Vincenzo Iaquinta

Vincenzo Iaquinta

Iaquinta playing for Juventus in 2007
Personal information
Full nameVincenzo Iaquinta[1]
Date of birth21 November 1979
Place of birthCutro, Italy
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionStriker
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1996–1997Reggiolo33(6)
1998Padova13(3)
1998–2000Castel di Sangro52(8)
2000–2007Udinese176(58)
2007–2013Juventus86(30)
Total367(106)
National team
2005–2010Italy40(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Vincenzo Iaquinta (Italian pronunciation: [vinˈtʃɛntso jaˈkwinta]; born 21 November 1979) is a former Italian footballer who played as a striker. Prior to joining Juventus, he spent seven seasons at Udinese, including playing in the UEFA Champions League.

Iaquinta played 40 matches for the Italy national football team between 2005 and 2010, scoring six goals. He was included in their squad which won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as the team for the 2010 edition.

Club career

Reggiolo

Iaquinta was born in Cutro, in the province of Crotone. Like many Calabrians in the 1980s, his parents migrated to Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy for better job opportunities. Iaquinta played with his brother in the lower divisions for Reggiolo for the 1996–1997 season, before transferring to Serie B club Calcio Padova in January 1998, after 33 appearances and 6 goals in his first professional season and a half.

Padova

Iaquinta moved to Calcio Padova in January 1998, a club where his future Juventus team-mate and Italian legend Alessandro Del Piero thrived, but his spell with Padova was short-lived as after only 6 months, just 13 appearances and 3 goals, Iaquinta was surprisingly sold to Serie C1 club, Castel di Sangro Calcio.

Castel di Sangro

Following his short spell in the Serie B, Iaquinta went on to spend two seasons in the Italian Serie C1, with Castel di Sangro Calcio from 1998 and 2000. It was with his new club where Iaquinta established himself, making 52 appearances as he became a key part of the starting line-up, and netting 8 goals. Following several impressive performances, Iaquinta was signed by Udinese Calcio of Serie A.

Udinese

In June 2000, Udinese Calcio completed the signing of the young prospect and in his first season with the club, Iaquinta made 16 appearances and scored 2 goals. The following season, he made 26 appearances with 3 goals, before breaking into the starting eleven in his third season. He scored 8 goals in 28 appearances and the following season (2002–03), in which Udinese finished in 6th and qualified for the UEFA Cup.[2] Iaquinta made 32 appearances and scored 11 goals during the 2003–2004 season, as his team again reached the UEFA Cup, this time in 7th.[3]

During the 2004-05 season, he made 39 appearances and scored 15 goals, as Udinese came in fourth in Serie A and therefore qualified for the UEFA Champions League. That following season, Iaquinta made 34 appearances with 17 goals, including a hat-trick in his first UEFA Champions League group stage match against Panathinaikos. Although he refused to sign a contract extension at the start of the season,[4] on 30 September he agreed terms for a further 3 years.[5] In his final season, 2006–07, he scored 14 goals for his club in 30 appearances, and formed a partnership with Antonio Di Natale. Following a string of impressive seasons with Udinese, he was signed by Juventus.

Juventus

Juventus signed Iaquinta on a five-year contract on 19 June 2007 for a fee of €11.3 million. (cash plus Michele Paolucci),[6] to become the Turin giant's first signing for the new campaign. Udinese also bought back Fabio Quagliarella from Sampdoria on 21 June; Sampdoria then bought Andrea Caracciolo from Palermo on 22 June and Palermo bought Fabrizio Miccoli from Juventus on 5 July.

During the 2007–2008 season, Iaquinta made only a handful of starts for Juventus, mostly being used as back-up to the experienced strike partners Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet, who combined to score 41 goals between them in the Serie A alone. He did however still manage 29 appearances with 9 often crucial goals, such as his last minute winner versus Napoli in April 2008. It appeared that he might be surplus to requirements after the signing of Brazilian striker Amauri, leading to rumours about a possible move out of Juventus. However, nothing materialised, and Iaquinta remained for the 2008–09 season. Iaquinta also signed a new 4-year contract near the end of 2008–09 season.[7]

Iaquinta started the season as fourth-choice striker, but enjoyed a particularly impressive string of performances when both Amauri and Trezeguet were injured, gaining a more regular place under Claudio Ranieri. Most notably, he scored the first goal against Chelsea in the second leg of the first knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League, which was also Juventus' 600th goal in European competition. Despite this, Juve could only draw the match 2–2, and were eliminated. After that, Iaquinta also played regularly in Serie A games, his situation helped by a falling-out between Trezeguet and head coach Claudio Ranieri. In his second season in Piedmont, the striker managed 38 appearances with 16 goals. Following the sacking of Ranieri, and the appointment of Ciro Ferrara for the 2009–2010 season, Iaquinta became an undisputed starter, before a major injury side-lined him for 6 months between October 2009 and March 2010. In 2010–11 Serie A, Juventus renewed its squad by selling Trezeguet but also signing Quagliarella. That season Iaquinta made only 8 starts (7 in first half season). Despite the injury of Quagliarella in mid-season, the arrival of Alessandro Matri made Iaquinta was a substitute in the second half of season.

