Michele Padovano
 Padovano in a Cosenza shirt in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 August 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) |
| Total | 335 | (91) | |
| National team | |||
| 1997 | Italy | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Michele Padovano (born 28 August 1966 in Turin) is an Italian retired football player.
Career
Padovano began his professional career at Asti T.S.C. in Serie C2, before short spells at Pisa, Napoli and Genoa. He then signed for Reggiana; his performances there caught the eye of Juventus manager Marcello Lippi, who signed him in the summer of 1995. At Juventus he won the UEFA Champions League in 1996 and was given his only cap for Italy by Cesare Maldini, who played him during the 3-0 win over Moldova. He came on after 68 minutes, replacing fellow debutant Christian Vieri.[1]
Padovano was eventually placed in the reserves at Juventus. After a severe knee injury, Juventus sold him to Crystal Palace in November 1997 for £1.7 million. However Padovano struggled to adapt to the Premiership,hampered by injury and poor form. He scored just once against Leicester City[2] in twelve appearances for the club. After falling out of favour at the south London club he was sold to Metz but failed to make an impression as once again he was injured and unable to play for some months. Metz were infinancial difficulties and he later returned to Palace (who was then in receivership) in the 1999-2000 season to make a million-pound claim against the club's directors for lost wages.[3]
Padovano finished his career with Como before retiring in 2001.
Retirement
In May 2006, Padovano was arrested by Italian police in Torino over allegation of his implication in hashish traffic.[4] He was later sentenced to 8 years and 8 months in jail.
References
- ↑ http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=10808
- ↑ Newman, Paul (6 December 1997). "Izzet's late leveller rewards Leicester's fighting spirit". London: The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
- ↑ http://observer.guardian.co.uk/toptens/story/0,,1078421,00.html
- ↑ http://www.tgcom.mediaset.it/sport/articoli/articolo309020.shtml