| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 28, 1966 | ||
| Place of birth | Torino, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1985-1986 | Asti TSC | 24 | (6) |
| 1986-1990 | Cosenza | 103 | (22) |
| 1990-1991 | Pisa | 30 | (11) |
| 1991-1992 | Napoli | 27 | (7) |
| 1992-1993 | Genoa | 27 | (9) |
| 1993-1994 | Reggiana | 29 | (10) |
| 1994 | Genoa | 2 | (0) |
| 1994 | Reggiana | 19 | (7) |
| 1995-1997 | Juventus | 41 | (12) |
| 1997-1998 | Crystal Palace | 12 | (1) |
| 1998-2000 | Metz | 9 | (4) |
| 2000-2001 | Como | 12 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 1997 | Italy | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Michele Padovano (born August 28, 1966 in Turin) is an Italian retired football player.
Padovano began his professional career at Asti T.S.C. in Serie C2, before short spells at Pisa, Napoli and Genoa, he signed for Reggiana where he impressed. It was here that he caught the eye of Juventus manager Marcello Lippi who signed him in the summer of 1995, where he won the UEFA Champions League in 1996. His form for Juventus was good enough for him to be given a cap for the Italian national team by Cesare Maldini, who played him during the 3-0 win over Moldova.
Padovano was eventually placed in the reserves at Juventus and was looking for a move away from the club. After a heavy knee injury, Juventus sold him to Crystal Palace in November, 1997 for £1.7 million by chairman Mark Goldberg, who saw Padovano as the ideal player to save the club from relegation. However Padovano struggled to adapt to the Premiership, scoring just once against Leicester City[1] in twelve appearances for the club. He was sold on to Metz after falling out of favour at Crystal Palace, and later moved to Como.
In May 2006, he was arrested by Italian police in Torino over allegation of his implication in hashish traffic.[1] He was later sentenced to 8 years and 8 months in jail.
When Crystal Palace were in receivership during the 1999-2000 season, Padovano made a million-pound claim against the club's directors for lost wages.[2]