Antonio Croce

Antonio Croce

Personal information
Date of birth	9 June 1986
Place of birth	Foggia, Italy
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Forward
Club information
Current team	Melfi
Youth career
	Vis Pesaro
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2004–2005	Vis Pesaro	7	(0)
2005	→ Internazionale (loan)	0	(0)
2005–2006	Fermana	14	(0)
2006–2007	Riccione	28	(3)
2007–2008	Cologna Paese	20	(11)
2008–2010	Padova	0	(0)
2008–2009	→ Carpenedolo (loan)	31	(7)
2009–2010	→ Cassino (loan)	14	(3)
2010	→ Pro Vasto (loan)	12	(4)
2010–2011	Villacidrese	26	(9)
2011–2012	Celano	38	(12)
2012–2013	Messina	13	(2)
2013	Melfi	14	(6)
2013–2014	Bisceglie	14	(2)
2014	Torre Neapolis	13	(9)
2014	Brindisi	9	(2)
2014–	Monopoli	16	(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 July 2015. † Appearances (goals)

Antonio Croce (born 9 June 1986) is an Italian footballer who plays for Italian Lega Pro club Monopoli.

Biography

Vis Pesaro

Born in Foggia, Apulia, Croce started his career at Marche club Vis Pesaro and was a member of its Berretti under-20 team.^[1] In the next season Croce made his debut in the first team, in 2004–05 Serie C1. He was spotted by F.C. Internazionale Milano in January 2005. He was the member of Primavera under-20 team, scoring 4 goals in 2005 Torneo di Viareggio, as topscorer (Premio "Miglior Cannoniere del Torneo").^[2][3] Eventually Inter was the fourth.^[4] However he only scored once in the Primavera League. In the playoffs round, Croce was the starting forward along with Matteo Momentè. He scored once in the round of 16.^[5] In that rebuild season of Inter Primavera, the regular season top-scorer was Matteo Lombardo with 5 goals. and Dino Marino was the playoffs top-scorer of the team with 2 goals only. Inter was eliminated by Empoli in quarter-finals. Inter did not purchase Croce and promoted players from its own youth system instead.

Modena and fell to Serie D

On 31 August 2005, Croce was signed by Serie B club Modena but immediately farmed to Marche club Fermana in a co-ownership deal. In June 2006 Croce was re-signed by Emilia club Modena but he was released to Serie D team Riccione. The team also located in Emilia–Romagna region. Croce once again failed to score, with 3 goals. Croce then went to Abruzzo region for Cologna Paese. This time Croce scored 11 goals in 2007–08 Serie D.^[6]

Return to Lega Pro 2nd Div.

Croce earned a professional contract from Padova, in 2008.^[7] He played in the pre-season friendlies.^[8][9] In August he left for Carpenedolo, a Lega Pro Seconda Divisione team.^[10][11] Finally Croce opened his account in the Italian fourth level, with 7 goals. In the next season he was signed by another fourth level team Cassino,^[12] and left the club 6 months before the club was expelled from the league due to financial difficulty. However his new club Pro Vasto faced the same fate. In July 2010, his contract with Padova was terminated by mutual consent, as there is no place for Croce in its 2010–11 Serie B campaign.^[13]

In 2010–11 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, Croce was signed by Villacidrese. However Croce faced another relegation. In 2011–12 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, Croce was signed by Celano.^[14] However the team again relegated.

In July 2012 Croce was signed by Serie D team Messina^[15] which the club aimed to promote back to professional league in recent seasons and recently acquired by a new owner. In January 2013 he returned to the fourth level again for Melfi. He became the eldest player of the team suppressing Giancarlo Improta. Both Croce and Improta were the goalscorers of the team.

Return to Serie D

In 2013–14 and 2014–15 season, Croce had played for four Serie D teams, which since 2014–15 season Serie D became the four level again, due to Lega Pro merged their two divisions. In December 2014 he was signed by Monopoli.^[16] On 15 July 2015 Croce renewed his contract with the club.^[17] The club won promotion to 2015–16 Lega Pro as a replacement of bankrupted teams on 1 September.

References

1. "Comunicato Ufficiale N°54/TB (2003–04)" (PDF) (in Italian). Lega Serie C. 25 February 2004. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
2. http://www.torneoviareggio.it/edizioni_precedenti/57esimo/index.html
3. "CARNIVAL CUP: INTER THROUGH TO SEMIS". www.inter.it (FC Internazionale Milano). 3 February 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
4. "FOURTH PLACE FOR INTER IN VIAREGGIO". www.inter.it (FC Internazionale Milano). 7 February 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
5. "OTTAVI PRIMAVERA: PALERMO-INTER 1-2". www.inter.it (in Italian) (FC Internazionale Milano). 7 May 2005. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
6. Full Soccer (Italian)
7. "ANTONIO CROCE INGAGGIATO DAL COLOGNA PAESE PER LA PROSSIMA STAGIONE" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
8. "18 GOL NELLA PRIMA SGAMBATA DEL PADOVA A VILLABASSA" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 20 July 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
9. "PADOVA – MUNICIPAL VALCEA 0-1" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
10. "Nuovo attaccante dal Padova" (in Italian). AC Carpenedolo. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
11. "CROCE IN PRESTITO AL CARPENEDOLO, ZANE ALL’ESTE" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 26 August 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
12. "ALIBERTI E CROCE CEDUTI A TITOLO TEMPORANEO" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
13. "Risoluzione contrattuale per Antonio Croce" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 11 July 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
14. "MERCATO: IN ATTACCO COLPO CROCE" (in Italian). Celano FC Marsica. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
15. "UFFICIALE: l'ex Celano Antonio Croce al Messina in D" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
16. "Grande colpo di mercato: l’attaccante Croce è del Monopoli" (in Italian). S.S. Monopoli 1966. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
17. "Il Monopoli riconferma Croce, Castaldo, Pinto e Difino." (in Italian). S.S. Monopoli 1966. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.

External links

• Football.it Profile (Italian)