Riccardo Montolivo

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Riccardo Montolivo
Riccardo Montolivo press conference (4).jpg
Montolivo pictured in 2012
Personal information
Full name Riccardo Montolivo[1]
Date of birth (1985-01-18) 18 January 1985 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth Caravaggio, Italy
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)[3]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Milan
Number 18
Youth career
1992–2003 Atalanta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2003–2005 Atalanta 73 (7)
2005–2012 Fiorentina 219 (17)
2012– Milan 32 (4)
National team‡
2001 Italy U16 8 (0)
2003 Italy U18 2 (0)
2004 Italy U19 4 (1)
2004–2008 Italy U21 20 (3)
2007– Italy 43 (2)
2008 Italy Olympic 4 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:54, 19 May 2013 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:42, 27 March 2013 (UTC)

Riccardo Montolivo (Italian pronunciation: [rikˈkardo montoˈlivo]; born 18 January 1985) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Milan. He has played in Serie A for Atalanta, Fiorentina and his current club. An Italian international, Montolivo has represented his country at several major tournaments, such as the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA European Football Championship and the Olympic Games.

A versatile player capable of playing anywhere in midfield,[4] Montolivo's two main roles are as a deep-lying playmaker (regista) and an attacking midfielder (trequartista), which best utilise his technical ability, creativity and range of passing.[5]

Contents

Club career [edit]

Atalanta [edit]

Montolivo began his career in Serie B with Atalanta. At the age of 18, he made his debut during the 2003–04 season. He played 41 matches and scored four goals, helping Atalanta gain promotion to Serie A.[3] In his first season in Serie A, he played 32 times and scored three goals.[3][6] However, his efforts were in vain as Atalanta were relegated back down to Serie B.

Fiorentina [edit]

Montolivo playing for Fiorentina in 2011
Montolivo taking a corner kick in 2008

Montolivo moved to Fiorentina in the summer of 2005. Initially Atalanta retained part-ownership of the player but the following summer they relinquished that option as Fiorentina took full ownership.[7]

During the 2005–06 season Montolivo's first-team chances were limited, partly due to the fact that he was still an inexperienced player and partly because manager Cesare Prandelli had a relatively stable and reliable squad of players at his disposal.[8] The young man's talents did not go unrecognised though. He became a fixture in Italy's Under-21 team, coached by Pierluigi Casiraghi.[8]

The 2007–08 season started well for the Viola midfielder: in the first match day he was as one of the best on the field against Empoli, against which he also scored a splendid goal from a lob.[9] The season follows between ups and downs, but Montolivo confirms himself during the course of the championship as one of the best talents in Italian football.

In early 2010, due to the departures of then-captain Dario Dainelli and vice-captain Martin Jørgensen, Montolivo was appointed captain of the Tuscany-based club. At the end of the 2010–11, Montolivo refused to sign a contract extension, which had a year remaining.[10]

Milan [edit]

Montolivo with Kevin-Prince Boateng in 2012

In May 2012, Milan head coach Massimiliano Allegri announced that Montolivo would join the club on a free transfer when his contract with Fiorentina expired on 30 June.[10][11]

"Next season Montolivo will arrive and he is a very talented player with great technique," said Allegri to Milan Channel.[10][12]

Montolivo was highly praised for his performance in the derby against Internazionale on 7 October 2012. Also in this game the referee discarded a stunning 30-yard volley by Montolivo due to a challenge committed by Emanuelson.[13]

On 30 October 2012, Montolivo scored his first goal with A.C. Milan in the 69th minute after Milan were down 2–0 to Palermo by the 47th minute after half-time in the 10th round of 2012–13 Serie A. A.C. Milan drew the match 2–2.[14]

On 25 November 2012, vs Juventus (match won 1–0 by Milan), as Bonera and Ambrosini were suspended and Abbiati was injured, he played his first match as Milan's captain, a few days before this, the club's owner Silvio Berlusconi visited Milanello, and him and the players decided that the captain band will be given either to Montolivo or to the 36-year old Colombian captain Mario Yepes.

International career [edit]

Montolivo tackling Spain's Xavi in the UEFA Euro 2012 Final

Montolivo represented Italy at under-16, under-18, under-19, under-21 levels before receiving his first cap for the national team in 2007.[15]

Montolivo scored the winning goal when Italy's under-21 team defeated Spain 2–1 and qualified for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship on 10 October 2006. Seven days later, he made his debut for the senior team in a 2–0 friendly win against South Africa.[15][16][17] He was included in Italy's provisional squad for Euro 2008 by head coach Roberto Donadoni, however, he was omitted from the final squad of 23 players.

