Fabiano Santacroce

Fabiano Santacroce
Personal information
Date of birth24 August 1986
Place of birthCamaçari, Brazil
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Parma
Number13
Youth career
2000–2004Como
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2004–2005Como13(0)
2005–2008Brescia43(3)
2008–2011Napoli55(0)
2011–Parma20(0)
2013–2014→ Padova (loan)20(0)
National team
2007–2009Italy U-216(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of end of 13–14 season.
† Appearances (Goals).

Fabiano Santacroce (born 24 August 1986) is a professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Parma in the centre or on the left of defence. He was born in Brazil to an Italian father and an Afro-Brazilian mother, then spending his childhood in the Lombard town of Casatenovo, in Northern Italy.

Club career

Como

Santacroce was a youth product of Calcio Como SpA. He finished as the losing side in the round 16 of 2004 Primavera Reserve League.[1][2] He was in the starting lineup alongside future Serie A players Marco Parolo, Giuseppe Greco and Daniele Padelli.

Parolo and Santacroce were promoted to Como first team in 2004, as the club had faced financial difficulties as well as relegation from Serie B in 2004. Santacroce remained with the club in the whole 2004–05 Serie C1 despite they were declared bankrupt on 22 December 2004.[3] Santacroce was in the starting XI in Como's relegation "play-out",[4][5] which the playoffs matches Como losing to Novara in 1–2 aggregate. Como folded at the end season as a takeover bid was denied.

Brescia

Santacroce moved to Brescia as free agent and played for their Primavera team before making his first team debut for the rondinelle in a Serie B game on 23 April 2006, against Cesena. He played at Brescia from 2005 to 2007, also ensuring a place in the Italian U-21 team due to his impressive performances with the Lombardian side.

Napoli

During the January 2008 transfer window, Serie A club Napoli completed the signing of Santacroce in a permanent move, for €5.5 million,[6] becoming the third Brescia player to join the azzurri that year, the other two being Marek Hamšík and Daniele Mannini. He quickly established himself into Napoli's regular lineup, forming a valid defense duo with team captain Paolo Cannavaro, and playing very well throughout the remainder of the season. Santacroce has been described by a number of people in Italy, including Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis, as the "new Alessandro Nesta"[7] That half season he started 13 times as well as 27 times in 2008–09 Serie A. However after the arrival of Hugo Campagnaro, Walter Mazzarri started to fix its 3-men defense to Salvatore Aronica, Campagnaro and Cannavaro.

Parma

At the start of 2011–12 Serie A, Napoli sent Manuele Blasi and Santacroce to Parma as part of the compensation of signing Blerim Džemaili (€9 million).[8][9] Santacroce went on loan for €100,000.[10] He was largely used as a back-up central defender and made 12 league appearances, which was enough to secure him a move to Parma in a co-ownership deal for €900,000 in 4-year contract in July 2012.[11][12] Santacroce wore no.13 shirt that season,[13] changing from no.33.[14]

Following the 2012–13 Serie A season, the remaining half of Santacroce's ownership was purchased from Napoli by Parma for free.[11] The club now owns him outright. On 6 August 2013 Santacroce left for Padova in a temporary deal.[15] Santacroce was given no.3 shirt of the first team.[16]

Club statistics

Statistics accurate up until 16 May 2012

Season Team League Domestic cup European Total
Division Games Goals Competition Games Goals Competition Games Goals Games Goals
2004/05 Como C1 13 0 CIC 0 0 – – – 13 0
Total Como 13 0 0 0 – – 13 0
2005/06 Brescia B 2 0 CI 0 0 – – – 2 0
2006/07 B 25 2 CI 1 0 – – – 26 2
2007/08 B 16 1 CI 1 0 – – – 17 1
Total Brescia 43 3 2 0 – – 45 3
2007/08 Napoli A 13 0 CI 0 0 – – – 13 0
2008/09 A 27 0 CI 1 0 CU 2 0 30 0
2009/10 A 4 0 CI 1 0 – – – 5 0
2010–11 A 11 0 CI 1 0 EL 2 0 14 0
Total Napoli 55 0 3 0 4 0 62 0
2011–12 Parma A 12 0 CI 1 0 – – – 13 0
Total 111 3 5 0 4 0 120 3

International career

"We live in intolerant times. If the presence of Santacroce with the national team sends a message against racism, I am happy about that."

The Italy manager, Marcello Lippi, on calling up Santacroce.[17]

Santacroce has been a member of the Italy U-21 national team from 2007 to 2009.

In 2008–09, Santacroce was confirmed as a Napoli regular, and his performances were quickly noted by new Italy head coach Marcello Lippi, who on 5 October 2008 called him to join the azzurri squad for the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualification matches against Bulgaria and Montenegro.[18] However, he was an unused substitute during these matches, and is yet to make his senior international debut.[17] Santacroce dedicated his first senior call-up to his former Como youth team coach Stefano Borgonovo, who is battling Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "PRIMAVERA: COMO-INTER 0-3" (in Italian). FC Internazionale Milano. 8 May 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "PRIMAVERA: INTER-COMO 3-0" (in Italian). FC Internazionale Milano. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. ↑ "Ecco come salverò il Como". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 29 December 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Novara di rigore, Como spacciato". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 30 May 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Al Novara basta la difesa, Como all' inferno". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 6 June 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  6. ↑ SSC Napoli Report and Accounts on 30 June 2008 (Italian), Require purchase in CCIAA
  7. ↑ Goal.com – Editorial – Calcio Debate: Fabiano Santacroce – The ‘New Alessandro Nesta’?
  8. ↑ "Dzemaili al Napoli, Blasi e Santacroce al Parma. Grava in azzurro per un'altra stagione" [Dzemailito Napoli, Blasi & Santacroce to Parma. Grava in azzurrofor another season]. SSC Napoli (in Italian). 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  9. ↑ Parma FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2011 (Italian)
  10. ↑ Parma FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012 (Italian)
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Parma FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 (Italian)
  12. ↑ "UFFICIALE: riscattata la metà di Santacroce" [OFFICIAL: half of Santacroce taken]. Sportsbook24 (Sportsbook24.net). 5 July 2012.
  13. ↑ "Coumnicato Stampa N°8 (2012–13)" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  14. ↑ "Coumnicato Stampa N°6 (2011–12)" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  15. ↑ "Fabiano Santacroce a titolo temporaneo al Padova" (in Italian). Parma FC. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "Numeri di maglia, la lista completa dei nuovi arrivi e i cambi di alcune casacche" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Italy drop Alessandro del Piero, Gianluigi Buffon and Mauro Camoranesi out injured". Daily Telegraph. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  18. ↑ "Rossi handed Italian call-up". SKY Sports. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  19. ↑ "Santacroce, dedica a Borgonovo" (in Italian). Yahoo! Eurosport Italia. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.

External links