Australian soccer player (born 2006)
Miguel Di Pizio (born 4 January 2006) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for A-League Men club Central Coast Mariners .
Early life
Born in Sydney , New South Wales , Di Pizio started playing football at the age of four. His father is of Italian descent, and his mother is of Mauritian descent.[3] He attended Mamre Anglican School, located in Kemps Creek , and Westfields Sports High School , representing in both schools' football teams.[3] He has an older brother, Gianni Di Pizio, who also played at Western Sydney Wanderers Youth and Central Coast Mariners Academy .[3] Di Pizio is of Italian descent and idolised Argentine footballer Paulo Dybala .[3] [4] [5]
Club career
Central Coast Mariners
A youth academy player of Western Sydney Wanderers ,[5] Di Pizio signed a scholarship contract (his first professional contract) with Central Coast Mariners under head coach Nick Montgomery on 12 April 2023.[6] Di Pizio made his professional debut as an 85th-minute substitute on 22 April 2023 in a 3–1 league win against F3 rivals Newcastle Jets .[1] [7] He was added to the Mariners' 2023 A-League Grand Final squad,[8] [9] but was not named on the match squad on the day.[10]
On 29 November 2023, Di Pizio scored his first professional goal in the 2023–24 AFC Cup in a 1–1 home draw to Terengganu .[11] Di Pizio made his starting debut for the Mariners on 8 December 2023 in a 4–0 victory over Western United at Central Coast Stadium .[1] [3]
Di Pizio was part of the Mariners' Championship, Premiership and AFC Cup winning 2023-24 season .[12] [13] [14] Di Pizio became the youngest ever goalscorer in an A-League Grand Final during the club's 3-1 victory over Melbourne Victory at Central Coast Stadium .
International career
In July 2022, Di Pizio received his first international call-up to represent the Australian under-17 team ahead of the 2022 AFF U-16 Youth Championship ,[15] and was renamed in a 23-man squad for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers .[16] [17] He helped Australia to automatic qualification for the U-17 Asian Cup , scoring the third goal in a 3–1 win over China to top the group.[18] During the tournament, Di Pizio also managed to score a brace in a 23–0 victory against Northern Mariana Islands ,[19] and a goal in a 10–0 win over Cambodia .[20]
In May 2023, Di Pizio was renamed in the 23-man squad for the U-17 Asian Cup that was staged in Bangkok and Chonburi .[21] [22] Di Pizio featured in all three group matches as Australia qualified to the knockout rounds.[1] [23] He was also awarded player of the match in a 2–0 win against Tajikistan in the Joey's last group match.[24] Di Pizio also featured in Australia's 3–1 quarter-final loss to Japan at BG Stadium .[25]
Honours
Central Coast Mariners
Western Sydney Wanderers U20
References
^ a b c d "M. Di Pizio: Summary" . Soccerway . Perform Group. Archived from the original on 29 November 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023 .
^ "Miguel Di Pizio Stats and Ratings" . Sofascore . Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023 .
^ a b c d e Campo, Jose (9 December 2023). "Meet the 17-year-old Mariners prodigy who could be the next Garang Kuol" . The Roar . Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023 .
^ Marziani, Marcella (June 2023). "Miguel Di Pizio: una grande passione per il calcio" . Il Globo (in Italian). Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023 .
^ a b Pisani, Sacha (22 June 2023). "Modelling Dybala, following Kuol and co: 'Sky's the limit' for Joeys' attacking weapon" . A-League. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023 .
^ "Miguel Di Pizio signs Mariners scholarship deal" . Central Coast Mariners . 12 April 2023. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023 .
^ Pisani, Sacha (15 May 2023). "The Mariners have a 17-year-old whose coach says he's 'ready' to go overseas after 9 NPL games" . A-League. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023 .
^ "In-form Miguel Di Pizio gearing up for Grand Final and U17 Asian Cup" . Socceroos . 23 May 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023 .
^ "Match Preview: A-League Men's Grand Final" . Central Coast Mariners. 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023 .
^ "Melbourne City 1 vs Central Coast Mariners 6" . KEEPUP . 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023 .
^ Comito, Matt (29 November 2023). "Hype for Joeys star goes up a notch as emotional scenes follow exciting career milestone" . keepup.com . Retrieved 29 November 2023 .
^ "Central Coast Mariners secure A-league Men's premier's plate with win over Adelaide United" . ABC News (Australia) . 2 February 2024.
^ "Central Coast Mariners become first Australian club to win AFC Cup" . ABC News (Australia) . 6 May 2024.
^ "Mariners defeat Victory in inspirational Grand Final showdown" . Coast Community News . 27 May 2024.
^ "Four Wanderers named in Australian squad for AFF U16 Youth Championship 2022" . Western Sydney Wanderers . 29 July 2022. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023 .
^ "Subway Joeys' Squad Named For AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers" . Football Victoria . 3 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 29 November 2023 .
^ Webb, Daniel (3 October 2022). "Australia locks in squad for Shepparton qualifiers" . Shepparton News . Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
^ "China finishes 2nd in Group G at U17 Asian Cup qualifiers" . www.news.cn . 9 October 2022. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
^ Webb, Daniel (6 October 2022). "Joeys start qualifiers with spring in their step" . Shepparton News . Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
^ Webb, Daniel (8 October 2022). "Qualification destiny in Australia's hands after Cambodia victory" . Shepparton News . Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
^ "Joeys extended squad named for 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup" . Football Australia. 16 May 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
^ "Subway Joeys' squad named for AFC-17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023" . Network Ten . 14 June 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
^ "Joeys advance to AFC U-17 Asian Cup knockout stages" . Central Coast Mariners. 23 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
^ "Tactical patience key to Australia's progress, says Di Pizio" . Asian Football Confederation . 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
^ "WATCH: Australia's AFC U17 Asian Cup campaign ends in defeat to Japan" . Socceroos. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023 .
External links