Feb 16, 2011 5:58 PM PST up reply actions
Szetela really fell on hard times
He was in Europe, but flamed out and DC landed him using an allocation. I was excited, because I remembered that U-20 team as well. He made close to zero impact for United and was rumored to have a drug problem. He trialed for Philly but didn’t catch on, and was just busted earlier this week for a DUI. He’s pretty much out of soccer, probably for good. A really sad waste of talent.
by Brendanukkah on Feb 17, 2011 8:26 AM PST up reply actions
pdb, you are an idiot.
pdb, Nice stereotype. That is an ignorant comment. What is your name?
Paul DeBruler?
sounds like the name of a gas station attendant.
/end sarcasm
"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon
by BruinHalo on Feb 17, 2011 1:03 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I hope someday to get promoted to the lofty title of gas station attendant
I’m tired of cleaning the bathroom here. they keep telling me someday I’ll get a promotion but it never happens. At least give me a brush, dammit.
by pdb on Feb 17, 2011 1:26 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs
I almost laughed out loud
And my students taking their state test looked at me funny cause I did one of those coughing laughs.
Some people do need to lighten up and take a joke.
Yeah that last line was the kicker
“At least give me a brush, dammit”
Well done pdb.
"I have something 95 percent of all those All-Stars only wish they had: a World Series ring. If I had to choose between that and being an All-Star, it would be no contest. I’d grab the gold ring and never look back." -Tim Salmon
I used to work at a car wash that was attached to a gas station
I would tell people that I worked at a combustion engine re-fueling facility in the vehicle clensing department.
by RoseColoredGlasses on Feb 17, 2011 5:01 PM PST up reply actions
One fellow student in high school, while being introduced for some prom function
called his job “petroleum distributor.”
Jag kom, jag såg, erövrade jag.
"Catching some zzz's" = "sawing logs"
Clearly, the guy was born to be a Timber. You can’t stand in the way of destiny.
Welcome Sal!
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