Marco Ambrosio

Marco Ambrosio (30 May 1973 in Brescia) is a former Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Ambrosio played for multiple teams in the Italian leagues from 1991 until his retirement in 2009 (most notably with Serie A sides Atalanta, Sampdoria and Chievo), but also had brief spells in England with Chelsea, and in Switzerland with Grasshopper. He made two appearances for his country's under-21 side during the 1993–94 season, but never made an appearance for the full national side.

Marco Ambrosio
Personal information
Full name Marco Ambrosio
Date of birth (1973-05-30) 30 May 1973
Place of birth Brescia, Italy
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1992 Lumezzane 2 (0)
1992–1993 Atalanta 0 (0)
1993–1994 → Pisa (loan) 9 (0)
1994–1995 Prato (co-ownership) 15 (0)
1995–1996 → Ravenna (loan) 10 (0)
1996–1997 Prato 34 (0)
1997–1999 Sampdoria 10 (0)
1999–2001 Lucchese 46 (0)
2001–2003 Chievo 10 (0)
2003–2004 Chelsea 8 (0)
2004 Grasshopper 14 (0)
2005–2006 Salernitana 55 (0)
2006–2007 Brescia 2 (0)
2007–2009 Reggiana 56 (0)
2009 FeralpiSalò 17 (0)
Total 288 (0)
National team
1993–1994 Italy U21 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

A Decade in Italy

The early years of Ambrosio's career were relatively undistinguished, and saw him play for a succession of minor Italian clubs, such as Lumezzane (Serie D), Atalanta B.C. (youth), Pisa (Serie B), A.C. Prato (Serie C1) and Ravenna (Serie C1). Whilst playing for Pisa, he made two appearances for Italy's under-21 team.[2] He also had a stint with U.C. Sampdoria in Serie A. He made his Serie A debut on 2 November 1997, Sampdoria lost 0–3 at home to A.C. Milan. In total, he played 10 Serie A games for the Genoese team, as second goalkeeper behind Fabrizio Ferron.

After Sampdoria were relegated to Serie B, Ambrosio was sold to Serie C1 team Lucchese in the summer of 1999, where he spent two seasons. In summer 2001 he was signed by newly promoted Serie A team Chievo, where he made another 10 Serie A appearances as second-choice goalkeeper behind Cristiano Lupatelli.

Chelsea

In June 2003 he was signed for Chelsea on a free transfer by Italian manager Claudio Ranieri.[3]

Ambrosio was signed to be goalkeeping understudy to Carlo Cudicini alongside fellow new-acquisition Jurgen Macho, and so found his playing opportunities limited at Stamford Bridge. Shortly after joining the club Macho picked up a serious knee injury and Chelsea subsequently signed Neil Sullivan, meaning Ambrosio would now compete with Sullivan while providing back up to Cudicini.[4][5] His cause was not helped by an unlucky debut in the League Cup against Notts County, in which he made a series of errors.[6] His second appearance, against Bolton Wanderers, proved far more assured as he made a string of impressive saves to secure a crucial 2–0 win for his side.[7] That, together with injuries to all Chelsea's other goalkeepers, earned him a run in the side. His most significant contribution came in the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal when his saves helped Chelsea to a 2–1 victory at Highbury.[8]

However, he lost his place in the side to the fit-again Cudicini towards the end of the season and with the signing of another new goalkeeper Petr Čech, he was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer in August 2004.

Spell in Switzerland and return to Italy

Ambrosio moved to Swiss side Grasshopper Club Zürich[9] shortly after leaving Chelsea. He later signed for Italian team Salernitana of Serie B on 5 January 2005, replacing Alex Brunner, who left for Cagliari Calcio, and competed with former starter Domenico Botticella.

Ambrosio remained with the team as they were relegated to Serie C1 and competed with former Chievo teammate Gioacchino Cavaliere for a starting spot.

On 21 July 2006, he was signed by Brescia.

In summer 2007, he joined Reggiana of Serie C2.

In September 2009, he signed with FeralpiSalò. Later that year, Ambrosio retired from football.[10]

References
  1. "Marco Ambrosio – Careers – seasons, attendance, goal". TuttoCalciatori.Net. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. "Marco Ambrosio". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  3. "Ambrosio revels in Chelsea move". UEFA.com. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 3 April 2008.
  4. "Macho suffers knee injury". BBC. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  5. "Chelsea sign Sullivan". BBC. 29 August 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  6. "Chelsea 4–2 Notts County". BBC. 29 October 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  7. "Bolton 0–2 Chelsea". BBC. 13 March 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  8. "Arsenal 1–2 Chelsea". BBC. 6 April 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  9. "Grasshoppers chance for Ambrosio". UEFA.com. 11 August 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2008.
  10. "The House That Ranieri Built Pt 1: This Ones For 'Keeps". Blue Tinted. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
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