Fabio Firmani
 Firmani as a Lazio player |
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | May 26, 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Lodigiani | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1995–1996 | Lodigiani | 20 | (0) |
| 1996–2001 | Vicenza | 70 | (2) |
| 1998–1999 | → Reggina (loan) | 27 | (1) |
| 2001–2003 | Chievo | 1 | (0) |
| 2002 | → Bologna (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | → Venezia (loan) | 21 | (1) |
| 2003–2005 | Catania | 39 | (0) |
| 2005–2011 | Lazio | 37 | (3) |
| 2009 | → Al Wasl (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2011 | Shaanxi Chanba | 18 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 1999–2000 | Italy U21 | 10 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 March 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
|||
Fabio Firmani (born 26 May 1978 in Rome) is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder.
Contents |
[edit] Club career
Firmani began his career in Rome with A.S. Lodigiani in 1995–96, moving the following season to Vicenza Calcio. He remained at the club for seven years, making made his Serie A debut on 26 January 1997, in a 3–2 home win against ACF Fiorentina, going on to collect 70 league appearances. He also scored in the quarterfinals of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup against Dutch outfit Roda JC, in a 9–1 aggregate routing.
During his time in Veneto, Firmani headed south for a year, spending 1998–99 on loan at Reggina Calcio, splitting the 2001–02 season with A.C. ChievoVerona (co-ownership with Vicenza) and Bologna F.C. 1909. After spending the 2002–03 campaign in the Serie B with S.S.C. Venezia, he was finally released and joined Calcio Catania, helping them to two Serie B mid-table positions.
The following year, Firmani signed with hometown club S.S. Lazio, replacing Juventus FC-bound Giuliano Giannichedda. He made a good start to his career in the capital, but suffered a serious injury in November 2005, causing him to miss to rest of the season.
On 25 November 2007, Firmani scored his first goal for the Biancocelesti against Parma F.C. at the Stadio Olimpico, in a 1–0 victory.[1] The goal, which was scored in the 90th minute, came only a week after the death of his good friend Gabriele Sandri, who was shot by a policeman, and Firmani's celebration with fans in Curva Nord earnt him the fans recognition. Due to injuries, Firmani only managed seven appearances for the season, yet scored three goals, the other two coming against U.S. Città di Palermo and S.S.C. Napoli.
Firmani's horror streak with injuries continued throughout the next season and he due to various injuries, he did not make a league appearance in 2008–09. He did however, receive a red card during the 1–4 home loss to Cagliari Calcio, when he reacted to an incident involving Cagliari midfielder Daniele Conti, son of A.S. Roma legend Bruno, and Goran Pandev.[2] He received adulation and support from the Lazio fans following the incident, due to the insipid nature of the team's performance. A popular message was then adopted by the Lazio faithful, noi vogliamo undici Firmani (we want eleven Firmanis).
Just days after his red card against Cagliari, Firmani was requested by Lazio to accept a loan move that would help him get back to shape and return to Rome with the aim to return to his usual first team position. The club suggested some Saudi teams, but the player instead requested he joined Al Wasl FC in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.[3] Lazio accepted and he joined the club until the end of the season.[4]
Firmani returned to Lazio in July 2009, starting preseason training in the northern town of Auronzo di Cadore, trying to earn himself a place in new coach Davide Ballardini's team. In February 2011, after being released by the club upon his request, the 33-year old joined Chinese Super League outfit Shaanxi Chanba FC.[5]
[edit] International career
Firmani was never called-up to the Italian national team, but collected 10 caps for the under-21 side, scoring once.
He was a member of the side which won the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, and also played Olympic football in the same year, in Sydney.
[edit] References
- ^ Firmani thrilled to end Lazio drought; UEFA.com, 26 November 2007
- ^ "Il Cagliari gioca la partita perfetta 4–1 in casa di un'incredibile Lazio [Cagliari plays perfect match, 4–1 in home of incredible Lazio]" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 26 January 2009. http://www.repubblica.it/2009/01/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata-20/lazio-cagliari/lazio-cagliari.html. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
- ^ "Firmani, la Lazio: "Rispettata la sua volontá" [Firmani, Lazio: "His wish has been granted"]" (in Italian). Tutto Mercato. 5 February 2009. http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=139844. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
- ^ "Italian player to move to the UAE League" (in Arabic). Al Saha. 5 February 2009. http://www.alsaha.com/sahat/7/topics/250034. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
- ^ China/Shaanxi, Firmani is coming; Football Press; 13 February 2011
[edit] External links
- Lazio official profile (Italian)
- Stats at Tutto Calciatori (Italian)
- National team data (Italian)
- Gazzetta dello Sport profile (Italian)
- ESPN Soccernet stats
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
- 1978 births
- Living people
- People from Rome
- Italian footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Serie A footballers
- Serie B footballers
- Vicenza Calcio players
- A.C. ChievoVerona players
- Bologna F.C. 1909 players
- F.B.C. Unione Venezia players
- Calcio Catania players
- S.S. Lazio players
- Al Wasl FC players
- Xian Chanba players
- Italy under-21 international footballers
- Olympic footballers of Italy
- Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- Italian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in the United Arab Emirates
- Expatriate footballers in China
- Italian expatriates in China
