Tino Lettieri: Difference between revisions

Tino Lettieri
Personal information
Full name	Martino Lettieri
Date of birth	27 September 1957 (age 66)
Place of birth	Bari, Italy
Height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team
1976	Montreal Castors
1977–1981	Minnesota Kicks
1980–1981	Minnesota Kicks (indoor)
1982–1983	Vancouver Whitecaps
1984	Vancouver Whitecaps (indoor)
1984	Minnesota Strikers
1984–1987	Minnesota Strikers (indoor)
1987	Hamilton Steelers
International career
1980–1986	Canada
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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Latest revision as of 18:37, 30 January 2024

Martino "Tino" Lettieri (born 27 September 1957) is a former NASL and MISL professional soccer goalkeeper, who represented Canada twice at the Summer Olympics: 1976 and 1984 and at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Club career[edit]

Lettieri began his pro career with the Montreal Castors in the National Soccer League in 1976.^[1] In 1977, he played with the Minnesota Kicks in the North American Soccer League and played there until 1981. He went on to play the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1982 and 1983 and the Minnesota Strikers in 1984. He was named NASL North American Player of the Year in 1983^[2] and had the league's best Goals Against Average in both 1982 and 1983.^[3]^[4]

Lettieri was a regular in the original MISL.^{[citation needed]} He continued to play for the Strikers as the team joined the indoor league, playing the 1984–85 season through to 1987–88.^{[citation needed]} Lettieri was voted Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1986–87 season.^{[citation needed]}. Lettieri led the Strikers to a runner-up finish in the MISL playoffs during the 1985-86 season, as the team fell 4-3 in the championship round to the San Diego Sockers. Two years later, the Strikers won the Eastern Division.

Lettieri finished his outdoor career in 1987 with the Hamilton Steelers in Canadian Soccer League.^[5] He was elected to the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001.^{[citation needed]}

Lettieri is often remembered for his keeping a stuffed parrot in the back of his net during games.^[6]^[7] The bird was named "Ozzie". In 1985 the league banned Ozzie from the nets.^[8]

International career[edit]

Lettieri made his full international debut for Canada on 17 September 1980 in a 3–0 victory over New Zealand in Edmonton. He earned 24 caps for Canada and was the first-choice goalkeeper from 1980 until 1986. In the 1986 World Cup, Lettieri played two of Canada's three matches, the latter of which, a 0–2 defeat to the Soviet Union in Irapuato, was his final international appearance.^[9] In 2001, Lettieri was honored by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame, and a year later was named a member of the Quebec Soccer Hall of Fame.^{[citation needed]} He was named by Canada Soccer as one of the top 100 Canadian footballers of all time in 2012.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life[edit]

Lettieri is married to Michelle Nanne, the daughter of Minnesota North Stars hockey player and general manager Lou Nanne.^[10] He now runs a successful food products business, Tino's Cafe Pizzeria, in Shorewood, Minnesota.^[11] His son, Vinni, played hockey for the University of Minnesota and signed with the New York Rangers in 2017.^[12]^[13]

References[edit]

^ "Castors feature international soccer stars". Ottawa Journal. 17 June 1976. p. 30.
^ "NASL Honors Whitecap Goalie". The Palm Beach Post. 22 September 1983. p. D12.
^ "The Year in American Soccer - 1982". Homepages.sover.net. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
^ "The Year in American Soccer - 1983". Homepages.sover.net. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
^ "Tino Lettieri soccer statistics on StatsCrew.com".
^ Terry Bigham (17 April 1986). "Sidekicks Stay Alive, Overcome Strikers, 4-1". The Dallas Morning News.
^ Franz Lidz (3 September 1984). "If Tino Lettieri is the NASL's best goalie, he owes it all". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
^ "STRIKERS GOALIE SQUAWKS OVER BENCHING OF MASCOT". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
^ "Tino Lettieri". www.canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
^ Russo, Michael (14 February 2018). "From soccer to football to the NHL, Vinni Lettieri cut his..." The Athletic. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
^ "About Me". Tino's Cafe Pizzeria. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
^ "Vinni Lettieri". Gophersports.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
^ "Lettieri Inks Deal with Rangers". Gophersports.com. Retrieved 17 June 2021.

External links[edit]

[1] "Castors feature international soccer stars". Ottawa Journal. 17 June 1976. p. 30.

