Francesco Lodi

Francesco Lodi (born 23 March 1984) is an Italian footballer who plays for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A. Lodi usually plays as a deep lying playmaker known for his passing qualities and is regarded as one of the finest free kick takers in Serie A.

Club career

Empoli F.C.

He started his career as part of Empoli youth system, being later promoted to the first team in 2003, despite his senior debut came during the 2000–01 Serie B season. During the winter transfer market, Empoli opted to loan the player out to Vicenza Calcio, In the Italian Serie B, for the player to gain regular playing time. Lodi went on to make 11 appreances for the biancorossi, before returning to Empoli for the 2004–05 Serie B season, following their relegation. In his first full season with the Tuscan side, Lodi made 27 league appearances, scoring 6 goals, helping earn instant promotion back to the Serie A. Lodi remained with Empoli, his first full season in the Serie A. The midfielder made just 17 appearances however, and failed to hold down first team football. He scored no goals.

Loan to Frosinone

For the 2006–2007 Lega Calcio season, Empoli loaned the 22-year old to Serie B side Frosinone Calcio. Lodi instantly earned a starting role with the club, making 40 appearances, out of a possible 42, scoring 11 goals during the season. Despite his form, Empoli opted to keep the player at the Latium-based club, where Lodi would continue his form. Lodi went on to make 41 appearances for the second division side and scored a very impressive 20 goals as a midfielder.

Return to Empoli

Following Empoli's relegation from Serie A, the loan was not re-newed and the player spent the 2008–2009 Serie B season with Empoli. He again performed with high standards, making 41 appearances and scoring 13 goals in league play. His form over 3 seasons, led to interest from a host of Serie A clubs, including Udinese Calcio, Atalanta B.C., and Chievo Verona. At the start of the 2009–10 season, Lodi scored 3 goals in the first 3 games of Empoli's season, and finally, he joined Udinese Calcio on loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 Serie A season.

Udinese Calcio

On 28 August 2010, Lodi officially joined Udinese Calcio on loan from Empoli. During the season, Lodi found first team football hard to come by, due to the presences of established midfielders such as Alexis Sanchez, Mauricio Isla, Gökhan Inler, and Kwadwo Asamoah. Lodi went on to make 19 league appearances, scoring 1 goal. Udinese did not use the option to purchase the player outright, and hence he returned to Empoli on 30 June 2010.

Return to Frosinone

Following his Serie A top flight experience with Udinese, Lodi returned to Empoli but was instantly sold to Frosinone Calcio on a co-ownership deal. In his return to Frosinone, Lodi returned immediately to first team football, making 23 appearances (out of a possible 23), and scoring 7 goals prior to the January transfer market, in which he again transferred clubs.

Catania

On 31 January 2011, Empoli bought Lodi's contract outright from Frosinone, and then immediately sold him on a co-ownership deal to Catania Calcio for the remainder of the 2010–11 season, for €680,000 in 2½ year contract.^[1][2] His first two appearances for the Sicilian side were very low key, however on 13 February 2011, Lodi scored two fantastic freekicks in a comeback 3–2 victory for Catania, against U.S. Lecce. Lodi was also the scorer of a stunning freeckick against Juventus in the 96th minute of play, ending the game in a draw for Catania. In June 2011, Catania bought Lodi outright for another €300,000. (the discount expressed as proventi da compartecipazioni )^[1] He has since made 83 league appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals. He also has 3 goals in 4 appearances in the 2012-13 Coppa Italia.

Lodi was part of a record-breaking Catania outfit that picked up 56 points from 38 Serie A matches in 2012–13 season. This performance sees the club also break its record number of home victories in a single season, its record number of victories overall in a single top flight campaign, as well as its record points total in Serie A for the fifth consecutive season.^{[citation needed]}

Genoa

On 3 July 2013 Catania sold Lodi to Genoa for Panagiotis Tachtsidis. Both clubs retained 50% registration rights (co-ownership deal).^[3] The deal finalized in mid-July.^[4] He joined on a 3-year deal and would wear the number 10 shirt. Genoa had asked Kasabian songwriter, Sergio Pizzorno, if they could take his shirt down from the club in order for Lodi to wear it.^{[citation needed]}

Return to Catania

Lodi returned to Catania just 6 months after leaving the club; scoring a goal and providing an assist for Gonzalo Bergessio on his first match back, helping his club to defeat Bologna 2-0 at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.

International career

Lodi was a player of the Italian U-19 team. He took part in 2001 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship, the last named as U16 event.

Due to UEFA U-21 Championship had changed from an even year event to odd year event, new coach Pierluigi Casiraghi called him up as senior member of the squad for 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, which eligible to players born 1984 or after. He made his Italy U-21 debut against Croatia in a friendly match, 15 August 2006, at age of 22.^[5] Lodi did not receive any call-up for 2004–06 season of U21 due to competitiveness of the squad, which was eligible to players born 1983 or after.

Honours and awards

• 2003 UEFA U-19 Championship

References

External links

• (Italian) Official Player Profile at calciocatania.it
• (Italian) Profile at Football.it