Posted by

Steve Bottjer ,

May 22, 2014 Email Steve Bottjer Twitter @BottjerRNO

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Robert Stillo

Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Robert Stillo is a 23 year old up and coming goalkeeper who has played professionally in Italy for the last several year with clubs such as Genoa, Parma and Perugia. At the International level, Stillo has represented Canada at the U20 level and he is currently part of the Men’s National Team squad that is currently in Austria preparing for the team’s first two International Friendlies of 2014.

RedNation recently had the chance to catch up with Stillo to discuss his thoughts on being a Canadian playing professionally in Italy, developing as a young goalkeeper in one of the world’s great football nations and his future with the Canadian National Team program.



RedNation Online: Robert, at the club level you’ve just recently completed your most recent season in Italy with Liga Pro side Perugia. You joined Perugia on loan from Parma and then saw the club purchase another keeper that the team ended up giving the starting role to throughout the season. While you played well with whenever your got the chance to play, you also had to deal with a situation that is common for young keepers at the pro level. How did you keep a positive mentality knowing that you were in a difficult position with regard to getting starting minutes?



Robert Stillo: Obviously you just have to keep believing in the possibilities and your own qualities and know that your time could come at any moment. In a second, you could be on the field due to a red card or due to an injury that could even keep you on the field for the rest of the season. So you just have to be ready for your opportunity.



RNO: What type of discussions have you had with Parma with regards to your future with the club?



Robert Stillo: As of right now, there has been nothing yet. It is still very early and Italians are so laid back. So we’ll get into talks in the middle of June with regard to what will be going on next year. As of right now, no talks have been held.



RNO: Not many Canadians ply their trade professionally in Italy. What is it like being a Canadian playing in Italy?



Robert Stillo: Luckily for me, given the type of person that I am, I fit in there right away. I’ve also been very lucky to have very open teammates who have treated me well. In that regard, I’ve never had any problems fitting in and have never really had to deal with any problems with my Italian teammates. I picked up the language right away, so that helped as well. I think the quicker you learn the language, the quicker your teammates will respond to you. So that made it pretty easy for me.



RNO: Italy is obviously a beautiful country and a great place to live. At the same time, you have been away for some time from your home country and everything that has been happening with Canadian soccer. Is it difficult being away from home for so long?



Robert Stillo: I’ve been away for so long that I’ve kind of become used to it. I have had my girlfriend come over a few times and my family has come over. Home is where the heart is, so when they come to see me it is okay. I’m from Mississauga and I do miss the winter and the snow. Being Canadian, that is how Christmas time is. And going home for turkey on Thanksgiving is something that many people take granted. So there are some things that I miss and obviously being away from family is huge. But Italy is a great country, so it has been okay moving over there.



RNO: You are still a young person and very young in terms of being a goalkeeper. Do you have specific goals or requirements for the next season or next couple of seasons with respect to getting to that next level as a professional keeper?



Robert Stillo: To be honest, no, I don’t. Obviously you want to be playing at as high a level as you can. But for me right now, being young, I just want to get as many games as possible. No one can see you if you are on a bench and not playing. Just playing as many games as I can in the next few years would be ideal.



RNO: Italy is known as a country that produces a lot of great players and in particular it has a reputation for producing great goalkeepers. What has it been like for you being there in terms of the development environment?



Robert Stillo: Development-wise it has been incredible. I had a really great coach at Genoa - Gianluca Spinelli - who helped me out a lot when I was younger. I grew up with Mattia Perin, who is now part of Italy’s World Cup squad. Growing up together and developing with him has been I think as good as it gets for any athlete, not just as a Canadian in Italy. Overall, it has been incredible. As you said, Italy is great for goalkeepers, so I just took in as much as I could from a very young age.



RNO: Were you always a goalkeeper when you were younger? And was that unique development environment one of the reasons you made the decision to move to Italy?



Robert Stillo: I actually became a goalkeeper at the age of 12. My dad had connections in Italy because he played professional volleyball there. Italy was kind of just an easy choice for me because of my Italian origins – my Nonno and Nonna are from Italy - and my Dad kind of wanted me to go there due to his background and everything. It was an easy choice for me and kind of the only place that I ever saw myself playing.



RNO: Genoa is obviously a huge club with many great players. What was it like learning under someone like Eduardo?



Robert Stillo: He was a fantastic goalkeeper and luckily we became great friends. He was incredible. I have also been teammates with other great goalkeepers like Rubinho and last year with Sebastien Frey. I have had incredible experiences and I honestly consider myself to have been extremely privileged to have been and played amongst those guys.



RNO: In terms of soccer, a lot has happened in Toronto and the GTA since you left for Italy. Do you keep an eye on what is happening back home?



Robert Stillo: Of course. I have very close friends of mine who play for Toronto FC in Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan, Jonathan Osorio and Kyle Bekker. I’m always in touch with them and I always watch the MLS. Being from Toronto, that’s my team and I’m always pulling for them. It is great to see them bring in the players that they did this year to bring back the enthusiasm to Toronto. Hopefully everything keeps growing and I think it is great for Canadian soccer.



RNO: You have previously represented Canada at the U-20 level and are now with the Senior Men’s National Team. Was getting this call something that had been top of mind for you and do you hope to be more involved with the Canadian National Team program going forward?



Robert Stillo: Of course. It is an honour to represent your country, so any call up and opportunity you get is something you accept with open arms. Hopefully I can keep playing at a club team and also do well here, so that I continue to get future call ups. It is definitely an honour to play for Canada.



RNO: You have had a number of amazing coaches already throughout your career. You are now at a national team training camp under Benito Floro. How has the camp gone and what are you impressions of Benito?



Robert Stillo: It has gone well so far and I am enjoying it. Benito has his own outlook and you just have to be a sponge and take in everything that he is saying. He has an excellent resume and I have a lot of respect for him. I’m enjoying my time here and I’m hoping that I can get into one of the two games.





