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
Celta
(on loan from Fiorentina)
Number 25
Youth career
1996–1999 Clifton Stallions
2000–2004 Parma
2004 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Manchester United 5 (1)
2006Newcastle United (loan) 11 (0)
2007Parma (loan) 19 (9)
2007–2013 Villarreal 136 (54)
2013– Fiorentina 33 (16)
2016Levante (loan) 17 (6)
2016–Celta (loan) 6 (1)
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 10 October 2016.

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

Giuseppe Rossi (Italian pronunciation: [dʒuˈzɛppe ˈrossi]; born 1 February 1987) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club Celta de Vigo on loan from Fiorentina and the Italy 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, he is Italy's all-time top scorer in the FIFA Confederations Cup, with 2 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] On 8 May, he scored a late winner in a 2–1 home win over title contenders Atlético Madrid, although the result was not sufficient to prevent the team from being relegated.[40]

Celta (loan)

On 29 August 2016, Rossi signed a one-year contract with Celta de Vigo, with an option for another year.[41] He scored his first goal for the club on his debut, which came in a 1–1 away draw against Standard Liège in Celta's opening group match of the Europa League.[42] He made his league debut with the club on 18 September, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 away draw against Osasuna.[43]

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.[44] 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.[45] 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.[46] He also scored two goals in a 3–1 against his country of birth, the United States, in Italy's opening match of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa on 15 June 2009,[47] although Italy subsequently lost their next two matches a suffered a first-round elimination.[48]

Rossi was in Lippi's provisional 28-man 2010 FIFA World Cup squad announced in May,[49] but failed to make the cut for final 23-man squad.[50]

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.[51]

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.[52] On 13 May 2014, Rossi was named in Italy's provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup,[53] however on 1 June, it was announced that Rossi had not made the final 23-man World Cup squad.[54]

On 24 May 2016, Prandelli's successor as Italy's manager, Antonio Conte, released his 30-man shortlist for UEFA Euro 2016 roster; Rossi was not selected.[55]

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 work-rate and movement off the ball. His playing style has often been compared to that of compatriot Alessandro Del Piero, due to his acceleration, strong technical skills, range of passing, dribbling talents, and his ability to either score goals or pick out a pass and create chances for team-mates;[56] he has also been compared to his namesake, 1982 World Cup-winning striker Paolo Rossi, due to his opportunism, pace, agility, and eye for goal.[4] Giuseppe Rossi is known for his ability to both finish off chances and link-up well with midfielders; due to his abilities, 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.[57][58][59][60] Despite his talent, skill, and goalscoring ability, Rossi's playing time has been limited in recent seasons due to several recurring injury problems.[61]

Statistics

Club

As of 8 May 2016.[62][63]
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 1100021131
Parma (loan) 2006–07 199001[lower-alpha 2]0209
Villarreal 2007–08 2711525[lower-alpha 2]03713
2008–09 3012108[lower-alpha 1]33915
2009–10 3410428[lower-alpha 3]54617
2010–11 36185315[lower-alpha 3]115632
2011–12 93005[lower-alpha 1]2145
Total 13654157412119282
Fiorentina 2012–13 100010
2013–14 2116102[lower-alpha 3]12417
2015–16 110104[lower-alpha 3]2162
Total 331620634119
Levante (loan) 2015–16 1760000176
Career total 21885199725024294120
  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. [64]
    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

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