[2] "NASL Honors Whitecap Goalie". The Palm Beach Post. 22 September 1983. p. D12.

[3] "The Year in American Soccer - 1982". Homepages.sover.net. Retrieved 7 October 2013.

[4] "The Year in American Soccer - 1983". Homepages.sover.net. Retrieved 7 October 2013.

[5] "Tino Lettieri soccer statistics on StatsCrew.com".

[6] Terry Bigham (17 April 1986). "Sidekicks Stay Alive, Overcome Strikers, 4-1". The Dallas Morning News.

[7] Franz Lidz (3 September 1984). "If Tino Lettieri is the NASL's best goalie, he owes it all". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 7 October 2013.

[8] "STRIKERS GOALIE SQUAWKS OVER BENCHING OF MASCOT". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 10 November 2023.

[9] "Tino Lettieri". www.canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 7 May 2020.

[10] Russo, Michael (14 February 2018). "From soccer to football to the NHL, Vinni Lettieri cut his..." The Athletic. Retrieved 1 March 2020.

[11] "About Me". Tino's Cafe Pizzeria. Retrieved 16 April 2014.

[12] "Vinni Lettieri". Gophersports.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.

[13] "Lettieri Inks Deal with Rangers". Gophersports.com. Retrieved 17 June 2021.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Canadian soccer player}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
 {{Infobox football biography
@@ Line 15: / Line 16: @@
 | years6 = 1984
 | years7 = 1984–1987
+| years8=1987
 | clubs1 = [[Montreal Castors]]
 | clubs2 = [[Minnesota Kicks]]
@@ Line 30: / Line 32: @@
 | caps6  = 18
 | caps7  = 121
+|caps8=9
 | goals1 =
 | goals2 = 0
@@ Line 37: / Line 40: @@
 | goals6 = 0
 | goals7 = 0
+|goals8=0
 | nationalyears1 = 1980–1986
 | nationalteam1  = [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]]
@@ Line 45: / Line 49: @@
 ==Club career==
-Raised in Canada, Lettieri began his pro career with the [[Montreal Castors]] in the [[Canadian National Soccer League|National Soccer League]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 17, 1976|title=Castors feature international soccer stars|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/49472680/|publisher=Ottawa Journal|page=30}}</ref> In 1977, he played with the [[Minnesota Kicks]] in the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]] and played there until 1981. He went on to play the [[Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–84)|Vancouver Whitecaps]] in 1982 and 1983 and the [[Minnesota Strikers]] in 1984. He was named NASL North American Player of the Year in 1983<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |title=NASL Honors Whitecap Goalie |page=D12 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PgItAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CM8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6591,1210396&dq=nasl+honors+whitecap+goalie&hl=en |date=22 September 1983}}</ref> and had the league's best Goals Against Average in both 1982 and 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1982.html |title=The Year in American Soccer - 1982 |publisher=Homepages.sover.net |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1983.html |title=The Year in American Soccer - 1983 |publisher=Homepages.sover.net |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref>
+Lettieri began his pro career with the [[Montreal Castors]] in the [[Canadian National Soccer League|National Soccer League]] in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 17, 1976|title=Castors feature international soccer stars|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/49472680/|publisher=Ottawa Journal|page=30}}</ref> In 1977, he played with the [[Minnesota Kicks]] in the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]] and played there until 1981. He went on to play the [[Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–84)|Vancouver Whitecaps]] in 1982 and 1983 and the [[Minnesota Strikers]] in 1984. He was named NASL North American Player of the Year in 1983<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]] |title=NASL Honors Whitecap Goalie |page=D12 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PgItAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CM8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6591,1210396&dq=nasl+honors+whitecap+goalie&hl=en |date=22 September 1983}}</ref> and had the league's best Goals Against Average in both 1982 and 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1982.html |title=The Year in American Soccer - 1982 |publisher=Homepages.sover.net |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1983.html |title=The Year in American Soccer - 1983 |publisher=Homepages.sover.net |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref>
-Lettieri was a regular in the original [[Major Soccer League|MISL]].{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} He continued to play for the Strikers as the team joined the indoor league, playing the 1984–85 season through to 1987–88.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} Lettieri was voted Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1986–87 season.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}}
+Lettieri was a regular in the original [[Major Soccer League|MISL]].{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} He continued to play for the Strikers as the team joined the indoor league, playing the 1984–85 season through to 1987–88.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} Lettieri was voted Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1986–87 season.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}}. Lettieri led the Strikers to a runner-up finish in the MISL playoffs during the 1985-86 season, as the team fell 4-3 in the championship round to the San Diego Sockers. Two years later, the Strikers won the Eastern Division.
-Lettieri finished his outdoor career in 1987 with the [[Hamilton Steelers (1986–1992)|Hamilton Steelers]] in [[Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992)|Canadian Soccer League]].{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} He was elected to the [[Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame]] in 2001.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}}
+Lettieri finished his outdoor career in 1987 with the [[Hamilton Steelers (1986–1992)|Hamilton Steelers]] in [[Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992)|Canadian Soccer League]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.statscrew.com/minorsoccer/stats/p-lettitin001| title = Tino Lettieri soccer statistics on StatsCrew.com}} </ref> He was elected to the [[Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame]] in 2001.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}}
-Lettieri is often remembered for his keeping a stuffed parrot in the back of his net during games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sidekicks Stay Alive, Overcome Strikers, 4-1 |author=Terry Bigham |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=17 April 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Franz Lidz |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122482/ |title=If Tino Lettieri is the NASL's best goalie, he owes it all |work=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=3 September 1984 |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> The bird was named "Ozzie". In 1985 the league banned Ozzie from the nets.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}}
