Vincenzo Montella

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Vincenzo Montella
Personal information
Full name Vincenzo Montella
Date of birth June 18, 1974 (1974-06-18) (age 33)
Place of birth    Pomigliano d'Arco, Italy
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club U.C. Sampdoria
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1992-1995
1995-1996
1996-1999
1999-
2007
2007-2008		 Empoli F.C.
Genoa
Sampdoria
A.S. Roma
→ Fulham (loan)
→ Sampdoria (loan)		 051 (26)
034 (21)
083 (54)
215 (94)
010 0(3)
013 0(4)   
National team
1999-2005 Italy 020 0(3)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 20:41, 8 May 2007 (UTC).
* Appearances (Goals)

Vincenzo Montella (born June 18, 1974 in Pomigliano d'Arco, Campania) is an Italian football player who currently plays for U.C. Sampdoria, on loan from A.S. Roma.

Contents

[edit] Club

Montella began his club career in Serie C at Empoli F.C. in 1990 before moving to Serie B club Genoa in 1996, where he scored 21 goals in his only season with the club. He then moved up to Serie A to U.C. Sampdoria, where he remained three years, until 1999, when he moved to Roma in a €25m transfer.

[edit] AS Roma

It was Roma coach Zdeněk Zeman that wanted him to spearhead the Roma attack, but that year Roma also signed a new coach, Fabio Capello, who disliked short forwards. Despite this, during the season 1999-00, Montella scored 18 goals, being the topscorer of the giallorossi. The following year, Roma signed the Argentina forward Gabriel Batistuta from ACF Fiorentina, the tall striker wanted by Capello.

There was a controversy between the two forwards concerning the jersey #9,[1] that was the number of both players. In the end Batistuta chose #18. "Batigol" was the coach's first choice, while Montella was often a substitute[2]. Despite his lack of starts he was one of the main protagonists of Roma's third Scudetto in 2000-01 & scored many important goals for the team.[3]

The controversies between Capello and Montella continued in the following years as Montella was unhappy at his lack of first team opportunites, and in March 2002 he made his sadness clear stating "I would have better expectations with another coach".[4]. Has always been an idol of Roma's supporters, mainly because he has had a knack for performing well in the Rome derby against S.S. Lazio, scoring a brace in his first derby in 1999, and four goals in a 5-1 win on 10 March 2002[5]. His four-goal haul is still the record of goals scored in a derby by a single player.
2003 was a bad period for Montella as he divorced from his former-wife,[6] & was plagued with many injuries, during the season 2003-04 he played only 12 games but still managed a good scoring record, scoring 6 goals in those limited games.

During the season 2004-05 Fabio Capello finally left Roma for Juventus FC and, while the giallorossi had a disastrous season, Montella scored 23 goals and earned a new contract last until June 30, 2010.[7] In season 2005-06 he was again plagued with injuries, he underwent surgery on both his back and shoulder, limiting him to just twelve games. In January 2007, during season 2006-07 he was loaned to Fulham FC because Francesco Totti was the lone forward in Luciano Spalletti's 4-2-3-1, while Montella wanted to have more chances to play.[8]

In the red AS Roma jersey he played a total of 215 matches in 8 years scoring 94 goals, becoming the fifth best topscorer of Roma's history.

He played his last game with giallorossi on 23 December 2006.

[edit] Later career

He joined Fulham on loan on 4 January, 2007 on a six month deal wearing the number 11 shirt. He scored twice against Leicester City on his home debut in the FA Cup. He scored again on 27 January in the same competition against Stoke City.

On January 13, 2007 he made his Premier League debut against West Ham United. [9] Against Tottenham at Craven Cottage seven days later, he scored his first Premiership goal with a penalty kick. He also scored a goal against Blackburn Rovers in a 1-1 all draw which gave Fulham the boost to stay up in the premiership.

Montella quickly became popular with the Fulham fans and showed his gratitude for making him feel at home at Craven Cottage. [10] However, he hardly started under manager Chris Coleman, despite several public pleas. [11] After Coleman's sacking, Montella only started twice under replacement manager Lawrie Sanchez. [12] [13] [14] [15] Montella hinted that he would like to return to Roma after the end of the 06-07 season. [16] The loan was terminated by Sanchez on May 8, 2007, a week before its natural expiration. There were questions over his attitude and influence towards other players, Many of the Fulham fans would love to see Vincenzo back at the club.[17].

