Mirco Antenucci

Mirco Antenucci
Personal information
Date of birth9 August 1984
Place of birthTermoli, Italy
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Leeds United[1]
Number34
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2002–2007Giulianova92(13)
2004–2005→ Ancona (loan)26(2)
2007–2011Catania18(1)
2007–2008→ Venezia (loan)27(6)
2009→ Pisa (loan)20(1)
2009–2010→ Ascoli (loan)40(24)
2011–2012Torino60(16)
2012–2014Catania1(0)
2012–2013→ Spezia (loan)33(6)
2013–2014Ternana40(19)
2014–Leeds United36(10)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:00, 17 April 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Mirco Antenucci (born 8 September 1984) is an Italian footballer and striker currently playing for English side Leeds United in the English Championship. He also represented his country at semi professional level playing for Italy U-21 C1.

He is a former captain of Serie B side Ternana.[2]

Club career

Giulianova

Antenucci began his professional career in 2002, with Serie C1 club, Giulianova Calcio, where in two seasons with the club, the young striker managed to make 35 appearances, before spending the 2004–05 season on loan at Serie C2 side, A.C. Ancona. During his loan spell with the club, Antenucci scored twice in 27 league appearances, before returning to Giulianova Calcio in the summer of 2005. In his second tenure with the Teramo based club, Antenucci scored 12 goals in 57 league matches, over the course of two seasons.

Calcio Catania

In July 2007, he was signed by Serie A side, Calcio Catania,[3] and was loaned to S.S.C. Venezia ahead of the 2007–08 Serie C1 campaign. He made 27 league appearances that season, scoring six goals.

On 1 July 2008, Antenucci returned to Catania and entered into the first team squad. He made four substitute appearances under, then coach, Walter Zenga in the first half of the 2008–09 Serie A season. On 5 January 2009, Mirco Antenucci was sent out on loan to Serie B club Pisa Calcio, to gain experience and playing time. During his six-month spell with the Serie B club, Antenucci scored just one goal in 20 league appearances, and the club failed to avoid relegation and also bankrupted. He returned to Catania on 30 June 2009.

On 19 August 2009, Catania opted to send Antenucci on another loan deal to Ascoli,[4] where he joined fellow Catania loanees Marcello Gazzola and Vito Falconieri. Following his transfer to Ascoli, he thrived, earning a regular starting role, and going on to make 40 appearances in the league, scoring an impressive 24 goals, finishing the second top scorer in the whole of Serie B. He only missed two league matches: the first round of the season and once due to suspension.[5] He returned to Catania ahead of the 2010–11 Serie A season. Antenucci did make 14 league appearances for Catania that season, although most of them were off the substitute's bench with Maxi López, Francesco Lodi, Gonzalo Bergessio and Takayuki Morimoto competing for places up front. After just one goal in Serie A, Antenucci was sent out on a co-ownership agreement during the January transfer window.

Torino

On 23 January 2011, it was announced that he joined Serie B giants Torino in a co-ownership deal. In his first 6-month spell with the club, Antenucci scored 6 goals in his first 19 appearances, before turning in an additional 10 goals in 40 league appearances the following season. Forming a strong strike partnership with Rolando Bianchi. His efforts helped guide the club to a second place finish in the 2011–12 Serie B standings with promotion to Serie A.[6]

Return to Catania

On 21 June 2012, Calcio Catania out-bided Torino in a blind auction for the player's co-ownership, and so the 28-year old returned to Sicily ahead of the 2012–13 Serie A season. After making a substitute appearance in matchday one of the season on 26 August 2012, the player was sent out on loan to Spezia Calcio of the Italian Serie B, on yet another season-long loan deal, and finished the season with six goals in 33 league matches.

Ternana

Antenucci was sold in a co-ownership deal and loaned to Serie B side Ternana Calcio on 20 July 2013. where he was also named captain of Ternana. He scored his first goal in the first round against the Carpi, a penalty kick. The following game he scored against the Citadella with a goal in a 2–2 draw. Antenucci also scored on the fifth, sixth and ninth day respectively against Siena, Brescia and Lanciano. After one win in nine games, Ternana Calcio found themselves in the relegation zone. He scored a brace during a resounding 5–0 against the Novara and the next week, repeated the feat with another brace against Crotone.

In the first half of the season, Antenucci had scored nine goals in 21 games. In the second round, the Terni technical changes, passing the leadership in the hands of Attilio Tesser. Antenucci begins with a bang, the second round, scoring six goals in eleven games, which helped Ternana to remain undefeated for twelve games

On 5 April 2013, he missed his second penalty of the season (the first against Latina) against Cesena, the defeat saw the end of Ternana's undefeated spell of 12 games. He returned to goal scoring form on the 36th day, in a 3–3 draw against Modena and repeated his goal scoring form in subsequent games against Bari and Padova.

His goal against Spezia in a 2–2 draw on 22 March 2014, where he controlled a ball on his chest before striking a bicycle kick,[7] was awarded by The News Strip as Goal of The year. Sky Sports Italia voted the goal second place for Goal Of the Season behind Paul Pogba's strike for Juventus against Napoli.

