Stefani Miglioranzi didn't think he'd play in Major League Soccer, certainly not for the Columbus Crew. Two different doctors told the central midfielder he should retire from soccer altogether. But that was seven years and three knee surgeries ago.
But eight years after he was initially drafted by the Chicago Fire and following a successful career in England, Miglioranzi is anxious to begin his MLS career, which has been delayed because of a left groin strain.
"When I was 23, a doctor told me to retire from the game because of my knee. I went for a second opinion and that doctor said the same and I saw a third doctor and he said we can do something to help you out," he said. "Since then, every game, every practice, I've taken it as a wonderful gift from God, the opportunity to play another game. I keep doing that. I'm not happy with minor setbacks, you can't help but be discouraged, but they're only minor setbacks. I keep going despite what people may say or think."
Just as MLS wasn't in his plans after he graduated from St. John's University, the Brazilian-born Miglioranzi didn't anticipate being in Columbus when he left Swindon Town of the English First Division.
"I came back to the U.S. to get married last year and, at the same time, an opportunity arose with the L.A. Galaxy and I took it because my wife is from California," said Miglioranzi, who was used as a substitute in three matches last season.
No sooner had they moved into their Hermosa Beach home that Miglioranzi received word he was traded to Columbus for a conditional third round pick of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. He and wife Minta, who were married in June, were back to shopping for a place to live.
They found a home near downtown Columbus. Now, Miglioranzi is looking to find his way onto the field for the Crew.
"I feel confident, like I can do the job that is required of me, which has so far been to sit back, win the balls and string it together and, if I do have an opportunity to go forward, to go forward," he said. "It's something that I have been doing all of preseason and its something I've been doing throughout my whole career."
Originally drafted by the Chicago Fire in the 1999 MLS draft, Miglioranzi instead opted to go to England where he had a three-month trial with Everton of the English Premiership before signing a three-year deal for manager Alan Ball at Portsmouth.
After injuries limited him to just 25 games in three years at Portsmouth, he signed on to play for Swindon. Unluckily for Miglioranzi, the next season Portsmouth was promoted to the Premiership. Miglioranzi, who has Italian and Brazilian citizenship and grew up in Port Chester, N.Y., was a regular starter at Swindon for four years.
Miglioranzi is skillful, cool and confident on the ball and, at 6-foot-1, is a strong ball winner in the center of the park. Crew fans got a glimpse of this side of Miglioranzi when he assisted on all three goals against FC Dallas in a televised preseason game.
That's the Miglioranzi that Sigi Schmid saw in England five years ago, when he spoke to the former St. John's University star about joining the Los Angeles Galaxy.
"Stefani is very smart as a player, he's very good technically, he knows how to keep possession of the ball, he's good at organizing and helping the players next to him," Schmid said. "Right now it's just a matter of getting him completely healthy and keeping him healthy for a period of time. Once he stays healthy, he'll make his way onto the team."
And that's been the knock on Miglioranzi for his entire professional career. Critics have called him injury prone, a tag he's well aware of and believes is unfair.
"People have certainly labeled me that, but all I can say is that in my four years at Swindon, I played well over 140 games," he said. "I don't think I missed a lot of games at Swindon, it just seemed that way because I had injuries that kept me out of a game here and a game there. It's a label that has stuck, unfortunately, but I try not to let it frustrate me."
Miglioranzi is currently sidelined with a left groin strain. It's a knock he picked up in preseason and has kept him from being selected for the Crew's season-opening 0-0 draw with the New York Red Bulls. But after all he's been through, already proving two doctors wrong, Miglioranzi isn't about to let a minor injury stop him.
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
