Joe Petrone Edmonton Obituary, Death – For decades, Joe Petrone was the heartbeat of soccer in Edmonton. From his arrival as a young immigrant from Italy to his final role as a guiding force behind FC Edmonton, Petrone’s life was deeply intertwined with the sport he loved. His passing at age 78 marks the end of an era for a city that owes much of its soccer identity to his tireless dedication.
Petrone’s journey began when his family moved to Edmonton from Italy when he was just 12 years old. His soccer talents quickly became apparent. As a young phenom, he rose through the ranks to represent Canada at the 1967 Pan American Games, a rare achievement at the time for a Canadian soccer player. His passion for the game only deepened as he transitioned from player to coach and executive.
His influence was felt at multiple levels. As an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois University, Petrone helped nurture young talent, sharing the stage with figures like Carmelo Rago, who would later become a prominent businessman and soccer enthusiast in the city. Back home in Edmonton, Petrone was instrumental in the success of professional teams such as the Edmonton Drillers in the North American Soccer League and the Edmonton Brickmen in the Canadian Soccer League.
But perhaps his most enduring legacy was with FC Edmonton. Serving as director of soccer operations during the team’s revival in the NASL’s second iteration, Petrone’s vision and persistence were crucial to establishing a professional soccer presence in a city where the sport often played second fiddle to hockey and Canadian football. “Joe was the driving force behind professional soccer in this city,” said Jeff Paulus, former FC Edmonton head coach. “He always believed it would work here.”
Joe Petrone’s name will forever be synonymous with soccer in Edmonton—not just for the teams he helped build, but for the community he fostered, the players he mentored, and the belief he instilled that soccer could thrive on this northern turf.