Dino Perri

Dino Perri is a Canadian former soccer player and manager who played in the Canadian Soccer League, Canadian National Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League, and Canadian Professional Soccer League. He is currently the head coach of McMaster Marauders men's soccer team.
Playing career
Perri began his career in 1987 with the Hamilton Steelers of the Canadian Soccer League. During his five-year tenure with Hamilton he helped the club reach the championship finals four years in a row. After the folding of Hamilton, he signed with St. Catharines Wolves of the Canadian National Soccer League. During his tenure with St. Catharines, Perri played an instrumental role during the club's golden era. Notable seasons for him were in 1993 and 1995, winning the CNSL Championship, and Umbro Cup. In 1996, he was given the role of head coach for the team, while maintaining his position of starting goalkeeper. In his first season of coaching St. Catharines he led the team to a second-place finish, and captured the Umbro Cup. The Wolves reached the Championship finals, but were defeated by Toronto Italia. During the winter season he played indoor soccer with the Toronto Shooting Stars of the National Professional Soccer League, where he appeared in 16 matches before being transferred to the Buffalo Blizzard.
He built upon his successful 1996 season by going undefeated and clinching the regular-season championship. In the postseason he led St. Catharines to the Championship finals, and defeated Toronto Supra by a score of 4-3 on goals on aggregate with goals. In 1998, St. Catharines joined the newly formed Canadian Professional Soccer League, and helped the Wolves clinch a postseason berth by finishing second in the overall standings. In the postseason the club reached the CPSL Championship and faced Toronto Olympians, and claimed the first CPSL Championship by winning the match 4-2 on penalty shootout. At the conclusion of the season he was awarded the CPSL Goalkeeper of the Year. Perri's next notable season was in 2001; though no longer serving in the head coach capacity he claimed his second CPSL Championship by defeating Toronto Supra by a score of 1-0.
In 2002, he returned to Hamilton to sign with expansion franchise Hamilton Thunder. He made his debut for the club on May 11, 2002, in a friendly match against Toronto Lynx. His tenure in Hamilton was short-lived due to a dispute with the team owner. In 2003, he signed with the Mississauga Olympians, and made his debut for the club on June 15, 2003, against Toronto Supra. With Mississauga he failed to clinch a postseason berth by finishing sixth in the Western Conference. On May 22, 2008, McMaster University appointed Perri as the new head coach for the McMaster Marauders men's soccer team.
Personal life
Perri is the nephew of Ardo Perri, who played professionally in the North American Soccer League. While his younger brother Claudio Perri also played with St. Catharines Wolves, and won the CSL Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2007. Bob and Larry Pretto are also his cousins who played professionally in the Canadian Soccer League.
 
< Prev   Next >