Giuseppe Rossi

Giuseppe Rossi

Rossi in 2011
Personal information
Full name Giuseppe Rossi[1]
Date of birth (1987-02-01) 1 February 1987[1]
Place of birth Teaneck, New Jersey, United States
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Levante (on loan from Fiorentina)
Number 21
Youth career
1996–1999 Clifton Stallions
2000–2004 Parma
2004 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2007 Manchester United 5 (1)
2006 → Newcastle United (loan) 11 (0)
2007 → Parma (loan) 19 (9)
2007–2013 Villarreal 136 (54)
2013– Fiorentina 33 (16)
2016– → Levante (loan) 15 (5)
National team‡
2003 Italy U16 5 (3)
2003–2004 Italy U17 14 (6)
2004–2005 Italy U18 3 (0)
2006–2008 Italy U21 16 (5)
2008 Italy Olympic team 6 (6)
2008– Italy 30 (7)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 April 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 May 2014

Giuseppe Rossi (Italian pronunciation: [dʒuˈzɛppe ˈrossi]; born 1 February 1987) is an American-born Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Levante, on loan from Fiorentina and the Italian national team.

Born in Teaneck, New Jersey, he began his career with the Clifton Mustangs in nearby Clifton, New Jersey, but joined the youth team of Italian club Parma at the age of 12. When he was 17, he was signed by English club Manchester United, but he was unable to break into the first team; after loan spells with Newcastle United and back at Parma, he signed for Spanish club Villarreal in 2007. After five-and-a-half years with Villarreal, he returned to Italy, signing for Fiorentina in January 2013. In January 2016, he was sent on loan to Spanish club Levante.

Due to his prolific performances in the Spanish La Liga, Rossi earned the nickname Pepito Rossi, a reference to his namesake Paolo Rossi, who was nicknamed Pablito following his goalscoring performances in Italy's victorious 1982 FIFA World Cup campaign in Spain.[3][4]

At international level, Rossi represented Italy at the 2008 Summer Olympics, and at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup; along with Mario Balotelli and Daniele De Rossi, his is Italy's top scorer in the Confederations Cup, with two goals.[5]

After his father's death in 2010, Rossi began to wear the number 49, which was the year of his father's birth; in 2014, he switched back to the number 22 jersey.[6]

Early life

Rossi is an Italian American, born to Italian immigrant parents in Teaneck, New Jersey; his father, Fernando Rossi, coached football and taught Italian and Spanish at Clifton High School. His mother, Cleonilde Rossi, was also a language teacher at Clifton.[7] At age 12,[8] he moved to Parma, Italy, with his father to begin his youth career at Parma.

Club career

Early career

When offered a spot on the youth team of Parma, Rossi (then 12) and his father moved to Italy until Manchester United bought his contract when he was 17.[9] His first-team debut came on November 20, 2004, at home to Crystal Palace in the fifth round of the League Cup, as an 84th-minute substitute for David Bellion.[10]

For his Premier League debut on October 15, 2005, he came on in the 78th minute for Ruud van Nistelrooy and nine minutes later scored the last goal in a 3–1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.[11] On January 18, 2006, in an FA Cup third-round replay, he started and scored twice as United beat non-league Burton Albion 5–0.[12] Although Rossi did not play in the League Cup final against Wigan Athletic, Nemanja Vidić (who made a seven-minute cameo at the end of the game) gave Rossi his medal in recognition of Rossi's contribution to the team's success in the earlier rounds.[13]

At the start of the 2006–07 season, Rossi moved to Newcastle United on loan until January 1, 2007, where he was expected to gain some first team experience. He made his home debut on September 24, 2006.[14] Rossi scored his only Newcastle goal in his first start on October 25, 2006, against Portsmouth in a League Cup third round tie at St James' Park.[15]

For the second half of the season, he was again loaned out, this time to his former club, Parma.[16] Scoring nine goals in 19 league appearances,[17] he helped the club escape the threat of relegation.

Villarreal

Rossi played for Villarreal for five-and-a-half years after joining from Manchester United in 2007.