After scoring 19 goals in 40 Serie B appearances for the rossoverde, he finished the fifth top scorer in Serie B for the 2013–14 season helping Ternana Calcio avoid relegation with a 16 place finish.

His contract was redeemed by the Umbrian club Ternana Calcio upon the conclusion of the co-owenrship agreement on 20 June 2014, for an undisclosed fee.[8]

Leeds United

On 19 August 2014 it was reported that Antenucci had agreed a deal with the Ternana Calcio captain to join Leeds United.[9] It was confirmed on 20 August 2014 via the player's own Twitter account that he had joined Leeds United.[10] On Saturday 23 August, Antenucci made his Leeds debut against Watford F.C. in a 4–1 defeat.[11] Antenucci made his home debut at Elland Road on 30 August against Bolton Wanderers,[12]

On 16 September 2014 he scored his first league goal for Leeds against Bournemouth in a 3–1 win.[13] On 20 September, Antenucci scored his 2nd goal of the season and his first league goal at Elland Road in a 3–0 win over local rivals Huddersfield Town.[14] His 3rd of the season came against Rotherham United in a 2–1 loss on 17 October.[15] His 4th goal of the season came in the 2–1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers on 25 October, the match was the last game for Head Coach Darko Milanič who was relieved of his duties minutes after the game.[16]

Antenucci scored his 5th goal of the season against Blackpool F.C. in a 3–1 win. The goal was a special goal as it came the day after the birth of his first daughter.[17][18] His 6th and 7th goals came against Derby County on 29 November 2014 in a 2–0 victory at Elland Road. His 8th goal came against Ipswich Town in a 4-1 defeat on 6 December.[19]

After being used mainly as a substitute after Head Coach Neil Redfearn changed the teams formation in 2015 to 4-2-3-1, Antenucci scored his first goal since December, on 18 March 2015 against Fulham F.C. in a 0-3 away victory.[20] He scored his 10th of the season on 21 March 2015 in a 1-1 draw against Blackpool.[21]

In April 2015, a story emerged that Head Coach Neil Redfearn had been put under pressure to 'not select' top scorer Antenucci, because Antenucci's contract featured a clause of an extra year on his contract, should he score 12 goals in his first season. Antenucci's agent Silvio Pagliari confirmed the clause was correct.[22] Despite this, Redfearn gave Antenucci a relatively rare start against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 6 April in a 4-3 defeat.[23]

International career

In 2002, Antenucci represented Italy U-20 C1 before then representing Italy U-21 C1 Italy Lega Pro in 2003.

In 2005, Antenucci won gold representing Italy, in the 2005 Summer Universiade in Turkey. With Italy winning the Gold medal beating Japan in the Summer Universiade Men's Football final.

Honours

Club

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Antenucci, Mirco. "Mirco Antenucci(anteseven)". Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Leeds United complete the signing of striker Mirco Antenucci". Sky Sports. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "UFFICIALE: Antenucci va al Catania, ma su di lui l'asta continua". Tutto Mercato Web (in Italian). 22 July 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  4. ↑ "Mirko Antenucci all’Ascoli. Domani la presentazione". Ascoli Calcio 1898 (in Italian). 19 August 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  5. ↑ "Giudice Sportivo: 7.000 € di multa. Un turno a Giallombardo e Antenucci". Ascoli Calcio 1898 (in Italian). 11 May 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  6. ↑ "Antenucci al Toro" [Antenucci at the bull]. Torino FC (in Italian). 23 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  7. ↑ "Antenucci al Toro" [Gol masterpiece: Mirko Antenucci in Spezia-Ternana 2–2]. Mondo Allone (in Italian). 23 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  8. ↑ http://www.ternanacalcio.com/index.php?module=loadArticolo&idArticolo=3927
  9. ↑ Phil Hay (19 August 2014). "Leeds United: Antenucci set to join Whites in next 24 hours". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  10. ↑ Phil Hay (20 August 2014). "Leeds United: Whites seal Antenucci capture". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "TWO OFF IN WATFORD DEFEAT". Leeds United Official Site. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Leeds Vs Bolton Wanderers". Leeds United Official Site. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Bournemouth 1 – 3 Leeds". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "UNITED TAKE DERBY DAY SPOILS". Leeds United Official Site. 20 September 2014.
  15. ↑ "UNITED EDGED OUT AT ROTHERHAM". Leeds United Official Site. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "Leeds 1 Wolverhampton 2". BBC Sport. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "UNITED TOO STRONG FOR BLACKPOOL". Leeds United Official Site. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  18. ↑ . Leeds United Official Site. 14 November 2014 http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/t9myf1q8qchi1aeknrjzkms8r/title/antenuccis-perfect-week. Retrieved 14 November 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ "Ipswich 4 Leeds 1". BBC Sport. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "Fulham 0 Leeds 3". BBC Sport. 10 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "Blackpool 1 Leeds 1". BBC Sport. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  22. ↑ "Leeds United: Redfearn put under pressure not to play Antenucci UPDATEDurl=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds-united-redfearn-put-under-pressure-not-to-play-antenucci-updated-1-7191343". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 April 2015.
  23. ↑ "Dave Edwards headed home a late winner as Wolves beat Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.

External links