Cristiano Doni
 Doni in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 April 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1991–1992 | Modena | 0 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | Rimini | 31 | (6) |
| 1993–1994 | Pistoiese | 31 | (3) |
| 1994–1996 | Bologna | 54 | (11) |
| 1996–1998 | Brescia | 51 | (8) |
| 1998–2003 | Atalanta | 145 | (55) |
| 2003–2005 | Sampdoria | 44 | (7) |
| 2005–2006 | Mallorca | 24 | (2) |
| 2006–2011 | Atalanta | 151 | (48) |
| Total | 531 | (140) | |
| National team | |||
| 2001–2002 | Italy | 7 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Cristiano Doni (born 1 April 1973) is an Italian retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, on either flank or in the middle.
Most of his professional career (which spanned two decades) was associated with Atalanta, as he played in more than 300 official games for the club and scored more than 100 goals. He amassed Serie A totals of 266 matches and 77 goals over the course of ten seasons, also representing in the competition Brescia and Sampdoria.
Doni appeared for Italy at the 2002 World Cup.
Club career
Born in Rome, Doni started playing professionally for Modena F.C. at age 18, subsequently moving on to A.C. Rimini 1912, A.C. Pistoiese and Bologna F.C. 1909.
He made his Serie A debut in 1997–98 for Brescia Calcio against Inter Milan, moving after two years to Bergamo with Atalanta BC. He quickly made a name for himself at the club with his hard-working style, combined with scoring ability, and netted in double digits in three out of five seasons.
After two seasons at U.C. Sampdoria, Doni had his first abroad experience at 32, sigining with Spain's RCD Mallorca. After just one season, he returned to his main team even though he had another year running at the Balearic Islands side, asking to be released so he could accept Atalanta's offer although he took a pay cut in the process.[1]
Doni eventually signed a two-year contract,[2] then proceeded to continue, in spite of his age, to be an indispensable offensive unit – 34 league goals in his first three years combined – as well as team captain. In 2010–11 the 37-year-old scored 12 Serie B goals as Atalanta returned to the top division after one year, as champions.
On 9 August 2011 Doni was banned from football for 3½ years for his role in match fixing during the campaign, effectively ending his career at the age of 38.[3] On 19 December, he was arrested together with 16 other people in connection with another match-fixing and betting investigation.[4]
International career
Doni played seven times for Italy, the first cap arriving on 7 November 2001 as he found the net in a 1–1 friendly with Japan.[5] Subsequently he was picked for the squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, appearing against Ecuador and Croatia.[6]
Honours
Club
- Bologna
- Brescia
- Atalanta
Individual
- Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea": 2009[7]
Style of play
Doni was known for his vision, technical ability and creativity as a playmaker. He was capable of scoring and assisting alike, due to his powerful and accurate mid-range shot.[8][9][10]
References
- ↑ Doni looking for Islanders exit; Sky Sports
- ↑ Vieri back in Bergamo; Sky Sports
- ↑ "Scommesse: le decisioni della disciplinare" [Betting: the decisions of the disciplinary panel] (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 9 August 2011.
- ↑ "Ex-Italy player Cristiano Doni arrested over match-fixing". BBC Sport. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
- ↑ "La sfida col Giappone regala Doni al Trap" [Japan challenge gives Doni to Trap] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 7 November 2001. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
- ↑ Cristiano Doni – FIFA competition record
- ↑ "Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare Gaetano Scirea: Alba d'Oro" [National Award Exemplary Career Gaetano Scirea: Golden Alba] (in Italian). Comune di Cinisello Balsamo. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- ↑ "Cristiano Doni, un fuoriclasse finito nel vortice del calcioscommesse" [Cristiano Doni, world class player done by vortex of match-fixing] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ↑ "Spunta il nome di De Rossi nell'inchiesta sulle scommesse" [De Rossi name stands out in match-fixing enquiry] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ↑ "La rivincita di Doni: "Da bollito a eroe in 7 giorni"" [Doni's revenge: "From done in to heroe in 7 days"] (in Italian). Bergamo News. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
External links
- Official Atalanta profile (Italian)
- Stats at Tutto Calciatori (Italian)
- National team data (Italian)
- Cristiano Doni at National-Football-Teams.com
- BDFutbol profile
- Official website (Italian)
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