On July 31, 2007, Manchester United confirmed that Rossi had been sold to Spanish club Villarreal for an undisclosed fee, reportedly around £6.6 million (€10 million).[18][19] He scored his first goal for Villarreal on his debut against Valencia on August 26, 2007.[20]

In his second season with Villarreal, Rossi had scored 12 goals in 30 league appearances, along with three goals in eight Champions League appearances.[21] In January 2011, he signed a contract extension with Villarreal until 2016.[22] The 2010–11 season proved to be his breakthrough season, as he scored 32 goals in 56 appearances in all competitions, helping the club to a fourth-place finish in La Liga, scoring 18 goals, which qualified them for the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League, also helping Villarreal to the semi-finals of the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League that season, scoring 11 goals, and the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. An anterior cruciate ligament injury on Rossi's right knee that he picked up in the 3–0 loss against Real Madrid on October 26, 2011 caused Rossi to be out for six months.[23] Rossi reinjured his anterior cruciate ligament of right knee in training on April 13, 2012, and was out for a further 10 months.[24]

Fiorentina

On 4 January 2013, Fiorentina came to an agreement with Villarreal for the transfer of Rossi for a fee of approximately €11.8 million.[25] On 7 January, Fiorentina held a press conference unveiling Rossi, where it was revealed the player had signed a four-year contract containing a €35 million release clause.[26]

On 21 May, the final day of the 2012–13 Serie A season, Rossi made his debut for Fiorentina as a substitute in a 5–1 win over Pescara.[27]

On 26 August, Rossi scored his first goal in 23 months in Fiorentina's opening match of the 2013–14 Serie A season – a 2–1 defeat of Catania.[28] On 20 October, Rossi inspired Fiorentina to a 4–2 come from behind win over rivals Juventus, netting a 14-minute hat-trick that condemned Juve to their first defeat in Florence for 15 years.[29]

On 5 January 2014, Rossi was substituted in Fiorentina's match against Livorno as he suffered a second-degree sprain of his medial collateral ligament in his right knee.[30] The blow was dealt by Leandro Rinaudo, who tackled Rossi from behind in a manner so dirty that he drew international condemnation.[31] Up to this point Rossi had been the leading goal scorer in Serie A with 14 goals in 18 league appearances.[8]

Rossi returned from injury as a 69th-minute substitute in Fiorentina's 3–1 Coppa Italia final loss to Napoli on 3 May.[32] On 6 May, he scored on his Serie A comeback – a 4–3 defeat to Sassuolo.[33]

On 14 August 2014, Rossi injured his medial meniscus of right knee in training. On 5 September 2014 Fiorentina confirmed Rossi would be out for 4–5 months.[34]

Rossi returned to the pitch on 30 August 2015, in a 3–1 away defeat to Torino; later that week he also agreed with his club to take a salary cut.[35] On 1 October, he scored his first goal since coming back from his injury in Fiorentina's 4–0 away victory over Belenenses in the Europa League.[36]

Levante (loan)

On 22 January 2016, Rossi returned to La Liga by signing a loan deal until end of the season with Levante, in order to gain playing time, and a place in the Italian national side at Euro 2016.[37] He made his club debut on 31 January, scoring in a 3–1 away defeat to Sevilla.[38] On 13 March at the Estadi Ciutat de València, he scored the only goal of a win over city rivals Valencia CF, managed by his former United teammate Gary Neville.[39]

International career

Rossi represented Italy at almost every youth level from under-16 to under-21. In 2006, he was invited to a pre-World Cup training camp with the United States national team by coach Bruce Arena but declined, stating his desire to play for Italy. He was called up for the 2007 Euro U-21 by head coach Pierluigi Casiraghi. He scored four goals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, making him the top scorer for the tournament, despite only reaching the quarter-final.

Italian national football team manager Marcello Lippi has stated that had Rossi been fit, he would have received a call-up for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in September 2008.[40] Rossi was called up to the Italy squad in October 2008, making his debut for the national team as a second-half substitute against Bulgaria on October 11. Rossi scored his first goal for the Italian national team on 6 June 2009, in a friendly against Northern Ireland, at Pisa's Arena Garibaldi.[41] He also scored two goals against the United States in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa on 15 June 2009.[42]

Rossi was in Lippi's provisional 28-man 2010 FIFA World Cup squad announced in May,[43] but failed to make the cut for final 23-man squad.[44]

On 17 November 2010, for his 18th cap for Italy, Rossi was picked by Italian manager Cesare Prandelli to wear the captain's armband for the first time ahead of the friendly against Romania.[45]

After a two-year absence from the national team due to injury, Rossi appeared in a 2014 World Cup qualifying match on 15 October 2013, as Italy drew 2-2 against Armenia at home.[46] On 13 May 2014, Rossi was named in Italy's provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,[47] however on 1 June, it was announced that Rossi had not made the final 23-man World Cup squad.[48]

