Giuseppe Bellusci

Giuseppe Bellusci

Bellusci with Catania in 2009
Personal information
Full nameGiuseppe Bellusci
Date of birth21 August 1989
Place of birthTrebisacce, Italy
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Club information
Current team
Leeds United
Number5
Youth career
Ascoli
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2009Ascoli35(1)
2009–2014Catania99(0)
2014–Leeds United30(2)
National team
2009–2010Italy U-216(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:00, 17 April 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Giuseppe 'Peppe' Bellusci (born 21 August 1989) is an Italian footballer who plays as a centre defender for English Championship club Leeds United . He is a former Italy U-21 international.

Bellusci was given the nickname The Warrior by the fans of Catania.[1]

Club career

Ascoli Calcio

After spending his youth career within the junior ranks at Ascoli Calcio, Bellusci began to earn call-ups to the club's first team in 2006. He made his debut in Serie A with Ascoli at the age of just 17, in the 2006–07 season. Bellusci made 3 appearances that season for his club, but Ascoli failed to avoid relegation.

Bellusci returned to the youth squad, and made just 2 Serie B appearances the following season. In 2008, he was officially promoted to the senior squad and since then, Bellusci had made over 40 appearances for the club and began to attract interest from several big clubs in Italy.

Calcio Catania

On 25 June 2009 it was confirmed that Bellusci had signed a contract with Sicily's Serie A team Calcio Catania. In part exchange, Catania gave Ascoli 50% of the contracts of both striker, Vito Falconieri and wing back, Marcello Gazzola.

In his first season with Catania, Bellusci made 11 first team appearances, also earning one red card. Bellusci played for the club's junior squad as well during his first season, helping them to the semi-finals of the youth tournament. The defender helped his club to, two impressive campaigns, which included two 13th place finishes in the table and a record points total in the Serie A for the club, in three consecutive seasons.

After helping avoid relegation under manager Diego Simeone during the 2010/11 season, following the sale of Matías Silvestre to Sicilian rivals, US Citta di Palermo in August 2011, Bellusci was promoted to the club's starting XI, alongside Nicolás Spolli and Nicola Legrottaglie, by the new coach Vincenzo Montella. He remained a key member of the first team under Rolando Maran during the 2012-13 Serie A season and is part of a record-breaking Catania outfit that had picked up 56 points from 38 Serie A matches. This performance saw 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

During the 2013–14 season, Bellusci's Calcio Catania were relegated to Serie B after finishing 3rd bottom.

Leeds United

On 12 August 2014, Bellusci signed a one-year loan deal with the option of a permanent deal with English side Leeds United.[2] Bellusci debut was delayed due to an Italian bank holiday leading to international clearance not arriving in time for the 16 August fixture against Middlesbrough.[3][4] On 21 August 2014 the player signed a permanent deal with Leeds United until June 2018,[5] for a fee of around £1.6 million.[6]

On 23 August, Bellusci made his Leeds debut against Watford in a 4–1 defeat at Vicarage Road, with Bellusci giving away a penalty and earning a straight red card on his debut.[7] Bellusci made his home debut at Elland Road on his return from suspension on 30 August against Bolton Wanderers.[8] He scored his first goal in England on 16 September 2014 with a free kick against Bournemouth in a 3–1 win.[9] On 4 October, Bellusci continued his recent goalscoring form, with an equalising goal with a left-footed volley in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.[10]

On 22 December, Bellusci was charged by The FA on an allegation of using racist language towards Norwich City striker Cameron Jerome during the teams' 1–1 draw on 21 October; Bellusci and Leeds United deny the allegations.[11]

On 20 January, Bellusci was given a straight red card when he gave away a penalty against A.F.C. Bournemouth, however pictures showed the foul to be outside the box, Bournemouth Striker Yann Kermorgant missed the resulting penalty to earn Leeds a 1-0 victory.[12] The red card was Bellusci's 2nd red card of the season which resulted in an automatic 2 match ban.[13]

On 7 February, at an FA hearing, Bellusci was found 'not guilty' of racially abusing Norwich City striker Cameron Jerome.[14]

International career

On 25 March 2009 he made his debut with the Italy U-21 squad in a friendly match against Austria.[15] Bellusci played with future Italy internationals such as Mario Balotelli and Andrea Ranocchia during his time on the under-21 team.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Hock’ eager for Byram to stay". Yorkshire Evening Post. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "UNITED WELCOME NEW ARRIVAL : Giuseppe Bellusci signs up for the year...". Leeds United Official Site. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "BERARDI TO MISS BORO VISIT". Leeds United Official Site. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "DEBUTANT SHARP BLUNTS BORO". Leeds United Official Site. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Phil Hay (21 August 2014). "Leeds United: Bellusci loan deal made permanent". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  6. ↑ Phil Hay (2 September 2014). "Leeds United: Whites have never had a busier transfer window". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "TWO OFF IN WATFORD DEFEAT". Leeds United Official Site. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Leeds Vs Bolton Wanderers". Leeds United Official Site. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "Bournemouth 1 – 3 Leeds". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "BELLUSCI STRIKE SECURES A POINT". Leeds United Official Site. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Giuseppe Bellusci: Leeds United defender charged with misconduct". BBC Sport. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Leeds 1-0 Bournemouth: Luke Murphy's first-half stunner halts Cherries progress at the top of the Championship". Daily Mail. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "BELLUSCI FACES TWO-MATCH BAN". Daily Mail. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Leeds United: Bellusci is cleared of race rap by FA hearing". Yorkshire Evening Post. 7 February 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  15. ↑ http://www.figc.it/it/204/20708/2009/03/News.shtml
  16. ↑ "Wales u21 2–1 Italy u21". S4C (in Welsh). 4 September 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2009.

External links