Robert Stillo is a Canadian international goalkeeper who has played for notable Italian clubs such as Genoa, Perugia, Paganese and most recently Parma. Having already been called up to Canada’s senior national team at just 24 years of age, Robert has a bright future ahead of him. We discuss with Robert his career so far and reflect upon his Canadian upbringing, how it shaped who he is today as well as delving into his adventures on the peninsula.
How has your year been, and are you looking forward to a fresh start in 2015-2016?
This past year has been quite a big transition for me. From winning the league and Supercup last year with Perugia to being without a team at all after Parma declared bankruptcy was pretty tough. I think it’s safe to say I’m glad that whole disaster is over with and I can’t wait to find my next club!
The state of Parma has been a much publicized affair, and it seems that with every point Parma manage to scrape off of a big club, an aura of legend has grown around this squad. What is your take on the club – how have you managed, and what has the general feeling been on the inside?
It is sad to see such a historical club be reduced to what it has become now. I left the team at the beginning of the year so I haven’t really seen what has gone inside the club, but I know from a few of my friends playing there that it has been a long and stressful year for them.
Over the course of your career, you have had the privilege to play for historic Italian sides such as Genoa and Perugia. Did you ever imagine yourself plying your trade for such illustrious clubs?
To be honest when I left at 15, I had no idea what the future had in store for me. I have been truly blessed to play where I have and meet some of the players and coaches that I have. I’ve always had big dreams and goals and I am truly grateful to have reached some of them at such a young age.
You’ve been in Italy for quite some time now; do you ever grow tired of it?
Italy is an amazing country with great culture and people, but home is home! I’ve missed my family and friends a lot, but to be honest I’ve had some of the best experiences in my life overseas and made some great friends. So I’d have to say yes and no.
Has it surprised you how much the North American soccer scene has taken off since you left for Genoa, when the dream of Canadian soccer as a viable option to foreign leagues was in its infancy? How has it improved for the aspiring goalkeeper?
Honestly I’m not. There was so much potential for Canadian soccer to grow when I left that to see it explode the way it has the last couple of years hasn’t surprised me at all. It gives not just young Canadian Goalkeepers, but Canadian players a great option close to home. A chance to see world stars like Kaka, David Villa or Giovinco right in their own backyard, and a chance to inspire more kids to play the sport and have it grow in this country.
When you take a step back and look at your journey, did you ever expect it to be the way it’s been? Growing up in Mississauga, when did you first realize that being a professional goalkeeper was possible?
I always had big dreams and aspirations as a child, but it didn’t really come to light until I was about 14. My dad played professional volleyball in Italy for a few years and let me know he had been in touch with some people that could help me out and give me a chance to go on trial at a few clubs. The rest is history from there!
On that note, are you eager to prove yourself to Benito Floro and the Canadian national team?
I’ve been to one camp already with Benito and two in total with the National team, so they have seen me and what I bring to the table. Obviously I need a team where I can be playing regularly and can be seen on a weekly basis to earn myself a call up and hopefully get a cap in the upcoming months.
You’ve stated previously that your favourite players growing up were Francesco Totti and Gianluigi Buffon; who now in Serie A do you see carrying the flame once the last greats of this generation finally retire?
There are a few great young talents in Italy right now but they have still yet to make names for themselves like Totti, Buffon, or Del Piero. I think Stephan El Shaarawy of Milan, Paul Pogba of Juventus and Miralem Pjanic of Roma will be the players to set the bar for the Serie A and help their teams do well in the big European competitions.
Are there any teammates in particular whom you’ve played alongside with that have helped you along the way?
Lots of the goalkeepers I had the pleasure of playing with at Genoa really pushed me and helped me grow not only on, but off the field too. Eugenio Lamanna and Mattia Perin who are very good friends of mine and came up through the youth ranks with me. [They] were big influences just because we went through all the steps in growing up together. Rubinho who now plays for Juventus, Eduardo who represented Portugal in the 2010 World Cup and Sebastien Frey who had an illustrious career for Parma, Inter and Fiorentina were major role models for me. Not only were they great goalkeepers but good people off the field as well.
Lastly, I must ask – any hints on which kit we may see you in next year?
Well that my friend is the million dollar question! I have a few good options right now, but nothing has been confirmed yet. You’ll just have to wait and see!
Robert Stillo is on Twitter – follow him @RobertoStillo
Photo Courtesy of Federico De Luca, TuttoMercatoWeb.
