Former Akron and UNCG Standout played for Serie A and B youth sides in Italy
PAPILLION, Neb. (January 24, 2023) – Union Omaha announced today the signing of defender Marco Milanese, pending league and federation approval. Milanese reunites with Assistant Coach Kevin Nuss, who he played under in his time with the USL League Two side Ocean City Nor’easters.
The Isernia, Italy native has spent time with multiple landmark Italian clubs, including S.S.C. Napoli U-19 and Torino F.C. U-19 in Serie A, as well as Parma Calcio U-17 in Serie B. He also made 6 appearances for Napoli’s first team, as well as appearances with the Italian youth national team at the U-15 and U-17 levels. Milanese then put up a stunning collegiate career in the United States, first at the University of Akron, making 41 starts and helping the team to two Mid-American Conference titles and a 2018 NCAA College Cup runner-up finish. He continued on to the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, where he earned back-to-back All-Southern Conference First Team selections and recorded 16 clean sheets in 40 appearances. In his senior season, he helped the Spartans to their first NCAA quarterfinal appearance in school history.
“Marco is a cultured defender that can fill a couple of different positions on our backline,” Union Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato said. “He joins us off the back of a stellar college career at the University of Akron and UNC-Greensboro and arrives in Omaha with great pedigree having played for Napoli in the UEFA Youth League during his formative years.”
“Marco is a versatile player with a ton of upside as a professional,” Union Omaha General Manager Peter Marlette said. “He’s exactly the type of signing we hope to make out of the college game, and I’m really excited for what he’ll bring to us in Omaha this season.”
“I am very excited to join this fantastic club and its amazing fans,” Milanese said. “Looking forward to giving everything I have on the field to make this club successful.”
Phonetic pronunciation of name: [MARK-OH MIL-AH-NEH-SEH]
Position: Defender
Height: 6’0
Weight: 165 lbs.
Date of birth: 7/31/1998
Born: Isernia, Italy
Previous Club: Ocean City Nor’easters (USL League Two)
Single-match tickets and season ticket memberships for the 2023 season are currently available via UnionOmaha.com or through the Werner Park Ticket Office by calling 402-738-5100.
ABOUT UNION OMAHA
Union Omaha, the 2021 USL League One Champions, is the only professional soccer team in the state of Nebraska. USL League One is a United States Soccer Federation-sanctioned professional men’s soccer league that occupies the third tier of the American soccer landscape, below USL Championship (tier two) and Major League Soccer (tier one). Union Omaha plays its home matches at Werner Park in Sarpy County, also home to the Omaha Storm Chasers of Minor League Baseball. The team is led by General Manager Peter Marlette in the front office and Head Coach Dominic Casciato on the field.
