Things continue to become brighter for the once
lowly-looking Milwaukee Wave indoor soccer club. Just a month after falling
from the playoffs for the second time in as many years, acknowledging a lawsuit
against owner, Susan Black, and losing veteran head coach, Kieth Tozer, the
longest-running indoor soccer franchise in the country seems to have found its
feet again. The team joined a number of counterparts from the former Major
Indoor Soccer League in transferring to the newly formed Professional Arena Soccer
League in May. The Wave's new league features teams from the United States,
Mexico, and Canada, and is the largest entity of its kind in North America.
This week brought another bit of good news, as the franchise
announced it had hired Giuliano Oliviero to fill the vacancy left by Tozer, who
left the position this off-season after over 20 years as head coach.
Oliviero is no stranger to Milwaukee or its fans. The 40
year old Vancouver native has worn a Wave jersey for nearly his entire career
as a professional soccer player and coach, starting in 1995 and returning in
2003 after spending five seasons elsewhere. He was promoted to an assistant
coaching position under Tozer in 2008, maintaining his duties as a player as
well.
When asked this week by reporters if he would now retire as
a player, Oliviero was vague, though he did say that his full concentration
would now be on coaching.
Regardless of weather he continues his dual roles, Oliviero
has made quite the impact for the Wave both on and off the field. He was one of
the most important ambassadors between Tozer and the players during his tenure
as an assistant, also helping to broaden the team's scouting net, recruiting
multiple internationals. As a player himself, Oliviero earned second-place in
Rookie of the Year voting in 1995 and is currently the Wave's sixth all-time
leading scorer.
Outside of the Wave, Oliviero lives with his wife and
children north of Milwaukee. He also coaches at Waukesha West High School.
Stepping-up to fill head assistant role for the 2014 season
will be Wave goalkeeper Nick Vorberg. Vorberg was chosen by Oliviero soon after
his own promotion, citing the goalie's 11 years with Milwaukee and his place as
team's second-most winningest player.

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