+Lettieri is often remembered for his keeping a stuffed parrot in the back of his net during games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sidekicks Stay Alive, Overcome Strikers, 4-1 |author=Terry Bigham |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=17 April 1986}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Franz Lidz |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1122482/ |title=If Tino Lettieri is the NASL's best goalie, he owes it all |work=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=3 September 1984 |access-date=7 October 2013}}</ref> The bird was named "Ozzie". In 1985 the league banned Ozzie from the nets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-12-15-8503270106-story.html |title=STRIKERS GOALIE SQUAWKS OVER BENCHING OF MASCOT |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=10 November 2023}}</ref>
 ==International career==
 Lettieri made his full international debut for Canada on 17 September 1980 in a 3–0 victory over [[New Zealand national football team|New Zealand]] in [[Edmonton]]. He earned 24 caps for [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]] and was the first-choice goalkeeper from 1980 until 1986. In the [[1986 FIFA World Cup|1986 World Cup]], Lettieri played two of Canada's three matches, the latter of which, a 0–2 defeat to the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]] in [[Irapuato]], was his final international appearance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://canadasoccer.com/index.php?pid=1877&t=profile&|title=Tino Lettieri|website=www.canadasoccer.com|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref>
+In 2001, Lettieri was honored by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame, and a year later was named a member of the Quebec Soccer Hall of Fame.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} He was named by Canada Soccer as one of the top 100 Canadian footballers of all time in 2012.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}
 ==Personal life==
-Lettieri married the daughter of [[Minnesota North Stars]] hockey player and general manager [[Lou Nanne]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=From soccer to football to the NHL, Vinni Lettieri cut his... | last=Russo | first=Michael | work=The Athletic | date=14 February 2018 | access-date=1 March 2020 | url=https://theathletic.com/241349/2018/02/14/vinni-lettieri-rangers-lou-nanne-tino-lettieri-tyler-nanne-edina/ }}</ref> He now runs a successful food products business, Tino's Cafe Pizzeria, in [[Shorewood, Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Tino's Cafe Pizzeria |title=About Me |url=http://tinospizzeria.com/About_Me.html |access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref> His son, [[Vinni Lettieri|Vinni]], played hockey for the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey|University of Minnesota]] and signed with the [[New York Rangers]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vinni Lettieri|url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/vinni_lettieri_851252.html|website=Gophersports.com|access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lettieri Inks Deal with Rangers|url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/032717aaa.html|website=Gophersports.com|access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref>
+Lettieri is married to Michelle Nanne, the daughter of [[Minnesota North Stars]] hockey player and general manager [[Lou Nanne]].<ref>{{Cite web | title=From soccer to football to the NHL, Vinni Lettieri cut his... | last=Russo | first=Michael | work=The Athletic | date=14 February 2018 | access-date=1 March 2020 | url=https://theathletic.com/241349/2018/02/14/vinni-lettieri-rangers-lou-nanne-tino-lettieri-tyler-nanne-edina/ }}</ref> He now runs a successful food products business, Tino's Cafe Pizzeria, in [[Shorewood, Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Tino's Cafe Pizzeria |title=About Me |url=http://tinospizzeria.com/About_Me.html |access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref> His son, [[Vinni Lettieri|Vinni]], played hockey for the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey|University of Minnesota]] and signed with the [[New York Rangers]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vinni Lettieri|url=http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-hockey/mtt/vinni_lettieri_851252.html|website=Gophersports.com|access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Lettieri Inks Deal with Rangers|url=https://gophersports.com/news/2017/3/27/Lettieri_Inks_Deal_with_Rangers.aspx?path=mhockey|website=Gophersports.com|access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 64: / Line 69: @@
 ==External links==
 *[http://tinospizzeria.com/Welcome.html Tino's Pizzeria official website]
+*{{Canada Soccer player|id=1877}} / [[Canada Soccer Hall of Fame]]
-*[https://canadasoccer.com/index.php?pid=1877&t=profile& Canadian Soccer Association profile]
 *[http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/L/Lettieri.Tino.htm NASL/MISL stats]
+{{1980–81 NASL Indoor All-Stars}}
+{{1983 NASL All-Stars}}
+{{1983–84 NASL Indoor All-Stars}}
+{{Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame}}
 {{Canada football squad 1976 Summer Olympics}}
 {{Canada football squad 1984 Summer Olympics}}
 {{Canada squad 1985 CONCACAF Championship}}
 {{Canada squad 1986 FIFA World Cup}}
-{{Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Lettieri, Tino}}
@@ Line 78: / Line 86: @@
 [[Category:1986 FIFA World Cup players]]
 [[Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
-[[Category:Canadian expatriate soccer players]]
+[[Category:Canadian expatriate men's soccer players]]
 [[Category:Canada men's international soccer players]]
 [[Category:Canadian National Soccer League players]]
 [[Category:Canada Soccer Hall of Fame inductees]]
 [[Category:Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992) players]]
-[[Category:Canadian soccer players]]
+[[Category:Canadian men's soccer players]]
 [[Category:CONCACAF Championship-winning players]]
-[[Category:Expatriate soccer players in the United States]]
+[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
-[[Category:Association football goalkeepers]]
+[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
 [[Category:Footballers at the 1976 Summer Olympics]]
 [[Category:Footballers at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
@@ Line 94: / Line 102: @@
 [[Category:Minnesota Kicks players]]
 [[Category:Minnesota Strikers (NASL) players]]
 [[Category:Montreal Castors players]]
 [[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor players]]
 [[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]]
 [[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players]]
-[[Category:Olympic soccer players of Canada]]
+[[Category:Olympic soccer players for Canada]]
-[[Category:Sportspeople from Bari]]
+[[Category:Footballers from Bari]]
 [[Category:People from Shorewood, Minnesota]]
+[[Category:Sportspeople from Hennepin County, Minnesota]]
 [[Category:Soccer players from Montreal]]
 [[Category:Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–1984) players]]
 [[Category:Minnesota Strikers (MISL) players]]
+[[Category:People of Apulian descent]]

