Daniele Rugani

Daniele Rugani
Personal information
Full name Daniele Rugani
Date of birth (1994-07-29) 29 July 1994
Place of birth Lucca, Italy
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Juventus
Number 24
Youth career
2000–2013 Empoli
2012–2013 → Juventus (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2013–2015 Empoli 78 (5)
2015– Juventus 16 (0)
National team‡
2010–2011 Italy U17 13 (3)
2011–2012 Italy U18 9 (0)
2012–2013 Italy U19 11 (0)
2013 Italy U20 2 (0)
2014– Italy U21 15 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2015

Daniele Rugani (born 29 July 1994) is an Italian footballer who plays as a centre back for Serie A club Juventus. He began his professional club career with Empoli in Serie B in 2013, where he immediately helped the club achieve Serie A promotion, and was named the 2014 Serie B Footballer of the Year. His defensive performances the following season saw him named to the 2015 Serie A Team of the Year, and earned him a transfer to Juventus, where he immediately won the Serie A title during his first season with the club. At international level, he has represented the Italy national under-21 football team at the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.

Club career

Early career with Empoli and Juventus loan

Born in Lucca, Italy, Rugani began his footballing career with Tuscan side Empoli in 2000, at the age of 6.[2] He remained within the clubs youth academy for twelve full seasons, before being transferred to Serie A giants Juventus on loan in August 2012. After joining Juventus, Rugani was registered with the club's Primavera (under-20) youth squad where he was a regular starter within the side during the 2012–13 season,[3] winning the Coppa Italia Primavera.[4]

After his successes during his first season with Juventus, Rugani was purchased outright by the club on 31 July 2013[5] and then sent back to Empoli on a season-long loan deal ahead of their 2013–14 Serie B campaign.

Empoli return

At age 20, Rugani was Empoli's star defender during their promotion–achieved campaign, as he finished the season having made 40 appearances and scoring 2 goals for the club. He scored his first career goal from a header off of a corner on 22 March 2014, in a 4–0 home win over Reggina.[6] The club finished the season in 2nd place, thus achieving automatic promotion to Serie A, alongside champions Palermo.[7]

On 18 June 2014, it was confirmed that the co-ownership agreement between the two clubs would be renewed, with the player remaining with newly-promoted Empoli for the 2014–15 Serie A campaign on loan from Juventus.[8] Rugani made his Serie A debut on 31 August 2014, at the age of 20, in a 2–0 away defeat to Udinese,[9] later scoring his first goal in Serie A on 20 September, in a 2–2 away draw against Cesena.[10] On 2 February 2015, Juventus bought out the remaining half of Daniele Rugani’s registration rights from Empoli.[11] Rugani was a key player for Empoli that season, appearing in all 38 of Empoli's league matches that season without being substituted or booked, in addition to scoring 3 goals, as the club finished the league in 15th place.[12][13][14]

Juventus return

2015–16 season

In the summer of 2015, Rugani officially returned to Juventus.[15] He made his debut with the club on 30 September 2015, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 home win over Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League group stage, also making his European debut in the process.[16] He made his first start with the club on 16 December, in a 4–0 win over cross-city rivals Torino in the Derby della Mole in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia.[17] His league debut with the club came four days later, as he came on for veteran defender Andrea Barzagli in the 56th minute of a 3–2 away win over Carpi.[18] He made his first league start for the club in a 2–1 away win over Sampdoria in Serie A, on 10 January 2016.[19] On 24 April, Rugani was booked for the first time in his entire Serie A career in his 53rd Serie A appearance. He received a yellow card in the 72nd minute of a 2–1 away win over Fiorentina; he had last been carded at club level with Empoli, on 1 March 2014, in an away Serie B fixture against Siena.[20] Following Napoli's loss to Roma the following day, Juventus clinched the league title with three games to spare.[21]

International career

Rugani has represented Italy at various youth levels since 2010. His first cap for the under-21 team came on 5 March 2014 in a European qualifier against Northern Ireland, in which he scored the first goal for the azzurini in a 2–0 victory.[22]

On 9 November 2014, he was called up by Antonio Conte to the senior Italy squad ahead of a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Croatia and a friendly against Albania.[23]

With the Italy U-21 he took part at the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship under manager Luigi Di Biagio.[24]

