| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1963-05-23) 23 May 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Sarandí, Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1973–1975 | Arsenal de Sarandí | ||
| 1975–1981 | Racing Club | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1981–1984 | Racing Club | 0 | (0) |
| 1983–1984 | → Unión de Mar del Plata (loan) | 28 | (0) |
| 1985–1986 | Real Santa Cruz | 18 | (0) |
| 1986 | Central Norte | 20 | (0) |
| 1986–1987 | Barracas Central | 25 | (0) |
| 1987–1989 | Juventud Unida | 35 | (3) |
| 1989–1990 | Club Cipolletti | 15 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | West Adelaide SC | 25 | (1) |
| 1992–1999 | Morwell Falcons | 132 | (8) |
| 1993 | → Perlis FA (loan) | 24 | (0) |
| 1994 | → Albion Redsox (loan) | 12 | (1) |
| 1998 | → Heidelberg United (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| Total | 343 | (13) | |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1998–2000 | Gippsland Falcons (assistant) | ||
| 2000 | Australia U23 (technical analyst) | ||
| 2001–2002 | Marconi Stallions (assistant) | ||
| 2001–2002 | Bankstown City | ||
| 2003 | Wollongong United | ||
| 2006–2008 | Penrith Nepean United | ||
| 2008 | Spirit FC | ||
| 2010–2011 | Fiji U20 | ||
| 2011 | Fiji | ||
| 2010–2013 | Macarthur Rams | ||
| 2014–2015 | Gungahlin United | ||
| 2016–2017 | Bankstown United | ||
| 2018–2019 | Macarthur Rams | ||
| 2021–2022 | Wynnum Wolves (technical director) | ||
| 2023– | Caboolture Sports FC (technical director) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Claudio Canosa (born 23 May 1963) is an Argentine‑Australian retired football player and coach.
A defender, he played in Argentina and Bolivia before a long career in Australia's National Soccer League (NSL) with West Adelaide and Morwell Falcons.
He is the all-time NSL appearances record holder for Morwell Falcons, with 132 games and 8 goals, placing him among the club's top ten all-time goal scorers.
After retiring as a player, he worked extensively as a coach across state, national, and international levels, including being appointed as head coach of Fiji in 2011.[1]
Playing career
Early career
Canosa began his football career in his native Argentina with Arsenal de Sarandí and Racing Club, who loaned him out in his latter teenage years.
Canosa undertook mandatory military service in 1981, re-joining Racing in 1982 and then being loaned out to Club Atlético Del Plata, where he made his senior debut, aged 19.
He then went to Bolivia with Real Santa Cruz and multiple clubs across Argentina before moving to Australia at the age of 28 to continue his playing career in senior football.[2]
West Adelaide (1991–1992)
Canosa joined West Adelaide in the National Soccer League, making 25 appearances and scoring one goal between 1991 and 1992.
Morwell Falcons (1992–1999)
Canosa agreed terms with the Falcons late in 1992 and made his debut for the Falcons on 6 January 1993, as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Brisbane Strikers.[3]
Canosa became synonymous with the Falcons, playing in 55.23% of their 239 NSL games, and quickly formed a strong partnership with veteran defender Shaun Parton soon after arriving Morwell, helping drive the Falcons up the league table.[4]
After Parton's departure, Canosa later forged an iconic partnership with Manny Gelagotis, considered one of the toughest players in the National Soccer League.[5]
Canosa had three periods out on loan during the Falcons' off-season, spending time with Perlis FA in Malaysia in 1993, Albion Red Sox in the Victorian Premier League in 1994 and with Heidelberg United in 1998.[6]
He is Morwell Falcons’ all-time NSL appearance record holder, with 132 matches and 8 goals, which also places him in the club's top ten goal scorers.[7]
Managerial career
After retiring as a player, Canosa entered coaching across men's, women's, and youth football. He holds a FIFA Pro‑Licence, football's highest coaching qualification, and has over two decades of experience at club and national levels.[8][9]
Canosa also served as head coach of the Fiji U20 national team from 2010 until 2012 and briefly as head coach of the Fiji in 2011.[10]
He left the post as national coach, citing interference from the management in squad selection. However, the acting Fijian FA President Anil Sharma defended his right to interfere with selection, releasing a statement that "...with the selection of the national team and even the best eleven players for any match, the President of Fiji FA or his nominee has the final say."[11]
He later served as head coach of Bankstown United in 2017 and later coached Macarthur Rams in the National Premier Leagues NSW competition. His earlier roles included assistant coaching at Marconi, head coach at Wollongong United and Penrith Nepean United.
Personal life
Canosa's son, Roman Canosa (born 2006), is a defender with the Brisbane Roar 'B' team, who play in NPL Queensland.[12]
Roman was previously in the youth teams of Sydney FC[13], Brisbane Roar,[14] and Newcastle Jets.[15]
He is eligible for both the Argentinian and Australian national teams.[16]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| West Adelaide | 1991–92 | National Soccer League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 |
| 1992–93 | National Soccer League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | ||
| Morwell Falcons | 1992–93 | National Soccer League | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| 1993–94 | National Soccer League | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| 1994–95 | National Soccer League | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 | |
| 1995–96 | National Soccer League | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 | |
| Total | 79 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 7 | ||
| Perlis FA (loan) | 1993 | Malaysia Super League | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Albion Redsox (loan) | 1994 | Victorian Premier League | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 |
| Heidelberg United (loan) | 1998 | Victorian Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Gippsland Falcons | 1996–97 | National Soccer League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 1997–98 | National Soccer League | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| 1998–99 | National Soccer League | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| Total | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 201 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 177 | 10 | ||
References
- ^ Chand, Avikash (2 March 2011). "Claudio is national coach". Fiji Football Association. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Claudio Canosa – Player Archive". OzFootball. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "1992/93 season - round 14 results". OzFootball. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ Mactaggart, Gregor (6 April 2020). "GLORY DAYS: When Morwell Falcons soared into the NSL finals series". Latrobe Valley Express. Archived from the original on 3 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ Pete, Sahsa (5 October 2022). "Claudio Canosa - Argentine comes to West Adelaide and Morwell in the NSL". Sasha Pete - YouTube.
- ^ "Claudio Canosa – VicFootball Player Profile". VicFootball. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Claudio Canosa – Aussie Footballers Player Profile". OzFootball. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Canosa signs with Bankstown United FC". Football NSW. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "Canosa appointed Macarthur Rams Head Coach". Football NSW. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ Deo, Dhanjay (9 February 2011). "Argentine to coach Fiji Soccer Team". Fiji Village. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ Chand, Avikash (17 June 2011). "Canosa temporarily suspended". Fiji Football Association. Archived from the original on 5 January 2026. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Brisbane 'B' Team". Brisbane Roar Official. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "Sydney FC - Player Profile Roman Canosa". Sydney FC Under 13 NPL. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "Brisbane Roar Academy Squads 2020 - Under 13 and 14". Brisbane Roar Official Website. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "Youth Team Ruthless As They Tame Bulls FC". Newcastle Jets Official Website. Archived from the original on 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ^ "Roman Canosa - Season 2022 highlights". Roman Canosa - YouTube. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
External links
- OzFootball – Claudio Canosa player archive
