FC Dallas has announced the signing of former Club America defender and captain Duilio Davino. Having completed a 10-year stint with popular Mexican First Division side Club America in December, the center back will join FC Dallas later this month to begin preparing for the 2008 Major League Soccer season. Per team and League policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We are delighted to be able to announce today the signing of Davino," said FC Dallas Head Coach Steve Morrow. "It was definitely a target of mine to secure an experienced defender during this off-season and we're excited to add someone of his immense experience and talent to our defense and to our team."
Duilio began his career with Tecos of the Mexican First Division, making his professional first team debut in a 2-0 win over Guadalajara (Chivas) on April 1, 1994. In three years, he made 69 appearances for Tecos before transferring to Club America in 1997.
Over the past ten years, he appeared in 323 regular season and playoff games for America, scoring 11 goals. The 31-year old has also represented America in over 40 international club matches, participating in South America's Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, SuperLiga, and the FIFA World Club Championships. Following the departure of forward Cuauhtémoc Blanco to the Chicago Fire, Davino was presented with the captain's armband for Club America.
On the international front, Davino made his Mexico National Team debut in January 1996 in a 5-0 win over El Salvador during the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup. After playing for Mexico in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, he went on to play in all four games for Mexico in the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He has made 84 appearances with the Mexican National Team, the last coming on March 29, 2006 in a 2-1 win over Paraguay.
Born to Argentine parents in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, Davino was raised until the age of nine in Argentina, where his father Jorge was playing professional soccer. The family moved to Leon in 1985 when his father became the head coach of Leon. His older brother Flavio was also a soccer player, having played professionally in Mexico with Tecos, Leon, Morelia, and Cruz Azul.
FC Dallas will begin the 2008 season against Chivas USA on Sunday, March 30 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas at 2 p.m. CT.
Davino Professional Career
1993-1997: Tecos (Mexico)
1997-2007: Club America (Mexico)
Name: Duilio Davino
Number: TBD
Height: 5'11
Weight: 165
DOB: March 21, 1976
Birthplace: Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico
Hometown: Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico
Last Club: Club America (Mexico)
Nationality: Mexico
