FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Revolution today announced that the midfielders Joe Germanese and Brandon Manzonelli have signed developmental contracts with Major League Soccer to play for the Revs. Per team and league policies, terms of the deals were not released. To make room on the developmental roster for both signings, defender Matthew Britner was released.
Germanese, 22, was drafted by New England in the second round (27th overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft out of Duke. He received National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-South honors as a senior. Germanese started 38 of the 40 career games he played at Duke, scoring seven goals and adding 13 assists. He transferred from Vanderbilt following his sophomore year, where he scored 11 goals and added nine assists in 36 career games. Germanese has also started all three of the Revolution's 2008 reserve division matches as a guest player.
Manzonelli, 18, joined the Revolution following a two-year stay in Spain with Villareal, where he had played with the club's Under-18 team since 2006. He played in 25 games with the youth team, scoring eight goals and adding 10 assists. He also made three appearances with Villareal's reserve team.
"Joe and Brandon are two young players who have demonstrated great potential to grow in our system," Revolution Director of Soccer Michael Burns said. "We look forward to seeing them develop as professionals."
Both Germanese and Manzonelli are St. Louis natives, and played for the same youth club team, Scott Gallagher - the club that produced Revolution stars Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston and former Rev Pat Noonan.
Britner, 23, originally signed with the Revs on April 9, was drafted by New England in the third round (41st overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. He did not make an appearance with the Revolution first team in 2008, but made three starts at left back with the Revs' reserve division team. A native of Canada, his release frees one of the Revolution's seven international roster spots.
The Revolution (5-3-1, 16 pts.) return to action on Saturday, May 24, when the team travels to face the MLS-leading Columbus Crew (6-1-1, 19 pts.) at 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium. Fox Soccer Channel will televise the game live nationally, including an on-site 30-minute pregame show which begins at 7 p.m, and a live postgame show. The WEEI Radio Network will carry the game on the radio on a tape-delayed basis following the station's Celtics coverage, at approximately midnight.
Joe Germanese
Pronunciation: ger-man-EESE
Jersey No.: 5
Position: Midfield
D.O.B.: June 4, 1985
Birthplace: St. Louis, Mo.
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 165
College: Duke
Status: Developmental
How Acquired: Selected by the Revolution in the second round (27th overall) of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft; signed with the Revolution on May 22, 2008
Brandon Manzonelli
Pronunciation: man-zan-NELL-lee
Jersey No.: 32
Position: Midfielder
D.O.B: Dec. 23, 1989
Place of Birth: St. Louis, Mo.
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Height: 5-8
Weight: 160
Last Club: Villareal (SPA)
Status: Developmental
How Acquired: Signed by the Revolution on May 22, 2008 as a developmental player
TRANSACTIONS: The New England Revolution (MLS): Signed M Joe Germanese and M Brandon Manzonelli; Released D Matthew Britner.
