Franco Paonessa is a retired Italian-American professional soccer player who has played in the second and third American Soccer Leagues,

United Soccer League United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as United Soccer Leagues, is a Association football, soccer league in the United States and Canada. It organizes several men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Men's leagues curren ...

, American Indoor Soccer Association and

USISL United Soccer League (USL), formerly known as United Soccer Leagues, is a soccer league in the United States and Canada. It organizes several men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Men's leagues currently organized are the ...

. Paonessa was a junior college All American soccer player at Fulton–Montgomery Community College. In 1982, he signed with the

Rochester Flash The Rochester Flash was an American soccer club based in Rochester, New York that was a member of the American Soccer League. History In 1981, the Rochester Flash entered the American Soccer League, playing its home games at Holleder Memorial ...

of the second American Soccer League where he earned Rookie of the Year honors. In 1984, he played for the New York Nationals of the

. In 1987, Paonessa joined the

Albany Capitals The Albany Capitals joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League. The club played in Albany, New York. After ...

as they played an independent schedule. In 1988, the Capitals joined the third American Soccer League. In 1989, the Capitals did not offer Paonessa a contract and he moved to the

New Jersey Eagles The New Jersey Eagles were an American soccer team founded in 1987 as the Cosmopolitan Eagles. In 1988, they entered the third American Soccer League as the New Jersey Eagles. They folded following the 1990 American Professional Soccer League s ...

. He also played for the

Memphis Storm The Memphis Storm was an American soccer team based in Memphis, Tennessee which existed from 1986 to 1994. They underwent several names changes including the Rogues, the Survivors, the United Express and finally the Jackals. They played in the Am ...

of the

American Indoor Soccer League The American Indoor Soccer League was a semi-professional indoor soccer league founded in 2002 and folded in 2008. History Founded in 2002, the AISL's headquarters were in West Springfield, Massachusetts, but the media relations office was in C ...

In December 1990, the

New York Kick The New York Kick was a professional indoor soccer team based in Albany, New York playing at the Knickerbocker Arena and competed in the National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001). The team was previously known as the Indiana Kick in 1989� ...

of the National Professional Soccer League signed Paonessa who had been painting houses. He remained with the Kick through the 1990-1991 season. He then played for the

Greek American AA NY Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is an American soccer team from New York City that currently plays in the Eastern Premier Soccer League and in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. The club was formed in 194 ...

of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. In the fall of 1992, he signed with the

Canton Invaders The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League. After the 1995–96 season, the team relocated and became the Columbus Invaders. History The Canton Invaders were a p ...

of the NPSL. He then played for the

New Jersey Stallions The New Jersey Stallions were an American soccer team, founded in 1996, which competed in various divisions of the United Soccer Leagues until 2004, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated. The club originally star ...

of the

. Paonessa has continued to play amateur soccer with U.S. Parma.

International

Paonessa competed for the Puerto Rico national football team during Puerto Rico's qualification games for the

1994 FIFA World Cup The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national soccer teams. It was hosted by the United States and took place from June 17 to July 17, 1994, at nine venues across the country. The United States ...

.Dominican Republic v Puerto Rico (March 21, 1992)
11v11.com; accessed October 16, 2016.

Yearly Awards

*1982 ASL Rookie of the Year

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paonessa, Franco 1959 births Living people Men's association football midfielders Albany Capitals players American Soccer League (1933–1983) players American Soccer League (1988–89) players Canton Invaders players Greek American AA players Italian emigrants to the United States Memphis Storm players National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) players New Jersey Eagles players New Jersey Stallions players New York Kick players New York Nationals (USL) players Rochester Flash players United Soccer League (1984–85) players USISL players Puerto Rican men's footballers Puerto Rico men's international footballers Junior college men's soccer players in the United States