Panico Has Tallied 80 International Goals in 145 Appearances
Somerset, N.J. (Wednesday, June 2, 2010) – Sky Blue FC officially announced today that the team has come to terms with Italian National Team captain Patrizia “il Bomber” Panico, who is the all-time leading goal scorer in her nation’s history with 80 notches in 145 international appearances. Panico is also a nine-time Serie A goal scoring champion, registering over 400 total goals while playing in her native country.
“Perhaps nothing is a greater indication of how well you can know a player as a coach than having played against her as a player,” stated Sky Blue FC head coach Pauliina Miettinen, who played against Panico during her time with the Finnish National Team. “I can personally testify that Patrizia is as tough, tenacious, skilled and successful as they come. It was great to face her in my days playing for Finland, and it will be a special opportunity to coach her as part of our team. I am excited to see her in a Sky Blue FC uniform!”
Panico is one of the top pure goal scorers in international soccer, and she did not take long to establish herself as an offensive threat on the international scene. In the first match she ever played for Italy against Portugal in 1996, she needed just five minutes to record her first national team goal. The Rome native recently finished up the 2009-10 Serie A season with Sassari Torres and has enjoyed a high level of success for the entirety of her 14-year professional career. She has been a member of six Italian League championship sides, in addition seeing her team win four Italian Cups and four Italian Super Cups. In 25 UEFA Champions League games, Panico has tallied 19 goals while scoring 42 total goals in 64 matches of official UEFA competition.
“Patrizia brings a special combination of qualities to Sky Blue FC – experience, a proven record in the international arena and a great force for us up front,” General Manager Gerry Marrone commented. “She is an exciting player and someone we have been looking at for a long time. In addition, she will be a great draw for the large and passionate community of Italian soccer fans in our area.”
When she is playing in Italy, Panico plays with the #9 on her jersey, but she will wear #96 while she is suited up for Sky Blue FC. Behind that decision comes a rather poetic explanation.
“I always play with 9, but going across the world to play with major players, it’s better to have two 9s with one of them flipped upside down,” she explained. “To do well on the other side of the world in America, one needs to do a salto mortale (somersault).”
This philosophy is derived from an expression in the Italian language which means ‘if something is difficult, one needs to do a somersault (jump over one’s head) to get it done.’ More directly, an extra effort is needed to accomplish a goal.
Panico is the first Italian player in Women’s Professional Soccer history, raising the total number to 20 nations that are represented in the league.
Next up for Sky Blue FC is a road pairing with the Philadelphia Independence on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. The team will return to New Jersey on Saturday, June 19th, to host Philadelphia, and tickets for that game are available now by clicking here or calling 1-888-SBFC-TIX.
ABOUT SKY BLUE FC
Operated by Sky Blue Soccer, Sky Blue FC is the New Jersey/New York franchise in Women’s Professional Soccer. In 2009, Sky Blue FC captured the inaugural WPS Championship with an inspirational run through the playoffs. Sky Blue FC plays its home matches at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. For additional information, visit www.SkyBlueFC.com or follow all the latest news at www.twitter.com/SkyBlueFC or www.Facebook.com/SkyBlueFC.
ABOUT WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER (WPS)
Headquartered in San Francisco, Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is the world’s premier soccer league for women with seven teams across the United States featuring the best players from around the world. WPS completed its inaugural season in August 2009 as Sky Blue FC of New Jersey became the first-ever WPS Champions. In 2010, seven teams will each play 24-game schedules from April 10-September 12 including five original WPS teams – Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area), Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) and Washington Freedom – and two expansion teams Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence. The top four finishers in the regular season will qualify for the 2010 WPS Playoffs scheduled for September 19-26. For more information, visit the WPS official website at www.womensprosoccer.com or follow all the news at www.twitter.com/womensprosoccer.