Marco Silvestri

Marco Silvestri
Personal information
Date of birth2 March 1991
Place of birthCastelnovo ne' Monti, Italy
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Club information
Current team
Leeds United
Number1
Youth career
2009–2010Modena
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2010–2014Chievo1(0)
2011–2012→ Reggiana (loan)27(0)
2012–2013→ Padova (loan)25(0)
2014→ Cagliari (loan)3(0)
2014–Leeds United43(0)
National team
2009–2011Italy U205(0)
2011Italy U211(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 March 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Marco Silvestri (born 2 March 1991) is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English Championship club Leeds United. He is a former Italy Under 21 international.

Biography

Modena

Born in Castelnovo ne' Monti, the Province of Reggio Emilia, Emilia–Romagna, Silvestri started his career at Emilia club Modena. He was the third keeper behind Enrico Alfonso and Antonio Narciso in 2009–10 season.

Chievo

In August 2010 Silvestri was signed by Serie A club Chievo in temporary deal, with option to purchase half of the registration rights.[1] He was the third keeper of the team, behind Stefano Sorrentino and Lorenzo Squizzi. Silvestri also became the first choice keeper at the "spring" under-20 team. In June 2011 Chievo excised the option to sign Silvestri in co-ownership deal, for €300,000.[2][3]

Reggiana loan

Silvestri returned to Reggio Emilia for Reggiana in July to replace the left of Niccolò Manfredini.[4] However Silvestri became the backup of Niccolò Bellucci since round 12. After the winter break Silvestri re-affirmed as first choice. In June 2012 Chievo signed Silvestri outright for another €150,000.[5]

Padova loan

In July 2012 he left for Padova. The club failed to renew the loan of fellow U21 internationals Mattia Perin. Silvestri wore no.1 shirt for Padova in new season and would compete with ex-internationals Ivan Pelizzoli who acted as second-choice last season. However on the last day of the transfer window, Pelizzoli rejoined Perin in Pescara and Luca Anania, who became second choice in the same club, left for Padova.

Cagliari loan

In 30 January 2014, Silvestri signed for Cagliari on loan, including the option for Cagliari to acquire half his ownership rights at the end of the season, the move saw Cagliari first choice Goalkeeper Michael Agazzi join Chievo on a permanent deal.[6]

Silverstri was given the number 1 shirt. He made his debut for the club in the Serie A match against Parma on 27 April, coming into the side for Vlada Avramov, keeping a clean sheet on his debut in a 1-0 win. On 6 May, Silvestri started the match against S.S.C. Napoli, a game in which Silvestri was given a straight red card in a 3-0 loss after fouling Goran Pandev. After returning from suspension he returned for the final match of the season in a 3-0 loss against Juventus.

On 27 June, Silvestri's agent Francesco Romano, revealed that Silvestri was in talks over a move to English club Leeds United, owned by former Cagliari owner Massimo Cellino.[7][8]

Leeds United

On 8 July 2014, Silvestri left Chievo in a deal thought to be worth £400,000,[9] and signed a four-year contract with English Championship club Leeds United along with fellow Italian Tommaso Bianchi.[10] Silvestri's first appearance for Leeds came on 11 July in Leeds' first pre season game, which resulted in a 16-0 victory against Italian side FC Gherdeina.[11] On 1 August, Silvestri was assigned the Leeds number 1 shirt for the 2014–15 season.[12] Silvestri made his debut for Leeds on 9 August against Millwall.[13] Silvestri kept his first clean sheet for Leeds in his home debut at Elland Road on 16 August in Leeds' 1-0 victory against Middlesbrough F.C. after a goal by Billy Sharp.[14]

Silvestri kept a clean sheet and won the man of the match award after a string of saves in Leeds' 1-0 win on 30 August against Bolton Wanderers.[15] The performance led to him being named in the Football League team of the week.[16] Silvestri's impressive form continued against Bournemouth in a 3-1 win.[17] With Silvestri earning praise from Caretaker Head Coach Neil Redfearn after a string of impressive saves to help keep Leeds in the game when they were 1-0 down.[18]

Silvestri received the Man of the Match Award after keeping a clean sheet against the then league leaders Middlesbrough 0-1 on 21 February 2015.[19] On 4 March, Sikvestri saved a late penalty from David McGoldrick to help earn Leeds a 2-1 victory against Ipswich Town.[20]

International career

Silvestri started his national career in 2008 goalkeeper training camp[21]

Silvestri received his first cap in December 2009 from Francesco Rocca for Italy U20 team, a feeder team of U21.[22] He played that match, the round 3 of 2009–10 Four Nations Tournament, replacing Antonio Piccolo in the second half. He also played the last round (round 6) in that tournament. Silvestri played twice (out of 6 games) in 2010–11 edition.

In June 2011, he was picked for the Italy Under 21's team by Ciro Ferrara to 2011 Toulon Tournament as the backup of Sergio Viotti. Silvestri only played once in the bronze match. After the tournament he did not receive any call-up for the qualification nor Viotti.

Trivia

Silvestri's partner is Moroccan Givenchy fashion model Sofia Jamal Eddine.[23][24] Silvestri also revealed that Eddine (who speaks fluent Italian and English) had been helping teach him English.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "MERCATO". AC ChievoVerona (in Italian). 18 August 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  2. ↑ AC ChievoVerona Report and Accounts on 30 June 2011 (Italian)
  3. ↑ "Comproprietà: Parolo al Cesena, riscattato Silvestri" [Co-ownership: Parolo to Cesena, redeemed Silvestri]. AC ChievoVerona (in Italian). 22 June 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "Marco Silvestri in prestito alla Reggiana" [Marco Silvestri temporary to Reggiana]. AC ChievoVerona (in Italian). 4 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  5. ↑ AC ChievoVerona Srl bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012 (Italian), PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA
  6. ↑ "Silvestri al Cagliari" (in Italian). Cagliari Calcio. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "marco-silvestri-oggi-firma-per-il-leeds". Gazzetta Di Reggio (in Italian). 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Italian job! Leeds close in on TRIPLE swoop with Ross McCormack future still uncertain". The Express. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Leeds United: New faces highlight fresh approach to transfer market". Yorkshire Evening Post. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Leeds United complete Silvestri and Bianchi signings". Yorkshire Evening Post. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Leeds United hammer Italian minnows FC Gherdeina 16-0". YEP. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  12. ↑ "SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". Leeds United. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Millwall v Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "DEBUTANT SHARP BLUNTS BORO". Leeds United Official Site. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "Leeds Vs Bolton Wanderers". Leeds United Official Site. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  16. ↑ http://www.football-league.co.uk/features/20140901/sky-bet-football-league-team-of-the-week-300814-310814_2293307_4113706
  17. ↑ "Bournemouth 1 - 3 Leeds". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Neil Redfearn praised Leeds after win over Bournemouth". Sky Sports. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "Middlesbrough 0 Leeds Unted 1: Mowatt shocks leaders Boro". Yorkshire Evening Post. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  20. ↑ "Leeds United: Mowatt is becoming a free-kick specialist". Yorkshire Evening Post. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "Per rilanciare la scuola italiana, a Coverciano stage per 23 giovani". FIGC (in Italian). 26 November 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  22. ↑ "Quattro Nazioni: a Taranto arriva la Germania. Rocca ne convoca 18". FIGC (in Italian). 1 December 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Silvestri living up to high billing of Cellino". Yorkshire Post. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "Sofia Jamal Eddine". Fashion Copious. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2013.

External links