He has been loaned to UC Sampdoria for the season 2007-08.

[edit] Country

Montella received his first international cap against Wales on 5 June 1999, and was part of the Italian national team at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup. He has yet to receive another call-up since 2005 and was not included in Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph.

[edit] Trivia

 Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • Montella's nickname is L'Aeroplanino ("The Little Aeroplane"), in a reference to his short stature and trademark goal celebration.
  • Montella has always worn the number 9 shirt, and when Gabriel Batistuta arrived at Roma he wanted Montella's 9. Montella refused to give it up and Batistuta had to wear number 18.

[edit] References

  1. ^ A Montella il n. 9
  2. ^ Il silenzio degli innocenti
  3. ^ Montella e Nakata rimontano la Juve
  4. ^ [http://www.repubblica.it/online/calcio/ferrazza/ferrazza/ferrazza.html Roma, Capello-Montella è lite continua]
  5. ^ Roma - Lazio 5-1
  6. ^ Un calcio al matrimonio
  7. ^ "Montella rewarded by Roma", UEFA.com, 2005-04-13. Retrieved on 2008-05-27. 
  8. ^ Spalletti dà il via libera a Montella
  9. ^ Tactical Formation. Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved on January 20, 2007.
  10. ^ High Flyer. FulhamFC.com. Retrieved on January 22, 2007.
  11. ^ MONTELLA MAKES COLEMAN PLEA. SkySports.com. Retrieved on March 27, 2007.
  12. ^ HUNT PILES PRESSURE ON FULHAM. SkySports.com. Retrieved on April 14, 2007.
  13. ^ COTTAGERS' CHANCES TAKE A HIT. SkySports.com. Retrieved on April 21, 2007.
  14. ^ GUNNERS PILE PRESSURE ON FULHAM. SkySports.com. Retrieved on April 29, 2007.
  15. ^ Tactical Formation. Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved on May 5.
  16. ^ MONTELLA EYES ROMA RETURN. SkySports.com. Retrieved on April 27, 2007.
  17. ^ New boss Sanchez shows his teeth. ThisIsLondon.co.uk. Retrieved on May 8.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Italy squad - UEFA Euro 2000 Runners-up
1 Abbiati • 2 Ferrara • 3 Maldini • 4 Albertini • 5 Cannavaro • 6 Negro • 7 Di Livio • 8 Conte • 9 Inzaghi • 10 Del Piero • 11 Pessotto • 12 Toldo • 13 Nesta • 14 Di Biagio • 15 Iuliano • 16 Ambrosini • 17 Zambrotta • 18 Fiore • 19 Montella • 20 Totti • 21 Delvecchio • 22 Antonioli • Coach: Zoff
 Flag of Italy
v • d • e
Italy squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Buffon • 2 Panucci • 3 Maldini • 4 Coco • 5 Cannavaro • 6 Zanetti • 7 Del Piero • 8 Gattuso • 9 Inzaghi • 10 Totti • 11 Doni • 12 Abbiati • 13 Nesta • 14 Di Biagio • 15 Iuliano • 16 Di Livio • 17 Tommasi • 18 Delvecchio • 19 Zambrotta • 20 Montella • 21 Vieri • 22 Toldo • 23 Materazzi • Coach: Trapattoni
 Flag of Italy
v • d • e
U.C. Sampdoria – current squad

1 L. Castellazzi • 3 Ziegler • 5 Accardi • 6 Lucchini • 7 Maggio • 8 Poli • 9 Montella • 11 Bellucci • 13 Bonazzoli • 14 Sala • 16 Campagnaro • 17 Palombo • 18 Koman • 19 Franceschini • 21 Sammarco • 22 Kalu • 25 Ferrari • 26 Gulan • 28 Gastaldello • 32 Migliónico • 40 Delvecchio • 46 Pieri • 50 Arnulfo • 77 Zenoni • 83 Mirante • 87 Volta • 99 Cassano • Coach: Mazzarri