John Maisano

Football player infobox
playername= John Maisano
fullname = John Marcel Maisano
nickname = Johnny


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|01|06
cityofbirth = Melbourne
countryofbirth = Australia
height = 1,80 m.
currentclub = retired
clubnumber =
position = midfielder
youthyears = 1996-1997
youthclubs = Australian Institute of Sport
years = 1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2002 2002-2005
2005-2006
2006
clubs = Atalanta
Westerlo
Marconi Stallions
Greenock Morton
Ayr United
Stranraer
caps(goals) = 00 0(0)
10 0(0)
42 0(6)
92 (19)
03 0(1)
04 0(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = Australia U17
Australia U20
nationalcaps(goals) = ? (?)
? (?)
pcupdate = 15 July 2007
ntupdate = 28 July 2006

John Maisano (born January 6, 1979 in Melbourne) is an Australian former footballer.

John Maisano was born in Australia to Italian parents. He holds dual nationality and began his professional football career at Italian Serie A team Atalanta. However his introduction to football came at the world renowned Australian Institute of Sport and it was after a year there (1996-1997) he moved overseas.

International

During his time at Atalanta, Maisano represented his country at international level. He was part of the Australia under 17 squad in Ecuador and the Australia under 20 squad that took part in the under 20 World Championships in Nigeria. Harry Kewell was a team mate in the under 17 competition while Brett Emerton was a team mate in the under 20 tournament. Both of these players went on to become world superstars.

Club

Maisano returned to Europe in 2002 when he left Marconi Stallions and signed for Greenock Morton. This was only a few months after younger brother Marco Maisano had joined the club. He (John) originally came to Scotland for a trial with Kilmarnock but their manager, at that time, Jim Jefferies said that he was an excellent player but was not quite what he was looking for at that time. Although most thought that he was too good to play in the Scottish Third Division he was enticed by the opportunity to link up with his brother in addition to how impressed he was with the set up at Morton when he went along to watch his brother play.

Maisano was an integral part of the Scottish Third Division championship winning side in season 2002/03. He left his biggest performance for the most important match, where the title was won on the final day of the season versus Peterhead. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/3014491.stm|title=Morton are champions|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2003-05-10|accessdate=2008-09-19] He was later voted man of the match for a performance that included crashing a free kick off of the crossbar from around 40 yards from goal.

Maisano's inconsistency and his lack of appetite in less glamorous matches resulted in his release from Morton. His technical ability was unquestionable however his consistency and work ethic certainly could be called in to question.

After Morton he had brief spells at Ayr United and Stranraer [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stranraer/4676108.stm|title=Stranraer snap up Aussie Maisano|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2006-02-03|accessdate=2008-09-19] without making any impact or playing many matches.

John Maisano retired from professional football in 2006 aged only 27 years old. He continues to reside in Greenock, Scotland with his Scottish Wife whom he married during his time at Morton.

References