v t e 1980–81 NASL Indoor All-Stars
All-North Team	GK: Bruce Grobbelaar MF: Gerry Gray FW: Carl Valentine FW: Kai Haaskivi FW: Drew Ferguson FW: Juan Carlos Molina FW: Bobby Prentice
All-East Team	GK: Tino Lettieri DF: Björn Nordqvist FW: Steve Wegerle FW: Pato Margetic FW: Keith Furphy FW: Karl-Heinz Granitza
All-West Team	GK: Mike Hewitt DF: Mihalj Keri MF: Alan Hudson FW: Stuart Lee FW: George Best FW: Juli Veee FW: Chris Dangerfield

v t e 1983 NASL All-Stars
First Team	GK: Van Beveren DF: Watson DF: Beckenbauer DF: Eskandarian DF: Wallace MF: Bogićević MF: Terlecki MF: Thijssen FW: Cabañas FW: Žungul FW: Margetic
Second Team	GK: Lettieri DF: Evans DF: Wilson DF: Mathieu DF: Cho MF: Granitza MF: Daley MF: Deyna FW: Chinaglia FW: Alonso FW: Byrne
Honorable Mention	GK: Birkenmeier DF: Thompson DF: Huson DF: Keri DF: Miller MF: O'Brien MF: Davis MF: Hudson FW: Cross FW: Ward FW: Beardsley