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Raleigh Pizza Chef Played Soccer With World Cup Athletes

By Diana Holoman, The Raleigh Telegram

Monday, June 28, 2010

RALEIGH - How many people have had a pizza made for them? Everyone. But how many people can say that they have had a pizza made for them by someone who competed with the best athletes in the world? Not many.

Raleigh citizens who dine at Vic’s Italian Restaurant in the City Market section of downtown Raleigh often don’t know that they are dining in the presence of an elite soccer player who has seen playing time around the world.

Whether he greets you at the door with his million dollar smile, or spins the dough that makes your family a pizza, Mario Longo, manager of Vic’s Italian Restaurant, is not your everyday restaurant employee.

Longo, whose family owns Vic’s, spent many years playing professional soccer all around the world.

From Italy to Ireland and in Puerto Rico and the continental United States, the Raleigh athlete says he will forever remember his time on the soccer field, especially now that the World Cup dominates the television and sports headlines.

Staring at the television as the World Cup is being broadcast in the background, Longo points out players that are on the U.S.A. team that he played with at one point or another in his fascinating soccer career.

“I just consider myself lucky to have played with those guys who are now in the World Cup,” Longo said. “I would give anything to be out there playing with them.”

Players that Longo played with include team U.S.A.’s captain Carlos Bocanegra. Other well known players include John Harkes, Damarcus Beasley, and Edson Buttle.

Harkes was the first American to play in the English Premier League. Harkes now works as a commentator for World Cup soccer games and was one of his role models, Longo says.

Looking back on his successful career as a midfielder, Longo believe his soccer story began like most other young Italian boys.

“I come from a very traditional Italian home. I remember when I was a little boy my dad took me to play soccer,” Longo said. “My family started to notice that I was progressing, and I eventually ending up making a youth Olympic team.”

Soccer was Longo’s life as a young boy, and even more so after making the youth Olympic team. It only seemed natural then that Longo would bring his soccer shoes with him on a family trip to Italy.

During their Italian vacation, Longo became aware of a tryout for a professional soccer team in Naples. He tried out for the team and from there, the rest was history.

“One day I was a normal soccer player going to Apex High School, and the next day I am getting a package delivered to me from the team I would be playing for and the new school in Italy that I would be attending,” Longo recounts.

Longo played soccer in Naples for two years before coming back to the United States and playing for the M.L.S. national league.

In the United States, Longo played for the Columbus Crew for two years in Columbus, Ohio. He also played for the Dynamo in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“My favorite team to play for was Columbus.” Longo says “We had a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the professional atmosphere.”

Soccer abroad called to Longo after his time with the M.L.S. and he signed once again with a professional team overseas, this time in Ireland for a team called the Waterford United.

His team saw impressive success during his one season with this team and they won the league championship, says Longo. At the end of the season, however, Longo felt it was time to move on again.

This time his agent sent him an offer from the Puerto Rico Islanders.

However, during the off-season while training, Longo was injured. With his family needing help to run their restaurants in Raleigh, he felt it was time to hang up his soccer shoes and start working in the family business, but he hasn’t forgotten his passion for the sport.

“Soccer is engrained in me, and I still have to stay involved in the game,” Longo said. “I play in a men’s league to stay active in the game.”

During the recent World Cup matches in South Africa, Longo could not be more excited.

“I am partial to Italy because my family is from there.” Longo smiles, “I have to cheer for them as my winner, and I love that they are a tournament team that shows up for the big games.”

Longo’s favorite player for Italy is Andrea Pirlo, a fellow midfielder, and on Team U.S.A. he likes Landon Donovan.

Those wanting to say hello to Mario can often find him standing by the front door looking up at the television cheering during the World Cup broadcasts. When this reporter entered Vic’s, he was there taking in all of the action.

Although he loves soccer, Mario says he has embraced his family’s business at Vic’s especially since they have so many traditional Italian favorites.

“Each day, our chef requests what he wants to make and we go out and buy the ingredients to ensure that our customers have the absolute freshest food,” he says.

Longo’s parents are from Italy, and claim that this why Vic’s pizza is extra special.

“Being that my father is from Italy, and worked in many Italian restaurants in New York, I feel that mixing ingredients and ideas from so many different places makes the food at Vic’s so special,” said Longo.

In keeping with tradition, Longo’s father, Mario Sr., names dishes after family members.

“The Penne alla Michael is a delicious dish that is very popular,” Longo said, “It is penne pasta served with chicken and mushrooms topped with pink sauce.”

Vic’s Restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner and is located at 331 Blake Street in the City Market section of downtown Raleigh.

And while you’re dining there and enjoying the traditional Italian food, if you’re looking for Mario during the World Cup games, you’ll probably see him up near the TV up front, cheering on his former teammates.

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