Raffaele Nuzzo

Raffaele Nuzzo
Personal information
Date of birth21 February 1973
Place of birthMonza, Italy
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Youth career
Internazionale
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1991–2000Internazionale1(0)
1992–1994→ Pergocrema (loan)2(0)
1994–1995→ Fasano (loan)26(0)
1995–1996→ Livorno (loan)2(0)
1996–1997→ Gualdo (loan)17(0)
1999→ Coventry City (loan)0(0)
2000–2007Reggiana84(0)
2001→ Wigan Athletic (loan)0(0)
Total132(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Raffaele Nuzzo (born 21 February 1973) is a former Italian footballer. He spent most of his career at Serie C1 and Serie C2 as backup goalkeeper role.

Career

Internazionale

Born in Monza by then part of the Province of Milan (now Province of Monza and Brianza), Nuzzo started his professional career at F.C. Internazionale Milano, the club giant of the region.

Since 1992 season, he spent his career on loan at various Serie C2 clubs, as Internazionale had experienced Beniamino Abate, then Luca Mondini, Marco Landucci and Andrea Mazzantini as second goalkeeper. He played 26 out of 34 league matches for Fasano made him secured a move to Livorno which the team aim on promotion to Serie C1. He played 2 matches for the Serie C2 runner-up, but the club failed to promote as losing in the playoffs. In the next season, he moved to Gualdo of Serie C1, which last season finished 5th. Due to the left of Davide Torchia and Oscar Verderame, he became one of the first choice, along with experienced Marco Savorani. Although Gualdo finished just above the relegation line, Nuzzo earned a place in Internazionale, as third goalkeeper behind Andrea Mazzantini but ahead of young youth product. In 1998–99 season, Internazionale signed Sébastien Frey, made Mazzantini left the club in January and Nuzzo remained as the third-choice. He played his only match at Serie A and for Internazionale in the last round of the season, he substituted Pagliuca in the last minute. The match ended in 3–1 won as Bologna scored the 1–2 goal to Pagliuca.

In June 1999, Nuzzo left for FA Premier League side Coventry City on loan, along with Antonio Caruso.[1] After the recovery of Steve Ogrizovic the original second goalkeeper, he was sent back to Internazionale in November.[2] His only Coventry appearance was one to forget. It came in the League Cup against Tranmere Rovers as the second tier team trounced their Premier League opponents 5–1.[3]

Reggiana

Nuzzo was signed by Reggiana after returned from England in January 2000. In the first season he played as Mirko Bellodi and Beniamino Abate's backup, to replace the left for Alberto Maria Fontana. In the second season he played as Lorenzo Squizzi's backup. As the club also had Andrea Artich and Michele Nicoletti, in February 2001 he left for England again, for Wigan Athletic,[4][5] but didn't make a first team appearance for the club.

Ruturned to Reggiana in 2001–02 season, he continued as the backup goalkeeper, for Patrick Bettoni. But in 2002–03 season, he played as first choice with 19 matches ahead Luca Mondini, but in the next season Mondini restored as the first choice. In 2004–05 season, Gabriele Paoletti succeed Mondini as first choice, and Nuzzo played one match in the season for the team which relegated to Serie C2 in 2005.

In his final years with club, he finally became first choice, as the club only signed inexperienced Davide Bagnacani, who graduated from Piacenza Calcio youth system.

After the club lost in the promotion playoffs in 2007, Nuzzo also retired from football and replaced by Marco Ambrosio and Luca Tomasig.

References

  1. ↑ Daley, Kieran (23 June 1999). "Football: Kharine moves to Celtic". London: The Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Nixon, Alan (19 November 1999). "Football: Fulham close to completing Hughes deal". London: The Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  3. ↑ "Tranmere 5 Coventry 1". Sporting Life. 14 September 1999. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  4. ↑ "GED BID ACCEPTED". Sky Sports. 14 February 2001. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "Rioch bust-up riddle". BBC Sport. 28 February 2001. Retrieved 9 January 2010.

External links