Dominic Cervi

Dominic Cervi

Personal information
Full name	Dominic Cervi
Date of birth	July 9, 1986 (1986-07-09) (age 25)
Place of birth	Norman, United States
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Greenock Morton (on loan from Celtic)
Youth career
1997–2003	Norman Celtic '86
2004–2007	Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006	Michigan Bucks	7	(0)
2008–	Celtic	0	(0)
2010–2011	→ Dundee (loan)	0	(0)
2011–	→ Greenock Morton (loan)	2	(0)
National team
2008	United States U-23	2	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals).

Dominic Cervi (born July 9, 1986) is an American soccer player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Football League First Division club Greenock Morton on loan from Scottish Premier League side Celtic.

Personal life

Cervi grew up in Norman, Oklahoma. He played eight seasons for his youth club, Norman Celtic '86.^[1] He attended Norman North High School, where he played soccer for all four years. He was named Oklahoma Defensive Player of the Year by The Oklahoman during his junior and senior seasons in 2003 and 2004. He also earned three letters in basketball, where he additionally earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2004.

Cervi's great-grandparents were Italian. He received his Italian passport in May 2009, which eliminated the need to obtain a work permit, thus making him a more appealing potential signing for European clubs.^[2]

Club career

Youth

Cervi attended the University of Tulsa from 2004 through 2007, making thirty-one starts for the Golden Hurricane and earning All-Conference USA First Team and NSCAA All-Midwest Region Second Team honors in 2007. The Golden Hurricane's best finish during Cervi's time with the team was during his first year, 2004, when the team reached the national quarterfinal at the 2004 Division I Men's College Cup.

Professional

Cervi was drafted by the Chicago Fire with the twelfth overall pick of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft, but he did not sign for the club after rejecting a $32,000 contract offer from Major League Soccer. He was the second goalkeeper taken in the draft. After a trial at 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth he was not offered a contract.

Celtic

In October 2008, Cervi joined Celtic on a trial.^[3] He made two appearances for Celtic's reserve team, one in a friendly match against Manchester United's reserves, and the other against Greenock Morton. After receiving his Italian passport, Cervi officially joined the SPL champions.

Loans away from Celtic

On December 10, 2010, he was loaned out to Dundee,^[4][5] but did not make any appearances and returned to Celtic after the loan expired.

On 4 November 2011, Cervi joined Morton on a short-term loan until January.^[6] He made his debut the next day in a 1-0 win over Ayr United.^[7] Cervi declared himself delighted with the result - saying that it was every goalkeeper's dream to get a clean-sheet on their debut.^[8]

International career

Cervi was named in the United States national team's 21-man World Cup Qualifying roster for the home-and-home series with Barbados on June 15 and 22, 2008.^[9]

Cervi was called up for the United States U-23 men's national soccer team as the number two keeper for the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament. He started for the USA in a 1–0 loss against Honduras in the championship game, and again at the U-23 level in a Toulon Tournament match against Turkey. Cervi is now eligible to only represent the United States internationally due to his appearances against Honduras and Turkey.^[2]

On May 15, 2008, he was invited to camp for friendlies against England, Spain, and Argentina, but made no appearances.

In 2010, he was named in the US squad that defeated South Africa 1-0 on November 17 in Cape Town. He did not play, however, serving as second choice keeper for the match behind Brad Guzan.

Despite having a number of call-ups to his name, Cervi has yet to appear in a match for the senior national team of the United States.

See also

• Greenock Morton F.C. season 2011-12

References

1. ^ "Player Bio: Dominic Cervi". University of Tulsa Athletics. CBS College Sports. http://tulsahurricane.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/cervi_dominic00.html. Retrieved January 7, 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Latham, Brent (May 18, 2009). "Cervi Anxious to Head for Celtic". Yanks-Abroad.com. http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?mode=content&id=4729. Retrieved May 19, 2009. 
3. ^ "Cervi set to complete Celtic move". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 20 May 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/8059535.stm. Retrieved 10 November 2011. 
4. ^ Winton, Richard (December 13, 2010), Have gloves, will travel – but Celtic’s Dominic Cervi’s still stuck in the dugout, HeraldScotland, http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/celtic/have-gloves-will-travel-but-celtic-s-dominic-cervi-s-still-stuck-in-the-dugout-1.1073935, retrieved December 13, 2010 
5. ^ Dundee get a little extra help from loan moves, The Press and Journal, December 13, 2010, http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2048330, retrieved December 13, 2010 
6. ^ "Loan player signed". Greenock Morton FC. 4 November 2011. http://gmfc.net/News/&action=fullnews&id=611. Retrieved 4 November 2011. 
7. ^ "Ayr United 0-1 Morton". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 5 November 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15397895.stm. Retrieved 10 November 2011. 
8. ^ "Celtic loan out keeper". STV.tv. 7 November 2011. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/celtic/278060-celtic-loan-out-keeper/. Retrieved 7 November 2011. 
9. ^ Dylan Butler (10 June 2008). "Bradley sets U.S. qualifying roster". MLSnet.com (Major League Soccer). http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20080610&content_id=164649&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp. Retrieved 7 January 2009. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Dominic Cervi University of Tulsa's official athletic site
• Dominic Cervi career stats at Soccerbase

Persondata
Name	Cervi, Dominic
Alternative names
Short description	Association football goaltender
Date of birth	July 9, 1986
Place of birth	Norman, Oklahoma, United States
Date of death
Place of death