FIRST TEAM || Former Udinese Youth player Franz Pjetri signs for the Saints
Eastern United FC is delighted to announce the signing of former Udinese Calico Youth player Franz Pjetri ahead of the 2023 season.
Franz Pjetri, 22, was born in 2000 in Italy.
Pjetri is set to re-join the Saints ahead of the 2023 season after spells it Italy with Udinese Calico, Pordenone Calico, Adelaide Comets and Para Hills Knights.
He started playing club football at the age of 8 for Fidenza Calcio, he spent two years at the club before moving in 2010 with his family in Australia were he joined Metrostarts.
After a few season with Metrostarts, he was scouted by FSA and joined the State programs; first he was part of the STIC & Skillaroos programs; and then he was involved with the NTC.
Photo courtesy of Adam Butler
In 2015, he joined the Saints thanks to Eastern United legend Diego Pellegrini who convinced him to join the club. Shortly after he made his First Team debut at the age of 15 for Eastern United FC in round 1.
The following year he was scouted by Roma officials and Udinese official thanks to Diego Pellegrini's network and he completed a 2 month trials for Roma U17's (second highest youth team level in Italy).
After the Roma trials and despite being just 16 years old he joined Udinese U17's were he played a full season. In the same year, Pjetri was called up to represent his country Albania in the U17's level and following some impressive games with the U17's he was invited to participate in the U19's camps.
At the age of 18, he moved to Pordenone Calico primavera were he played half season before returning to South Australia to join Adelaide United Youth Team.
His stayed with Adelaide United Youth Team for a full season before joining local powerhouse Adelaide Comets.
In 2019, he joined Para Hills Knights were he played for 3 season.
Photo courtesy of Adam Butler
Franz Pjetri, had this to say:
"I like the club and wanted to join for a few years because it's an ambitious club and I have a little bit of attachment to the club as it was my launchpad for my football journey. With the club being close to home and having friends in the team it made my decision much easier join the club."
He then added:
"My ambitions are aligned with the club's ambitions to be successful and fight for promotion and put the club on the map of the South Australia football community."
Photo courtesy of Adam Butler
Manager Gabriel Markaj had this to say about our new signing:
"He comes at the club with a wealth of experience at the senior level but want made him a real target for us is because we knew he wanted a change and bringing him at the club was something that we were looking into for a few season. Now that it happened I have no doubts he will be successful with us and he will give us much needed quality in the backline, creating that competitiveness that in the last 2 years we struggled to achieve."