In 2008, Pierluigi Casiraghi called-up Montolivo to participate in the Olympic Games in Beijing. He scored one goal in four appearances as Italy were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Belgium.[15] After playing a bit-part role at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, Montolivo was included in Italy's 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[1]

He started all three games at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, partnering Daniele De Rossi as a replacement for the injured Andrea Pirlo.[15]

Montolivo scored his first senior international goal in a 2–1 friendly win against Spain in Bari.[18] Montolivo made four appearances at Euro 2012 as Italy progressed to the final, where they lost 4–0 to Spain.

International goals [edit]

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 10 August 2011 Stadio San Nicola, Bari  Spain 1–0 2–1 Friendly
2. 16 October 2012 San Siro, Milan  Denmark 1–0 3–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Career statistics [edit]

Club [edit]

As of match played on 19 May 2013.[2]
Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atalanta 2003–04 Serie B 41 4 1 0 — — 42 4
2004–05 Serie A 32 3 6 0 — — 38 3
2005–06 Serie B 0 0 2 0 — — 2 0
Fiorentina 2005–06 Serie A 20 1 2 0 — — 22 1
2006–07 Serie A 36 2 0 0 — — 36 2
2007–08 Serie A 34 2 2 0 11[a] 1 47 3
2008–09 Serie A 34 4 0 0 8[b] 0 42 4
2009–10 Serie A 36 2 4 0 10[c] 1 50 3
2010–11 Serie A 29 2 0 0 — — 29 2
2011–12 Serie A 30 4 3 0 — — 33 4
Milan 2012–13 Serie A 32 4 1 0 6[c] 0 39 4
Totals 324 28 21 0 35 2 380 30
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ 6 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 2 in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International [edit]

As of match played on 26 March 2013.[16]
Montolivo playing for Italy
Italy national team
Year Apps Goals
2007 1 0
2008 2 0
2009 8 0
2010 8 0
2011 12 1
2012 9 1
2013 3 0
Totals 43 2

Personal life [edit]

Montolivo at a press conference

Montolivo was born to a German mother and an Italian father.[19]

In addition to holding a German passport; Montolivo also holds an Italian passport – his mother is from Ascheberg and his grandparents are from Heidkate in Kieler Förde, Germany on the Baltic Sea coast, where Montolivo spent all of his summers as a youth.[19]

Montolivo speaks fluent German and has publicly stated that he is an atheist.[19]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 1 July 2012. 
  2. ^ a b "Riccardo Montolivo" (in Italian). A.C. Milan. Retrieved 3 March 2013. 
  3. ^ a b c "R. Montolivo". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
  4. ^ "Montolivo: "Italia-Germania per me è partita speciale"". Tuttosport (in Italian). 26 June 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012. 
  5. ^ Schlewitz, Kirsten (30 June 2012). "Riccardo Montolivo: Finding His Place In Italy's Squad". SB Nation. Retrieved 5 September 2012. 
  6. ^ "Scheda anagrafica di Riccardo Montolivo" (in Italian). AIC. Retrieved 19 April 2012. 
  7. ^ "Official: AC Milan sign Riccardo Montolivo & Bakaye Traore". Goal.com. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  8. ^ a b "Riccardo Montolivo – Profile". UEFA. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  9. ^ "Riccardo Montolivo – Azzurri profile". i-azzurri.com. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  10. ^ a b c "Milan confirm Montolivo deal". Football Italia. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012. 
  11. ^ "Montolivo to join Milan as Van Bommel departs". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2012. 
  12. ^ Matthews, Luke (12 May 2012). "AC Milan coach Allegri confirms signing of Montolivo for 2012–13 season". Goal.com. Retrieved 12 May 2012. 
  13. ^ Edwards, Daniel (7 October 2012). "AC Milan 0–1 Inter: Samuel header secures derby spoils for 10-man Nerazzurri". Goal.com. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  14. ^ "Palermo 2 vs 2 AC Milan – Match report". Goal.com. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  15. ^ a b c d "Convocazioni e presenze in campo – Riccardo Montolivo" (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 3 March 2013. 
  16. ^ a b "Riccardo Montolivo". National Football Teams. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
  17. ^ Saaid, Hamdan (18 April 2008). "International Friendly Matches 2007". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 August 2011. 
  18. ^ Martin, Andy (10 August 2011). "Fernando Torres of Chelsea suffers concussion in Spain defeat by Italy". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2011. 
  19. ^ a b c "Montolivo intervistato dal Guerino: "Florenz-Star im Porträt – Riccardo Montolivo: Auf Gerrards Spuren"" (in German). Spox. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2012. 

External links [edit]

A.C. Milan – current squad

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