SAL RUSSO

Sal came to the United States in 1962 from Torremuzza, a little town in Sicily. It didn’t take him long to adapt to his new home.

By 1963 Sal had started to play soccer for the Passaic Italians in the Schaefer League. In 1967 and ’68 he scored 20 goals to help the Passaic Santa Croce win the league championship and the New Jersey and New York Amateur State Cup.

In 1970 Sal helped Santa Croce win the Schaefer Indoor Tournament in Paterson and was chosen Most Valuable Player and was leading scorer of the playoffs.

That same year Sal was selected for the USA Olympic Team, and also had a successful tryout for Bresceia, A Second Division team in Italy.

Returning to his homeland, Sal played there for two years in the professional ranks, however due to an injury he was forced to discontinue playing and returned to the U.S.

Sal soon made his debut in the German American League where he played for Elizabeth Sports Club, Doxa, New York Hungarians, Schaefer Brewers and Connecticut.

Sal finished his career with the Trenton Italians, helping them win State Cup titles during their reign as the premier amateur soccer team in New Jersey in the early ’70s.

During his career Sal was selected for various all-star teams. Tonight he joins the NJSA Hall of Fame along with his former Trenton Italians coach Sergio Flamini.