Soccer player and coach.
Born at Winnipeg on 8 March 1979 to Lidia Alberico and Salvatore Carlo de Thomasis (1937-2019), he attended St. Maurice School, and at the age of six began to develop his passion for soccer. He started playing in the Fort Garry community, and by early adulthood was a provincial elite player.
He played primarily with Winnipeg’s Ital-Inter Soccer Club in the Winnipeg Men’s Soccer League (WMSL), while managing and running indoor soccer programs at the Soccer Spectrum, as well as at the Calcetto summer soccer league. He devoted his career to coaching child, youth, and adult soccer for 17 years. His business, the Winnipeg Indoor Mini Soccer League, was founded in 1996, and spawned the Riccardo de Thomasis Soccer Academy (RDT Soccer).
In May 2012, although already diagnosed with terminal cancer, he took the reins of Winnipeg’s Under-14 South End United Boys, one of the most under-performing soccer clubs in their league. With his leadership, the players started enjoying the game and began to chalk up wins. The squad went on to finish tops in Manitoba at the Provincial championships and fourth in the entire country at the National U-14 Boy’s championship in Ontario.
In April 2012, de Thomasis was presented with Volunteer Manitoba’s Mayor’s Volunteer Service Award in recognition of the WMSL’s contribution to recreation in Winnipeg. He was known as an inspiration to young players and a major influence in the city’s soccer community.
He died at Winnipeg on 25 April 2013 and was buried in the Green Acres Memorial Gardens. After his death, the soccer complex at Ashworth Park in St. Vital was renamed Riccardo de Thomasis Park in his memory.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 29 April 2013.
“Soccer community loses beloved coach to cancer,” Global News, 26 April 2013.
“Legacy and Community Impact,” RDT Soccer.
“Riccardo de Thomasis,” MyHeritage.
This page was prepared by Lois Braun.
Page revised: 2 November 2026
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