John Talerico

John Anthony Talerico (born, April 24, 1985 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian soccer player, playing as a centre back. He spends his off-season training in the nearby suburb of LaSalle, Ontario.

Talerico currently plays in Australia for Wollongong United F.C. in the Illawarra Premier League. He played college soccer with the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. At the age of four-teen Talerico had to overcome a serious illness in his life. After making his prep school team as a freshmen he was diagnosed with Scarlet fever. Fearing that the disease may spread to his heart, doctors kept Talerico in the hospital for a week running tests. Fortunately, he was able to make a full recovery.

During his youth ages, Talerico played for the Windsor F.C. Nationals, the same club that produced Stephen Ademolu who plays for Løv-Ham in the Adeccoligaen. Before this he helped lead his district club to many league and cup titles in the WADSL. Talerico's professional career is unique in the fact that he entered the country on a working-student visa. He is currently enrolled at the University of Wollongong. Prior to 2007, Football Federation Australia did not allow players on working-student visas get paid. Ironically the advisor that played a major role in bringing him to Australia was on the board of directors who had this rule changed. To this day Talerico is still the only player from his prep school to start all games as a freshmen.

http://www.wufc.com.au/index.php?optioncom_content&taskview&id108&Itemid52

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