Coccaro hopes to win new fans at CF
Striker known for his stylish 'stache
When Matias Coccaro left his last team, the fans cried.
Now the 26-year-old striker from Uruguay may be destined to become equally popular at CF Montréal after joining in the off-season from Argentine club CA Huracán.
The fans at Huracán nicknamed Coccaro “El Zorro” for his wellgroomed moustache that resembled the fictional masked vigilante. Coccaro bought into it, dressing in a cape and mask to celebrate one of their victories back in 2021.
Beneath that signature 'stache is an infectious smile. Rather than carving out a “Z” on his defeated foes, the happy-go-lucky Coccaro makes his mark by signing autographs for every fan who makes an effort to see him.
That's why, he says, a little girl in Argentina wept next to him on television after his move to Montreal was announced. The moment drew tears from Coccaro, too.
“There's a responsibility I had with the fans,” Coccaro said in Spanish, speaking through an interpreter at CF Montréal's training complex last week. “Fans can travel a long distance, like 1,000 kilometres, to watch a football game.
“When the game ends, you have to spend some time with them. Maybe a fan stopped working or put things aside and made a big sacrifice to be there with you.”
Coccaro impressed Montreal fans when he signed autographs and took pictures with every last supporter at a team kickoff event recently. He's also hoping to eliminate the language barrier by taking weekly French lessons.
“We think every direct centre back that he's facing is scared of him,” first-year Montreal head coach Laurent Courtois said. “He's an animal, in a good way.”
The 5-foot-10 Coccaro has a knack for scoring goals and getting under the skin of opponents. In seven Major League Soccer appearances, he has three goals — two from penalties — one assist and 13 fouls drawn.
Though his teammates aren't ready to pronounce Coccaro a fan favourite just yet, captain Samuel Piette doesn't expect it to take long for him to earn that label.
“He just always smiles, you can see he's always happy, nothing negative about him,” Piette said. “And also the style of football he plays — super aggressive, works hard, winning a lot of fouls, able to keep the ball up top, which I think this is what fans like here in Montreal.
“If you gave it all and you wet the shirt, at the end of the day that's all the fans can ask. That's something he does every day, so I think that's why they're going to like him pretty quickly.”