“Antonio is a player that we really admire, who can be effective in a number of different positions, which gives us great depth,” said Founder and President Phil Rawlins. “His vast experience in the Serie A will be invaluable for our team as we aim to make the MLS playoffs in 2016.”
The 30-year-old provides a wealth of experience to City’s roster, having played in over 350 professional games since 2003 for various teams such as 31-time Italian Serie-A champions Juventus and 18-time Serie A champions AC Milan.
“Nocerino is an energetic and hard-working box-to-box midfielder that can provide an immediate impact within the squad,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “He has a tremendous amount of experience playing at the highest level and his ability to play numerous roles in the midfield will be an incredible asset for us this season. We’re looking forward to working with him.”
He joins the Lions after spending the 2015 season on loan with Parma from AC Milan, scoring three goals in 20 appearances for the Italian Serie A side. The midfielder began his professional career in 2003 with Italian giant Juventus after rising through the Club’s youth academy.
After spending the first four seasons on loan, Nocerino made his debut with Juventus as a member of the starting 11 on the opening day of the 2007 Serie A campaign, playing a key role in the team’s 5-1 win over Livorno. He made 32 appearances for Juventus that season, before permanently moving to Palermo in May 2008.
While at Palermo, the Italian transitioned to a more attacking role, featuring in 106 games during a three-year span. Following a successful stint with Palermo, Nocerino was acquired by Italian super-club AC Milan, where he scored 12 times in 74 appearances. While at the Club, he was named to the Serie A Team of the Year for his impressive performances in the 2011-12 season. While at AC Milan, Nocerino played alongside current Orlando City SC playmaker and captain Kaká.
Most recently, Nocerino has spent the past two seasons on loan with English Premier League side West Ham United, where he made 10 appearances, and Italian teams Torino and Parma.
On the international stage, the energetic and technical midfielder earned 15 caps for his native country from 2007-2012 and was also a member of the 2012 Italian UEFA European Championship side that finished as Runner-up. Nocerino featured in the quarter-final match against England where he scored in the penalty shootout to help Italy advance deeper into the prestigious tournament.
Transaction: On Feb. 18, Orlando City SC trades Targeted Allocation Money and General Allocation Money to D.C. United in exchange for Midfielder Antonio Nocerino
Name: Antonio Nocerino
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Birth Date: 04/09/1985
Birth Place: Naples, Italy
Citizenship: Italy
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About Orlando City Soccer Club:
With three major professional teams, Orlando City Soccer Club (OCSC) has established itself as one of the preeminent Clubs in professional soccer.
One of the leading teams in Major League Soccer (MLS), and the most-searched MLS team in 2015 according to Google, the Lions have developed a rich history and passionate following since starting in the USL in 2011. In their inaugural MLS season, Orlando City set a league attendance record for an expansion team, drawing an average of 32,847 fans per home game – including 62,500 in the home opener – and became the fastest team in MLS history to host a half million fans. Orlando City has not only captured the passion of soccer fans in the City Beautiful, it continues to build its global brand as its matches are broadcast in 140 countries and in 30 languages.
The Orlando Pride, OCSC’s National Women’s Soccer League franchise, will begin league play in 2016 – bringing professional women’s soccer to Orlando for the first time. The team is led by renowned Head Coach Tom Sermanni, former manager for the Australian and U.S. women’s national teams.
Orlando City B (OCB) participates in the USL beginning in the 2016 season. The team plays its home matches at Titan Soccer Complex on the campus of Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Fla. OCB continues the Club’s rich history in the rapidly growing league. From 2011 to 2014, Orlando City set the U.S. record for best start of any professional soccer club in its first 100 USL matches (66-12-22), winning three regular season titles and two postseason championships.
OCSC also has a youth club, Orlando City Youth Soccer (OCYS). Lastly, the Orlando City Foundation is active in the community year round, promoting health and wellness in children throughout the region, and raising funds for and volunteering time for various local organizations.
For more information, visit www.OrlandoCitySC.com, www.Orlando-Pride.com, www.OrlandoCityB.com, www.OrlandoCityYouth.org and www.OrlandoCitySC.com/Foundation.
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