Chivas USA Acquires San Diego Native and UCLA Alum Sal Zizzo

Published on July 21, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Club Deportivo Chivas USA News Release


CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, July 21, 2010) - Chivas USA of Major League Soccer has acquired Sal Zizzo, a 23-year-old midfielder with experience in Europe and with the United States National Team, in a weighted lottery held on Wednesday afternoon. Zizzo, most recently with Hanover 96 of the German Bundesliga, will join the Red-and-White in training tomorrow morning at 10:30 a.m. on Field 6 at The Home Center, and is expected to be eligible to play in Chivas USA's July 31 match at home against the Columbus Crew.

"Zizzo is a player that our coaching staff knows well, and we're very happy to have him join the club," said Chivas USA Head Coach Martín Vásquez. "He's a young, exciting attacking player with both international experience and a great deal of potential, and we look forward to seeing him in action."

Zizzo recently signed a contract with MLS and was placed into a weighted lottery to determine his team in the league, with Chivas USA having the third-best chance at earning Zizzo's rights, behind D.C. United and the Kansas City Wizards. Chivas USA won the lottery, held in New York on Wednesday afternoon, and Zizzo, currently in San Diego, is expected to begin training with the team tomorrow.

Born April 3, 1987 in San Diego, Salvatore Zizzo attended Patrick Henry High School, where he was a standout soccer and baseball player, earning All-CIF honors in both sports. He then played two seasons of soccer at UCLA, being named an NSCAA All-American as a freshman, and also played in the summers for Orange County Blue Star, where he was coached by current Chivas USA Technical Coach Nick Theslof. In 2007, Zizzo left school to join Hannover 96 of the German Bundesliga, where he made eight appearances; he also played with Hannover 96 II, the club's reserve team.

Zizzo has also played for the United States youth teams, starting with the U.S. U-18 Team before playing with the U-20's for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he started all five of the team's matches as the U.S. advanced to the tournament's quarterfinals. His one appearance with the full United States National Team came in an Aug. 22, 2007 friendly at Sweden.

Chivas USA plays Pachuca of the Mexican First Division tonight at 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center in SuperLiga 2010 action, and will next host an MLS match against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, July 31 in what could be Zizzo's debut for the club. For more information, or to purchase tickets to any Chivas USA match, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit cdchivasusa.com .

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