Style of play

A quick and mobile left-footed forward, Rossi is known for his overall attacking and creative style of play, as well as his movement off the ball. He has often been compared to Del Piero, due to his acceleration, strong technical skills, range of passing, dribbling talents, and his ability to pick out a pass;[49] his playing style has also been compared to that of Paolo Rossi, due to his opportunism, pace, agility, and eye for goal.[4] He is known for his ability to both score goals and link-up play; he often drops deep between the lines and is involved in the buildup of plays. Because of this, Rossi is able to play in a variety of attacking positions, including on the wings, as a support striker, lone-striker and in an attacking midfield role.[50][51][52][53] Despite his talent, skill, and goalscoring ability, Rossi's playing time has been limited in recent seasons due to several recurring injury problems.[54]

Statistics

Club

As of 24 April 2016.[55][56]
Club Season League Cup[nb 1] Other Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United 2004–05 0000200020
2005–06 5122312[lower-alpha 1]0124
Total 51225120144
Newcastle United (loan) 2006–07 1100021—131
Parma (loan) 2006–07 19900—1[lower-alpha 2]0209
Villarreal 2007–08 271152—5[lower-alpha 2]03713
2008–09 301210—8[lower-alpha 1]33915
2009–10 341042—8[lower-alpha 3]54617
2010–11 361853—15[lower-alpha 3]115632
2011–12 9300—5[lower-alpha 1]2145
Total 13654157—412119282
Fiorentina 2012–13 1000——10
2013–14 211610—2[lower-alpha 3]12417
2015–16 11010—4[lower-alpha 3]2162
Total 331620—634119
Levante (loan) 2015–16 1550000—155
Career total 21684199725024292119
  1. 1 2 3 All appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. 1 2 All appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. 1 2 3 4 All appearances in Europa League

    International

    As of 7 July 2015. [57]
    Italy national team
    YearAppsGoals
    200820
    2009123
    201040
    201193
    201200
    201321
    201410
    Total307