Style of play

Rugani is a tall, tactically versatile, and physically strong centre-back, who is good in the air, both defensively and offensively. He is known in particular for his anticipation, intelligence, and marking ability, despite his lack of notable pace or mobility.[25][26][27] He is also considered to be a correct player,[26][28] who often avoids committing to challenges, preferring to restrict his opponents through his positioning.[29] Due to his confidence in possession, he is capable of playing the ball out from the back-line.[26][27][30] Regarded as one of the most promosing young Italian players of his generation,[31] in 2015, he was named one of the best players in the world born after 1994, by Don Balón.[32]

Statistics

Club

As of 1 May 2016[7]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Empoli
2013–14 40220––422
2014–15 38310––393
Total 78530–– 815
Juventus
2015–16 160201000190
Total 160201000190
Career total 94 5 5 0 10001005

    Honours

    Club

    Juventus[7]

    Individual

    References

    1. ↑ "Daniele Rugani". juventus.com.
    2. ↑ Alfredo Giacobbe (15 January 2015). "Preferiti: Daniele Rugani" (in Italian). Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    3. ↑ "Operazioni di mercato con l’Empoli" (in Italian). Juventus.com. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    4. ↑ "Napoli-Juventus 1-2: Coppa Italia Primavera ai bianconeri dopo i supplementari" (in Italian). Sport Mediaset. 16 April 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    5. ↑ Antonio Gallo (31 July 2013). "UFFICIALE: Juventus, acquistati due giovani dall'Empoli" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web.com. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    6. ↑ "Serie B, Pescara-Palermo 1-2, Belotti gol. Empoli a valanga sulla Reggina" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    7. 1 2 3 Daniele Rugani profile at Soccerway
    8. ↑ Marco Conterio (18 June 2014). "ESCLUSIVA TMW - Empoli-Juve, incontro ok: Rugani resta azzurro" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato Web.com. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    9. ↑ Francesco Velluzzi (31 August 2014). "Udinese, doppio Di Natale: Empoli battuto 2-0" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    10. ↑ Guglielmo Longhi (20 September 2014). "Serie A, Cesena-Empoli 2-2, gol di Marilungo, Defrel, Tavano e Rugani" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    11. ↑ "Juventus complete full Rugani purchase". Juventus.com. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    12. ↑ "Rugani, l'immacolato" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    13. ↑ "Impressive Empoli". Football Italia. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    14. ↑ "Arsenal still in for Rugani". Football Italia. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    15. ↑ Christoph Kockeis (24 June 2015). "Rugani: I'm ready for Juventus now". Goal.com. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    16. ↑ "Juventus 2 - 0 Sevilla FC". Eurosport. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    17. ↑ "Coppa: Four-star Juve crush Toro". Football Italia. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    18. ↑ "Carpi 2 – 3 Juventus". BBC Sport.com. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    19. ↑ "Line-ups: Sampdoria-Juventus". Football Italia. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
    20. ↑ "Fiorentina 1 - 2 Juventus". Football Italia. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
    21. ↑ Paolo Bandini (26 April 2016). "Juventus' relentless triumph suggests no end in sight to their dominance". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
    22. ↑ "Azzurri Generation: Daniele Rugani". Vivo Azzurro.it. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    23. ↑ "Liverpool’s Mario Balotelli recalled to Italy squad for Euro qualifier". The Guardian. Press Association. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
    24. ↑ "Daniele Rugani". UEFA.com. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
    25. ↑ "Juve best school for Rugani". Football Italia. 23 January 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    26. 1 2 3 Roberto Beccantini (10 July 2015). "La sfida di Rugani non interessa solo la Juventus" (in Italian). Eurosport. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    27. 1 2 Lelio Donato (14 March 2014). "Profilo - Daniele Rugani, il futuro della difesa della Juventus" (in Italian). Goal.com. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    28. ↑ "Rugani, l'immacolato" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 19 June 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    29. ↑ Antonino Milone (5 August 2015). "Rugani: «Per la Juve diventerò più cattivo»" (in Italian). Tutto Sport. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    30. ↑ FRANCESCO SAVERIO INTORCIA (2 June 2015). "Rugani, il ragazzino alla Scirea: "Mai un giallo, litigare non serve"" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    31. ↑ Adriano Serafini (18 November 2011). "Sabatini punta Rugani" (in Italian). Il Tempo. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    32. ↑ "La lista dei 101 migliori giovani talenti del calcio mondiale" (in Italian). Eurosport. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    33. ↑ "Serie A, 'Gran Galà del calcio': trionfa la Juve". Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 15 December 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
    34. ↑ "Oscar del Calcio, dominio Juve. Buffon: "Donnarumma ha doti da grande"" [Serie A Oscars, Juve dominate. Buffon: "Donnarumma has the characteristics to be great"] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.

    External links

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