Antonio Croce

Antonio Croce
Personal information
Date of birth9 June 1986
Place of birthFoggia, Italy
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Melfi
Youth career
Vis Pesaro
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2005Vis Pesaro7(0)
2005→ Internazionale (loan)0(0)
2005–2006Fermana14(0)
2006–2007Riccione28(3)
2007–2008Cologna Paese20(11)
2008–2010Padova0(0)
2008–2009→ Carpenedolo (loan)31(7)
2009–2010→ Cassino (loan)14(3)
2010→ Pro Vasto (loan)12(4)
2010–2011Villacidrese26(9)
2011–2012Celano38(12)
2012–2013Messina
2013–Melfi14(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of the end of 2011-12 season.
† Appearances (Goals).

Antonio Croce (born 9 June 1986) is an Italian footballer who plays for Melfi.

Biography

Vis Pesaro

Born in Foggia, Apulia, Croce started his career at Marche club Vis Pesaro and was a member of its Berretti under-20 team.[1] In the next season Croce made his debut in the first team, in 2004–05 Serie C1. He was spotted by F.C. Internazionale Milano in January 2005. He was the member of Primavera under-20 team, scoring 4 goals in 2005 Torneo di Viareggio, as topscorer (Premio "Miglior Cannoniere del Torneo").[2][3] Eventually Inter was the fourth.[4] However he only scored once in the Primavera League. In the playoffs round, Croce was the starting forward along with Matteo Momentè. He scored once in the round of 16[5] In that rebuild season of Inter Primavera, the regular season top-scorer was Matteo Lombardo with 5 goals. and Dino Marino was the playoffs top-scorer of the team with 2 goals only. Inter was eliminated by Empoli in quarter-finals. Inter did not purchase Croce and promoted players from its own youth system instead.

Modena and fell to Serie D

On 31 August 2005, Croce was signed by Serie B club Modena but immediately farmed to Marche club Fermana in co-ownership deal. In June 2006 Croce was re-signed by Emilia club Modena but he was released to Serie D team Riccione. The team also located in Emilia–Romagna region. Croce once again failed to score, with 3 goals. Croce then went to Roseto degli Abruzzi for Cologna Paese. This time Croce scored 11 goals in 2007–08 Serie D.[6]

Return to Lega Pro 2nd Div.

Croce earned a professional contract from Padova, in 2008.[7] He played in the pre-season friendlies.[8][9] In August he left for Carpenedolo, a Lega Pro Seconda Divisione team.[10][11] Finally Croce opened his account in the Italian fourth division, with 7 goals. In the next season he was signed by another fourth division team Cassino,[12] and left the club 6 months before the club was expelled from the league due to financial difficulty. However his new club Pro Vasto faced the same fate. In July 2010, his contract with Padova was terminated by mutual consent, as there is no place for Croce in its 2010–11 Serie B campaign.[13]

In 2010–11 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, Croce was signed by Villacidrese. However Croce faced another relegation. In 2011–12 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, Croce was signed by Celano.[14] However the team again relegated.

In July 2012 Croce was signed by Serie D team Messina[15] which the club aimed to promote back to professional league in recent seasons and recently acquired by new owner. In January 2013 he returned to fourth division again for Melfi. He became the eldest player of the team suppressing Giancarlo Improta. Both Croce and Improta were the goalscorers of the team.

References

  1. ↑ "Comunicato Ufficiale N°54/TB (2003–04)" (in Italian). Lega Serie C. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  2. ↑ http://www.torneoviareggio.it/edizioni_precedenti/57esimo/index.html
  3. ↑ "CARNIVAL CUP: INTER THROUGH TO SEMIS". www.inter.it (FC Internazionale Milano). 3 February 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  4. ↑ "FOURTH PLACE FOR INTER IN VIAREGGIO". www.inter.it (FC Internazionale Milano). 7 February 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  5. ↑ "OTTAVI PRIMAVERA: PALERMO-INTER 1-2". www.inter.it (in Italian) (FC Internazionale Milano). 7 May 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  6. ↑ Full Soccer (Italian)
  7. ↑ "ANTONIO CROCE INGAGGIATO DAL COLOGNA PAESE PER LA PROSSIMA STAGIONE" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  8. ↑ "18 GOL NELLA PRIMA SGAMBATA DEL PADOVA A VILLABASSA" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  9. ↑ "PADOVA – MUNICIPAL VALCEA 0-1" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  10. ↑ "Nuovo attaccante dal Padova" (in Italian). AC Carpenedolo. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  11. ↑ "CROCE IN PRESTITO AL CARPENEDOLO, ZANE ALL’ESTE" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  12. ↑ "ALIBERTI E CROCE CEDUTI A TITOLO TEMPORANEO" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  13. ↑ "Risoluzione contrattuale per Antonio Croce" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 11 July 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  14. ↑ "MERCATO: IN ATTACCO COLPO CROCE" (in Italian). Celano FC Marsica. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  15. ↑ "UFFICIALE: l'ex Celano Antonio Croce al Messina in D" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.

External links