    Honours

    Individual

    Notes

    1. ↑ Includes cup competitions such as FA Cup, Copa del Rey and Coppa Italia

    References

    1. 1 2 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2007). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2007–08. Mainstream Publishing. p. 355. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
    2. ↑ ESPN
    3. ↑ Giovanni Capuano (8 May 2014). "Rossi, Mondiale a rischio. Ma Prandelli si ricordi di Pablito...". panorama.it (in Italian). Panorama. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
    4. 1 2 "Da Pablito a Pepito stesso fiuto del gol ma lui è più potente" [From Pablito to Pepito the same eye for goal but he's more powerful] (in Italian). Il Giornale. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
    5. ↑ "Confederations Cup: Gol Fatti" (in Italian). Italia1910. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
    6. ↑ Matteo Dovellini (14 July 2014). "Per Rossi la maglia numero 22, con dedica al padre". repubblica.it (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
    7. ↑ Longman, Jeré (June 9, 2009). "Young Soccer Star Is Close to Completing His Italian Dream". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
    8. 1 2 Wahl, Grant (February 11, 2014). "SI Now: Giuseppe Rossi". SI Now. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
    9. ↑ Canales, Andrea (November 30, 2005). "My Country, 'Tis of Thee". ESPNsoccernet. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
    10. ↑ "Man Utd 2-0 Crystal Palace". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). November 10, 2004. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
    11. ↑ "Sunderland 1-3 Man Utd". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). October 15, 2005. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
    12. ↑ "Man Utd 5-0 Burton Albion". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). January 18, 2006. Retrieved December 8, 2013.
    13. ↑ Thompson, Gemma (21 January 2014). "Vida's Cup revelation". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). Retrieved 21 January 2014.
    14. ↑ Hughes, Ian (September 20, 2006). "Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved April 3, 2009.
    15. ↑ "Newcastle 3-0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). October 25, 2006. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
    16. ↑ "Man Utd agree Parma loan deal for Rossi". ESPN. January 18, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
    17. ↑ "Giuseppe Rossi". ESPN. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
    18. ↑ Hibbs, Ben (July 7, 2007). "Rossi to join Villarreal". Manchester United. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
    19. ↑ "El Villarreal ficha al delantero Giuseppe Rossi" (in Spanish). Villarreal CF. July 31, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
    20. ↑ "Barcelona held by ten-man Racing". UEFA. August 26, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
    21. ↑ Giuseppe Rossi Football Stats
    22. ↑ MacDonald, Paul (January 25, 2011). "Official: Villarreal Striker Giuseppe Rossi Signs Contract Extension Until 2016. However Rossi has been subject to a move to Tottenham Hotspur, and a fee has been agreed on deadline day.". goal.com. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
    23. ↑ "Rossi out for six months". ESPN. October 27, 2011.
    24. ↑ "Giuseppe Rossi reinjures knee". ESPN. April 13, 2012.
    25. ↑ Iacopo Barlotti. "BILANCIO ACF, Ecco il costo di Gomez e Rossi" (in Italian). Firenze Viola. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
    26. ↑ Adam Digby (7 January 2013). "Rossi delighted with Viola switch". ESPN FC. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
    27. ↑ "Rossi Finally Back on the Field". New York Times. May 22, 2013.
    28. ↑ "Giuseppe Rossi scores first goal in 23 months as Fiorentina wins Serie A opener (Video)". NBC. August 27, 2013.
    29. ↑ "Fiorentina 4-2 Juventus". ESPNFC. October 20, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
    30. ↑ "Fiorentina confirm Rossi injury". football-italia. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
    31. ↑ "Rinaudo deserves to be banned until Rossi returns". Goal.com. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
    32. ↑ "Napoli defeat Fiorentina after fan is shot to win their fifth Coppa Italia". The Guardian. 4 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
    33. ↑ "Pushing for Italy: Giuseppe Rossi scores in second game back from injury". Sports Illustrated. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
    34. ↑ "Rossi out for four-five months". Football Italia. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
    35. ↑ "Giuseppe Rossi agrees to reduced Fiorentina salary". ESPN FC. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
    36. ↑ "Giuseppe Rossi's goal icing on top as Fiorentina dominate Belenenses". ESPN FC. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
    37. ↑ Dermot Corrigan (22 January 2016). "Giuseppe Rossi agrees Levante loan from Fiorentina for rest of season". ESPN FC. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
    38. ↑ "Ronaldo scores hat trick as Real crushes Espanyol". Sportsnet.ca. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
    39. ↑ "Levante’s Giuseppe Rossi sinks Gary Neville and Valencia". The Irish Times. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    40. ↑ Gozzini, Alessandra (September 2, 2008). "Lippi: "Un'altra Berlino? Dipende anche da Cipro"". Gozzini (in Italian) (Gazzetta.it). Retrieved August 2, 2007.
    41. ↑ "Italy 3-0 Northern Ireland". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). June 6, 2009. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
    42. ↑ Ashenden, Mark (June 15, 2009). "USA 1-3 Italy". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved June 17, 2009.
    43. ↑ "Grosso misses out for Italy". Sky Sports. May 18, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
    44. ↑ "Pronta la squadra azzurra: ecco la lista dei 23 per il Mondiale". FIGC (in Italian). June 1, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
    45. ↑ "Giuseppe Rossi to captain Italy". November 17, 2010.
    46. ↑ "Nazionale, torna Giuseppe Rossi. Per Danimarca e Armenia anche Balzaretti e Balotelli". repubblica.it (in Italian). La Repubblica. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
    47. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Striker Giuseppe Rossi in Italy's provisional squad". BBC. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
    48. ↑ "Italy World Cup squad: Giuseppe Rossi ‘saddened and disappointed’ by snub". The Guardian. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
    49. ↑ Stefan Coerts (4 July 2011). "Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi could be the heir to Juventus' Alessandro Del Piero - agent". Goal.com. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
    50. ↑ http://www.giusepperossi.azplayers.com/biography.html
    51. ↑ Giuseppe Rossi
    52. ↑ Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi to decide future next week as Barcelona transfer talk intensifies - Goal.com
    53. ↑ Best forward left - why Giuseppe Rossi is the right man for Barcelona - Goal.com
    54. ↑ "After 2 years of injuries and 3 surgeries, Giuseppe Rossi relishing return to Italy's roster". Fox News Sports. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
    55. ↑ "Giuseppe Rossi". ESPN FC.
    56. ↑ "Giuseppe Rossi". UEFA.
    57. ↑ Giuseppe Rossi at National-Football-Teams.com
    58. ↑ Bostock, Adam (May 4, 2010). "Award joy for Keane". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). Retrieved July 11, 2011.
    59. ↑ Bostock, Adam (May 4, 2010). "De Laet's delight". ManUtd.com (Manchester United). Retrieved July 11, 2011.
    60. ↑ "Argentina's Midas touch". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
    61. ↑ "Pallone d'argento a Giuseppe Rossi durante Fiorentina vs Torino". libero.it (in Italian). Retrieved 21 January 2015.

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