Fabiano Santacroce

Fabiano Santacroce (born 24 August 1986) is an Italian professional footballer. He plays as a defender in the centre or on the left. He was born in Brazil to an Italian father and an Afro-Brazilian mother, then spending his childhood in the Lombard town of Casatenovo, in Northern Italy. At international level, he has represented the Italy national under-21 football team.

Fabiano Santacroce
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-08-24) 24 August 1986
Place of birth Camaçari, Brazil
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2000–2004 Como
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Como 13 (0)
2005–2008 Brescia 43 (3)
2008–2011 Napoli 55 (0)
2011–2015 Parma 35 (0)
2013–2014 → Padova (loan) 20 (0)
2015–2016 Ternana 2 (0)
2017 Juve Stabia 10 (0)
2018–2019 Cuneo 30 (0)
2019–2020 Virtus Verona 7 (0)
National team
2007–2009 Italy U-21 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 February 2020

Club career

Como

Santacroce was a youth product of Calcio Como SpA. He finished as the losing side in the round 16 of 2004 Primavera Reserve League.[1][2] He was in the starting lineup alongside future Serie A players Marco Parolo, Giuseppe Greco and Daniele Padelli.

Parolo and Santacroce were promoted to Como first team in 2004, as the club had faced financial difficulties as well as relegation from Serie B in 2004. Santacroce remained with the club in the whole 2004–05 Serie C1 despite they were declared bankrupt on 22 December 2004.[3] Santacroce was in the starting XI in Como's relegation "play-out",[4][5] which the playoffs matches Como losing to Novara in 1–2 aggregate. Como folded at the end season as a takeover bid was denied.

Brescia

Santacroce moved to Brescia as a free agent and played for their Primavera team before making his first team debut for the rondinelle in a Serie B game on 23 April 2006, against Cesena. He played at Brescia from 2005 to 2007, also ensuring a place in the Italian U-21 team due to his impressive performances with the Lombardian side.

Napoli

During the January 2008 transfer window, Serie A club Napoli completed the signing of Santacroce in a permanent move, for €5.5 million,[6] becoming the third Brescia player to join the azzurri that year, the other two being Marek Hamšík and Daniele Mannini. He quickly established himself into Napoli's regular lineup, forming a valid defense duo with team captain Paolo Cannavaro, and playing very well throughout the remainder of the season. Santacroce has been described by a number of people in Italy, including Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, as the "new Alessandro Nesta"[7] That half season he started 13 times as well as 27 times in 2008–09 Serie A. However, after the arrival of Hugo Campagnaro, Walter Mazzarri started to fix its 3-men defense to Salvatore Aronica, Campagnaro and Cannavaro.

Parma

At the start of 2011–12 Serie A, Napoli sent Manuele Blasi and Santacroce to Parma as part of the compensation of signing Blerim Džemaili (€9 million).[8][9] Santacroce went on loan for €100,000.[10] He was largely used as a back-up central defender and made 12 league appearances, which was enough to secure him a move to Parma in a co-ownership deal for €900,000 in 4-year contract in July 2012.[11][12] Santacroce wore no.13 shirt that season,[13] changing from no.33.[14]

Following the 2012–13 Serie A season, the remaining half of Santacroce's ownership was purchased from Napoli by Parma for free.[11] The club now owns him outright. On 6 August 2013 Santacroce left for Padova in a temporary deal.[15] Santacroce was given no.3 shirt of the first team.[16]

Ternana and Juve Stabia

On 1 February 2016 the last day of the transfer market goes in Serie B with Ternana, signing a contract until June with the option for the following season. Collect only two appearances and 30 June is released from the umbrian club. The 19 January 2017 is made official its acquisition by Juve Stabia.[17]

Virtus Verona

On 17 August 2019, he signed a one-year contract with Virtus Verona.[18]

International career
"We live in intolerant times. If the presence of Santacroce with the national team sends a message against racism, I am happy about that."

The Italy manager, Marcello Lippi, on calling up Santacroce.[19]

Santacroce has been a member of the Italy U-21 national team from 2007 to 2009.

In 2008–09, Santacroce was confirmed as a Napoli regular, and his performances were quickly noted by new Italy head coach Marcello Lippi, who on 5 October 2008 called him to join the azzurri squad for the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualification matches against Bulgaria and Montenegro.[20] However, he was an unused substitute during these matches, and is yet to make his senior international debut.[19] Santacroce dedicated his first senior call-up to his former Como youth team coach Stefano Borgonovo, who is battling Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.[21]

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate up until 16 May 2012

Season Team League Domestic cup European Total
Division Games Goals Competition Games Goals Competition Games Goals Games Goals
2004–05ComoC1130CIC00–––130
Total Como13000––130
2005–06BresciaB20CI00–––20
2006–07B252CI10–––262
2007–08B161CI10–––171
Total Brescia43320––453
2007–08NapoliA130CI00–––130
2008–09A270CI10CU20300
2009–10A40CI10–––50
2010–11A110CI10EL20140
Total Napoli5503040620
2011–12ParmaA120CI10–––130
Total123360401333

References
  1. "PRIMAVERA: COMO-INTER 0-3" (in Italian). FC Internazionale Milano. 8 May 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. "PRIMAVERA: INTER-COMO 3-0" (in Italian). FC Internazionale Milano. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. "Ecco come salverò il Como". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 29 December 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. "Novara di rigore, Como spacciato". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 30 May 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  5. "Al Novara basta la difesa, Como all' inferno". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 6 June 2005. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  6. SSC Napoli Report and Accounts on 30 June 2008 (in Italian), Require purchase in CCIAA
  7. Goal.com – Editorial – Calcio Debate: Fabiano Santacroce – The ‘New Alessandro Nesta’?
  8. "Dzemaili al Napoli, Blasi e Santacroce al Parma. Grava in azzurro per un'altra stagione" [Dzemailito Napoli, Blasi & Santacroce to Parma. Grava in azzurrofor another season]. SSC Napoli (in Italian). 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  9. Parma FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2011 (in Italian)
  10. Parma FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2012 (in Italian)
  11. Parma FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 (in Italian)
  12. "UFFICIALE: riscattata la metà di Santacroce" [OFFICIAL: half of Santacroce taken]. Sportsbook24. Sportsbook24.net. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013.
  13. "Coumnicato Stampa N°8 (2012–13)" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  14. "Coumnicato Stampa N°6 (2011–12)" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 20 August 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  15. "Fabiano Santacroce a titolo temporaneo al Padova" (in Italian). Parma FC. 6 August 2013. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  16. "Numeri di maglia, la lista completa dei nuovi arrivi e i cambi di alcune casacche" (in Italian). Calcio Padova. 11 August 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  17. "Fabiano Santacroce è un calciatore della Juve Stabia" (Press release) (in Italian). S.S. Juve Stabia. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  18. "ECCO FABIANO SANTACROCE" (Press release) (in Italian). Virtus Verona. 17 August 2019.
  19. "Italy drop Alessandro del Piero, Gianluigi Buffon and Mauro Camoranesi out injured". Daily Telegraph. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  20. "Rossi handed Italian call-up". SKY Sports. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  21. "Santacroce, dedica a Borgonovo" (in Italian). Yahoo! Eurosport Italia. 6 October 2008. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
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