“Mr Tenacity” as Rossi soldiers on at Sydney United

And it?s just as well, with the Sydney United midfielder enduring a frustrating spell on the sideline the past couple of years.
After signing a two-year deal with the Edensor Park outfit in 2008, the Woolworths business analyst was hopeful of fruitful times in the famous red jersey.
A knee reconstruction put paid to that but after impressing incoming coach Ante Milicic in pre-season, the 24-year-old felt his luck was changing.
It wasn?t.
A foot injury sustained against the Sydney Tigers last month curtailed Rossi?s progress yet again but don?t think the Northern Spirit junior has any plans to walk away.
?I have had a few setbacks through injury but that is part and parcel of the game,? he said.
?It does get frustrating, but all you can do is go away and work towards getting yourself fitter and stronger than ever.
?Ante has given me a chance and I know it will be a challenge to break into the team given how well we are playing but I don?t mind that.
?We have a squad more than capable of winning trophies and my aim is to be a part of that.?
Rossi spent his junior representative days with Gladesville Hornsby and Northern Spirit before linking up with Marconi whilst still a teenager.
He spent three years at Marconi Stadium, playing in the National Youth squad as well as the first grade team before getting his passport stamped and moving to the United States in 2005, securing a college contract with Coastal Carolina University.
?My goal was to spend a couple of years in America and finish my degree as well as play football,? he recalled.
?Everything was going well, I was loving the standard but I had a death in the family after only eight months and decided to come home.
?After that I had stints with Sydney Olympic and Manly United before signing with Sydney United.
?The challenge for me now is to show people what I can do week in, week out and hopefully stay injury free.?
Rossi is also completing his masters degree in Commerce at Macquarie University but said if an A-League club came calling he wouldn?t hesitate in putting his studies on hold.
?I have managed to juggle both my university workload and football for a few years now and with the competition always expanding you never know who is watching,? he said.
?If I was lucky enough to get the tap on the shoulder I wouldn?t think twice about it.
?They say you are a long time retired and I feel I have plenty of improvement in my game.?
 You would hope the football gods begin to smile on Rossi. You can?t say he doesn?t deserve it.
–By Andrew Prentice