SECAUCUS, N.J. - The MetroStars announced today that they have signed Scottish International right-sided player Peter Canero. The soon-to-be 25-year old will fill one of the MetroStars four Senior International slots.
"Mr. Canero is a man in the prime of his career who truly wants to be with the MetroStars," said MetroStars President and General Manager Alexi Lalas. "His signing represents a significant upgrade to our flank play, something that is a priority for 2006."
Canero, a Glasgow, Scotland native, is a veteran of seven and a half seasons of professional soccer in the United Kingdom. Of those years he spent five and a half years with Kilmarnock (Scottish Premier League), one and a half seasons with Leicester City (English Premier League) and a half season with Dundee United (Scottish Premier League).
"Peter has a great willingness to win and work hard for his team for 90 minutes," said MetroStars Head Coach Mo Johnston. "He is very versatile and can play a host of positions. At just 24 years old he brings great experience from playing in Scotland and England to our club."
While with Kilmarnock, Canero appeared in 116 matches scoring nine goals. The 2002/2003 season was his most productive as he appeared in 33 games tallying six goals.
After appearing in 12 games for Kilmarnock in 2003/2004, Canero was transferred to Leicester City for a fee of ₤250,000. After the 2004/2005 season with Leicester City, he signed a four-month contract with Dundee United. In the fall of 2005 he appeared in 11 matches for Dundee and tallied two goals.
Canero joins Youri Djorkaeff (France) and Amado Guevara (Honduras) as the MetroStars third Senior International. This leaves the club with one additional Senior International slot.
Canero will report to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ on February 1, for the beginning of the MetroStars preseason training.
Peter Canero Vitals
Status: Senior International
DOB: January 18, 1981
Height: 5-8 ft.
Weight: 157 lbs.
Hometown: Glasgow, Scotland
International Appearances: 1
Peter Canero Career Stats
Season Club Games Goals
1998/1999 Kilmarnock 0 0
1999/2000 Kilmarnock 10 0
2000/2001 Kilmarnock 28 1
2001/2002 Kilmarnock 32 0
2002/2003 Kilmarnock 33 6
2003/2004 Kilmarnock 13 2
Leicester City 7 0
2004/2005 Leicester City 6 0
2005 Dundee United 11 2
Peter Canero Quotes
On coming to the MetroStars and Major League Soccer:
"I am thrilled to be joining the club and the league. It's something I have been thinking about for a while. It's something that I am quite keen on and really looking forward to. It's going to be quite an adventure."
On if he has ever been to the United States before:
"Not to play football at all. I have been based here in Scotland and in the UK (United Kingdom). I have visited [the United States] on vacation before, but I have never played anything over there."
On his relationship with MetroStars Head Coach Mo Johnston:
"I have met Mo a few times, and also spoken to him a few times, and he seems really good. He seems as though he will be someone really good for the MetroStars. Obviously his credentials speak for themselves. I think that he will be very good for me, and help improve me as a player."
On what he knows about any MetroStars players:
"Obviously on the MetroStars I know (Youri) Djorkaeff and his career very well. I know not only his career with France, but also the times that he spent with clubs in Germany and England. Regarding other players, it's not something that I have really seen a lot of. I have seen bits, but I don't really know any other specific players."
On if he has seen any MLS games on TV:
"With the time difference it's a bit hard, but sometimes late at night you can see a game on. So there is a little bit of interest in some of the games"
On what he knows about the MLS style of play:
"There seems to be a lot of people getting involved in the league. It seems like a lot of the players who play there improve while they are there, and there is a good standard. The National Team record speaks for itself. Every year it keeps getting better and better."
On coming to New York:
"I have been to a few places in America, and New York is definitely one of my favorite places to go. It's very exciting for me to go there and work and play for the MetroStars. It's great and I am really looking forward to it."
