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#7 Simone Bracalello
Team: Minnesota United FC
Position: F
Height: 6-0
Weight: 165
DOB: 1985-10-21
Hometown: Genoa, Italy
Previous Club: Savona 1907, Calcio Como, FC Vado, US Sestri Levante (ITA), UC Pontedemico Polis , AC Prato
Simone Bracalello arrived in Minnesota at the recommendation of a friend in the Carolina RailHawks organization. Bracalello impressed the coaching staff at the Stars’ open tryout in 2010 with his powerful shot and smooth finishing, and in the two years since, he has become the club’s leading goal scorer with 11 career goals, including a stunning last-minute free kick against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers early in the 2011 season. Bracalello arrived in Minnesota as an attacking midfielder, but has since developed into a striker, although he will still come deep into the defensive half to gain possession. He began his career at age 10 in his hometown of Genoa, Italy, where he played for UC Sampdoria’s youth academy for four years. In 2002, at the age of 17, he made his professional debut with Savona 1907 FBC, then of the fourth-tier C2 league, now called the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. Over the next six years, Bracalello played for six teams in the lower tiers of Italian soccer. He scored his first professional goal for F.C. Vado in 2004. Prior to joining the Stars on March 16, 2010, Bracalello had spent time as a trial player for the Newcastle Jets of the top-flight Australian A-League and with Italian Serie C1 (third division) side Pescara. Bracalello is another veteran of the Stars having signed in early 2010 and earned over 50 caps with the club. He tied for leading scorer for the Stars in 2011 with teammate Neil Hlavaty with six goals and an assist, as well as a team-high 55 shots. He has scored important goals for the Stars thus far in the 2012 season, including vital goals against the Des Moines Menace and Real Salt Lake in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. He also has scored two goals in the 2012 regular season so far. Bracalello leads the team offensively in shots and frequently conducts Minnesota’s offensive creativity as well as taking the team's set pieces.