Running down a dream
Professional soccer player transfers to Chilean club
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This article was published 05/03/2020 (2053 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
East St. Paul’s Tyler Attardo is taking the next step in a budding professional soccer career.
Attardo, who scored six goals as a striker for Valour FC of the Canadian Premier League last season as an 18 year old, has been transferred to Chilean club Fernández Vial S.A.D.P. for the 2020 season. The team plays in the Segunda Division de Chile, the league’s second tier.
“I’m super excited,” said Attardo, 18, who grew up playing for Winnipeg Phoenix FC and FC Northwest and competed provincially for Manitoba on both provincial and club teams. Before turning pro last year, Attardo attended the residency program at Chievo Verona in Italy in 2016 and 2017-18. He is familiar with the Chilean soccer world, having spent time training there in the past.
“The league out there — from first, second, and third division — they’re all super-strong,” he said. “The talent out there, the professionalism from the clubs is unbelievable.”
In 2019, Attardo secured a spot with Valour FC after attending the club’s open trials.
“The experience with Valour, my first year professional, was a huge step in my career,” the River East Collegiate grad said. “I was grateful for the opportunity and the platform I was given.”
The opportunity to not only log big minutes in games throughout the season but also to spend every day training helped Attardo hone his game.
“At the start I was a little shaky, a little nervous,” he admitted. “But once you get with that speed of play, on the field every day consistently, you pick up that speed and confidence. You won’t make those little mistakes.”
While he is unsure exactly where he’ll fit in with Fernández Vial, Attardo said he’s grateful for the opportunity.
“They’re investing in me, and whatever they have in store for me I’m excited,” he said. “My basic goal is to get as far as I can get and improve. That’s all I’m looking for. I’m playing it day by day, stay playing professionally as long as I can.”
Wherever the road to a professional career takes him, Attardo said he relished the opportunity to start that journey at home in Winnipeg.
“I want to thank the fans here in Winnipeg,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough for the support, and for the support from my family, my parents and siblings have been a huge help for me.”
Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist
Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112
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Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist
Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. The author of Missing Like Teeth: An Oral History of Winnipeg Underground Rock (1990-2001), his writing has appeared in journals and online platforms across Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. A husband and father of two young children, Sheldon enjoys playing guitar and rec hockey when he can find the time. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca Call him at 204-697-7112
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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