Under new coach Antonio Conte in 2011, Iaquinta, Amauri and Luca Toni did not play a single minute on the pitch and Iaquinta was the third one to leave Turin on 31 January.

Cesena

On 31 January 2012, Iaquinta joined A.C. Cesena on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season.[8] He made his debut for them on 9 February away at Lazio, and assisted Adrian Mutu for the first goal and scored a penalty to put Cesena 2-0 up at half-time, but they eventually lost 3-2.[9] At the end of the season he returned to his home club Juventus.

International career

Iaquinta made his international debut for Italy on 30 March 2005, as a half-time substitute for Luca Toni in a 0-0 home friendly draw against Iceland at the Stadio Euganeo in Padua.[10]

Iaquinta was a member of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. His first international goal came as Italy's second goal in their opening match of the tournament, a 2-0 victory against Ghana. He played in 5 out of 7 of Italy's matches, including the semi-final and final, in which he came on after 61 minutes for Simone Perrotta. Iaquinta missed out on Euro 2008 due to injury. He also played for Italy in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in which he scored a penalty against New Zealand in the second group match. His 40th and final international was the last group game on 24 June, in which Italy were defeated 3-2 by Slovakia and eliminated.[11]

Style of play

In his prime, Iaquinta was a fast, strong, and opportunistic striker, who excelled in the air and at finishing inside the penalty area.[12][13][14][15][16] Although his preferred role was that of a striker, he was a versatile forward who was capable of playing in several offensive positions.[17][18][19][20][21] Due to his strength, he excelled and playing with his back to goal, and holding the ball up for team mates.[22][23] Iaquinta was often injury-prone throughout his career.[24][25]

International goals

Club statistics

Club Season League Cup Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reggiolo1996–97 1410000141
1997–98 1950000195
Total 3360000336
Padova1997–98 1330000133
Total 1330000133
Castel di Sangro1998–99 2533000283
1999–2000 2750000275
Total 5283000558
Udinese2000–01 1422000162
2001–02 2224100263
2002–03 2672100288
2003–04 291120103211
2004–05 311362203915
2005–06 24911973417
2006–07 301423003217
Total 1765819812720773
Juventus2007–08 24854002912
2008–09 281230733815
2009–10 1560031187
2010–11 2041032246
Total 88309413610940
Cesena2011–12 71000071
Total 71000071
Career total 3681053192513425128

Honours

International

Italy

Orders

  • Collar of Merit Sports: 2006[26]
  • 4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana:(2006)[27]

Personal life

He has two sons and a daughter with his wife.

References

  1. ↑ "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 – List of Players" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  2. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ital03.html
  3. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ital04.html
  4. ↑ "Iaquinta rejects Udinese deal". Skysports. 20 September 2005. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  5. ↑ "Iaquinta pens Udinese deal". Skysports. 30 September 2005. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
  6. ↑ "Agreement with Udinese Calcio S.p.A. for the acquisition of the registration rights of the player Vincenzo Iaquinta" (PDF). Juventus FC. 19 June 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  7. ↑ Juventus FC 2008–09 annual report
  8. ↑ http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1576974.html
  9. ↑ http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2012/02/09/italy/serie-a/ss-lazio-roma/ac-cesena/1175840/
  10. ↑ http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=3097
  11. ↑ http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=26754
  12. ↑ "Errore o Bidone: Vincenzo Iaquinta". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Juve, porte aperte per l'addio di Iaquinta". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  14. ↑ "Duello Di Natale-Iaquinta per affiancare Gilardino". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  15. ↑ "Torna Juve formato maxi: Del Neri per Iaquinta-Amauri". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Lippi: «Iaquinta gran colpo»". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Errore o Bidone: Vincenzo Iaquinta". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  18. ↑ "Juve, porte aperte per l'addio di Iaquinta". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  19. ↑ "Duello Di Natale-Iaquinta per affiancare Gilardino". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  20. ↑ "Torna Juve formato maxi: Del Neri per Iaquinta-Amauri". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Lippi: «Iaquinta gran colpo»". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  22. ↑ "L'irriconoscibile Iaquinta". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  23. ↑ "Juve, scambio Iaquinta - Vucinic?". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "Juventus, nuovo stop per Iaquinta". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Juventus, ancora un infortunio per Iaquinta". Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  26. ↑ "Coni: Consegnati i Collari d’oro e diplomi d’onore ai campionissimi". Coni.it. 23 February 2014.
  27. ↑ "ONORIFICENZE - 2006". http://www.quirinale.it/'' (in Italian). 12 December 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2015.

External links