Gaetano Berardi

Gaetano Berardi

Personal information
Date of birth	21 August 1988
Place of birth	Sorengo, Switzerland
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 ^1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Right-back / Left-back
Club information
Current team	Leeds United
Number	28
Youth career
2001–2004	Lugano
2004–2006	Brescia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2006–2012	Brescia	105	(0)
2012–2014	Sampdoria	35	(0)
2014–	Leeds United	50	(0)
National team^‡
2007–2008	Switzerland U20	3	(0)
2008–2011	Switzerland U21	20	(0)
2011	Switzerland	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:50, 24 April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:51, 10 August 2011 (UTC)

Gaetano Berardi (born 21 August 1988) is a Swiss footballer who currently plays for English club Leeds United as a right-back. Berardi can also play as a left-back. He has been capped at international level by Switzerland.

Career

Brescia

Berardi started his career at Swiss club Lugano's youth team. In the summer of 2005, he was signed by Serie B side Brescia. Berardi made his professional debut on 30 June 2007, in a winning away game against Pescara (1–3).

In his first season, Berardi made 10 appearances in all competitions under the management of Serse Cosmi. The 2008/09 season Berardi was used in 26 Serie B games. Before finally becoming a first team regular in Giuseppe Iachini team during the 2009/10 season, Brescia earned promotion to Serie A after beating Torino in the Serie B playoff's.

Berardi made his Serie A debut on 12 September 2010 in a 3-2 victory against Palermo. Berardi made 26 starts for Brescia in Serie A however Brescia were relegated at the end of the season.

Sampdoria

On 12 January 2012, Berardi linked up with is former Brescia manager Giuseppe Iachini who signed him for Sampdoria. He made his debut in a 2-1 victory against Padova on the 14 January. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Berardi gained his second promotion to Serie A after winning the Serie B play-offs beating A.S. Varese 1910 4-2 on aggregate in the 2 legged playoff final.

The following season in Serie A, despite stiff competition from Italian international Lorenzo De Silvestri, Berardi made 21 appearances in Serie A during the 2012–13 season. However, with Sampdoria appointing Siniša Mihajlovic in charge in November 2013, Berardi lost his place in the team and only made 5 Serie A appearances during the 2013–14 season.

Leeds United

On 19 July 2014, Leeds United announced that they had signed Berardi to a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee,^[1] with an option of a third year. Club president Massimo Cellino confirmed that Berardi had taken a wage cut to come to Leeds.^[2] On 1 August, Berardi was assigned the Leeds number 12 shirt for the 2014–15 season.^[3]

Berardi made his Leeds debut on 12 August 2014, starting the League Cup match against Accrington Stanley. Berardi was sent off on his debut for a straight red card.^[4] As a result of his red card, Berardi picked up a three-match ban, missing matches against Middlesbrough, Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford.^[5] With regular right back Sam Byram suspended,^[6] Berardi was set to start against Bradford City on 27 August, but was ruled out after picking up a concussion the day before the game.^[7] His full league debut was in a 1-1 draw away at Birmingham on 13 September 2014.^[8]

On 20 September, Berardi received his second red card in just his fourth game, after being sent off in a 3–0 win over local rivals Huddersfield Town.^[9]

With regular left back Charlie Taylor pushed forward into an attacking left wing position, during 2015, Berardi became a regular fixture in the left-back position for Leeds.^[10] Berardi finished the season in strong form at Left back, starting 10 of the last 11 games and becoming a fans' favourite for his performances.^[11]

Gaetano Berardi was given the number 28 shirt for the 2015/16 season. On 21 September 2015, after becoming a hugely popular player with the fans for his consistent displays in both Right Back or Left Back positions, Berardi signed a new 2 year contract extension at the club, to keep him at the club until 2018.^[12]

21 November 2015, Berardi received a straight red card for Leeds against Rotherham United after being left with a bloodied nose by an elbow to the face from Leon Best (which he also received a straight red for), Berardi reacted angrily by pushing Best to the ground before being restrained by teammates, the ban was reduced after appeal due to the severity of the elbow Berardi received from Best provoking the reaction.^[13]

After returning from suspension, on 14 December 2015, Berardi suffered a torn ankle ligament against Charlton Athletic which ruled him out for 2 months.^[14]

On 19 April, Berardi was nominated for the Leeds United player of the year award, alongside Charlie Taylor, Liam Bridcutt, Mirco Antenucci and Lewis Cook. Berardi also finished 2nd in the voting for the Yorkshire Evening Post Player Of The Year award after coming second to eventual winner Taylor. ^[15] The Official Leeds Player Of The Season award was won by Taylor on 30 April.^[16]

International career

After playing for Switzerland U20's, Berardi debuted for the Switzerland U21 football team against Greece U21 on 19 November 2008.

Gaetano Berardi played his first match for Switzerland at senior level against Liechtenstein on 10 August 2011.

Career statistics

As of 19 August 2015.^[17]

Club	Division	Season	League		Domestic Cups		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Brescia	Serie B	2006-07	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
		2007-08	9	0	1	0	0	0	10	0
		2008-09	26	0	2	0	0	0	28	0
		2009-10	29	0	0	0	1	0	30	0
	Serie A	2010-11	27	0	0	0	0	0	27	0
	Serie B	2011-12	13	0	1	0	0	0	14	0
	Brescia total		105	0	4	0	1	0	110	0
Sampdoria	Serie B	2011-12	9	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
	Serie A	2012-13	21	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
		2013-14	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
	Sampdoria total		35	0	0	0	0	0	35	0
Leeds United	Championship	2014-15	22	0	2	0	0	0	24	0
		2015-16	15	0	1	0	0	0	16	0
	Leeds United total		37	0	3	0	0	0	40	0
Career total			169	0	7	0	1	0	177	0

Honours

Brescia

• Serie B
  • Play-off winner 2009–10

Sampdoria

• Serie B
  • Play-off winner 2011–12

References

1. "United Finalise Berardi Signing". Leeds United. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
2. "Former Sampdoria full-back pens Leeds United deal". Yorkshire Evening Post. 19 July 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
3. "SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". Leeds United. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
4. "Leeds V Accrington". Leeds United. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
5. "BERARDI TO MISS BORO VISIT". Leeds United Official Site. 15 August 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
6. "TWO OFF IN WATFORD DEFEAT". Leeds United Official Site. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
7. "UNITED EDGED OUT AT BRADFORD". Sky Sports. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
8. "Birmingham 1 - 1 Leeds". BBC Sport. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
9. "UNITED TAKE DERBY DAY SPOILS". Leeds United official website. 20 September 2014.
10. "Dave Edwards headed home a late winner as Wolves beat Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
11. "BERARDI SETS SIGHTS ON STRONG 2015/16". Leeds United. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
12. "Gaetano Berardi: Leeds United full-back signs new contract/16". BBC Sport. 21 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
13. "Leeds defender Gaetano Berardi has ban reduced to two games after appealing Rotherham red card". Talk Sport. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
14. "Leeds United: Injury blow as Berardi faces eight-week lay-off". Yorkshire Evening Post. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
15. "PLAYER OF THE YEAR: TOP 5 VOTE!". Leeds United Official site. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
16. "TAYLOR CROWNED PLAYER OF THE YEAR". Leeds United Official site. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
17. Gaetano Berardi career statistics at Soccerbase

External links

• Profile at AIC.Football.it (Italian)
• Profile at Brescia Calcio official site (Italian)