When Major League Soccer began in the 1990s, the ability to see local players coming into their own was key, and the MetroStars were no different with local talents like Tab Ramos, Mike Petke, and Tony Meola donning their local colors. But there was one important player who wasn’t a local, at least at first.
That man - a Venezuelan who became a resident of Queens - is none other than Giovanni Savarese. Every single time he got a chance, he converted and showed his heart and passion on his face as he ran towards the die-hard supporters in section 101.