Simon Gatti

College and amateur

Gatti, born in Welland, Ontario, is a dual Canadian-French citizen. He was a trialist for Sochaux's U-17 youth team in 1999, and played for French club Racing Club de Paris' youth team in 2000, before returning to North America to attend college. Gatti also won the Ontario Cup twice with the Thorold Cobras in 1998 and 1999 and placed second at the national championships with the Cobras in 1999. Gatti played college soccer with University of Rhode Island from 2002 to 2005, leading the team as co-captain from 2003 to 2005 while majoring in kinesiology. In total he played 85 games, tallied 10 goals, eight assists and 28 points. As a freshman, the midfielder was chosen for the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team. He was proclaimed team MVP in 2005 and selected to the First Team All-Conference, and First Team All New England, helping the Rams win the Atlantic 10 Division Championship again (2002, 2005). As a sophomore, he was a Second Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference and Third Team All-New England. During the summers of 2004 and 2005, he also played in the USL Premier Development League with the Rhode Island Stingrays, playing 19 games, scoring two goals and picking up one assist. He had a brief stint with the St. Catharines Wolves of the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 2002, but wasn't allowed to re-sign with the club for the 2003 season due to risking his scholarship.

Professional

Gatti joined the Montreal Impact as their first…