Growing up as one of five family members in a one-bedroom apartment in Scarborough, Ontario, DeRo had to work for everything he had. Sometimes that meant doing things he didn’t want to do. In his autobiography, Dwayne De Rosario shares how his inner-city, Caribbean Canadian upbringing shaped the hungry, superstar athlete and champion he became.

A four-time MLS Cup winner and seven-time MLS All-Star, DeRo’s highlight reel career with the San Jose Earthquakes, Houston Dynamo, Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls, and DC United saw him named to Major League Soccer’s “The 25 Greatest” list. A Canadian Men’s National Team captain and record goal-scorer, DeRo helped put Canadian soccer on the map. But his pursuit of greatness didn’t come without its share of struggles, and in DeRo: My Life, De Rosario shares never-before-told stories of his experiences on and off the pitch and, ultimately, how soccer saved his life. Now he hopes to inspire and train the next great Canadian soccer star.

“DeRo has made a major contribution to his community, on and off the soccer field. His passion for the game and the personal development of youth is beyond inspirational. With my son, I’ve witnessed first-hand how Dero’s energy and love for the game is infectious and encouraging.” — Maestro Fresh Wes, Juno award-winning recording artist

“DeRo was the player all the young kids wanted to be. He really took me under his wing and taught me a lot about how to be a player on and off the pitch.” — Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC and Canadian Men’s National Team teammate

“DeRo was the reason Canadians started watching MLS. He was a human highlight reel, which made my job very easy.” — James Sharman, sports broadcaster

“Dwayne and I go way back, to our days as young boys growing up in Scarborough. He is a great friend and tremendous athlete. I always knew he was going leave his mark on soccer in North America. Dwayne had an outstanding pro-career, winning multiple MLS Championships and MVP awards. Dwayne is a true Canadian legend, and what I admire the most is that he continues to give back to the kids in our community, helping to grow and inspire the next generation of athletes.” — Jamal Magloire, 12-year NBA veteran and NBA champion assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors

Dwayne De Rosario played 18 seasons of professional soccer, winning 4 MLS Cups and a CONCACAF Gold Cup for Canada. The Beautiful Game took him around the world, but his heart has always been in Scarborough. In retirement, he trains youth for the game, and life, at the DeRo United Futbol Academy.

Brendan Dunlop is a Canadian sports television anchor and writer that has covered World Cups, UEFA Champions League finals, and international matches for theScore, FOX Soccer, Sportsnet, and OneSoccer. Brendan lives in Toronto with his wife Elena and their rescue dog Sampson. In addition to sports, he has a passion for languages and travel.

“DeRo has made a major contribution to his community, on and off the soccer field. His passion for the game and personal development of youth is beyond inspirational. With my son, I’ve witnessed first-hand how Dero’s energy and love for the game is infectious and encouraging.” — Juno award-winning recording artist Maestro Fresh Wes

“DeRo was the player all the young kids wanted to be. He really took me under his wing and taught me a lot about how to be a player on and off the pitch.” — Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC & Canadian Men’s National Team teammate

“De Rosario’s story is packed with danger, drama and deliverance. That makes DeRo: My Life an absorbing read.” — MLS Soccer

“DeRo was the reason Canadians started watching MLS soccer. He was a human highlight reel, which made my job very easy.” — James Sharman, sports broadcaster

“Dwayne and I go way back, to our days as young boys growing up in Scarborough. He is a great friend and tremendous athlete. I always knew he was going leave his mark on soccer in North America. Dwayne had an outstanding pro-career, winning multiple MLS Championships, and being named MVP of the league twice. Dwayne is a true Canadian legend, and what I admire the most is that he continues to give back to the kids in our community, helping to grow and inspire the next generation of athletes.” — Jamal Magloire, 12 year NBA veteran and NBA champion assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors