Sebastian Giovinco
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 4+1⁄2 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Juventus | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 7 2008 | |||
Sebastian Giovinco (born January 26, 1987 in Turin) is an Italian footballer who is currently playing for Serie A club Juventus. Giovinco plays as an attacking midfielder with noted dribbling and play-making skills.[1]
Despite his short stature and only being in the early stages of his footballing career, Giovinco is today considered one of the most promising Italian youngsters.[3]
Biography
Early life
Giovinco was born in Turin to Southern Italy immigrant parents; his mother is from Catanzaro, Calabria while his father is from Palermo, Sicily.[4] He grew up highly interested in football and impressed Juventus who brought him into their youth system in 2001.
Seba (as he is commonly known) was just 14 year old when he first joined the Juventus youth system. He rose through the youth system ranks of the club, impressing by winning the Campionato Primavera with the bianconeri during the 2005–06 campaign.
Club career
He was successively integrated into the Juventus first team and made his debut on May 12, 2007 in a Serie B league match against Bologna, entering in as a substitute in place of Raffaele Palladino, and promptly marking his debut with a splendid assist for Trezeguet's tap-in.
On July 4, 2007 he was loaned out to Empoli, a Tuscan Serie A team that will take also part in the UEFA Cup 2007–08. Giovinco scored his first Serie A goal on September 30, 2007 when Empoli beat Palermo 3–1. The goal would eventually become the game winner.
Giovinco caused large media interest when he scored his second goal a few weeks later, on November 4. The goal was an equalizer in the last minute against Roma, it was a long distance curling free kick from the right wing, a goal which was compared to Ronaldinho's goal against England in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.".[5]
On June 25 it was announced that Giovinco would return to Juventus for the 2008/2009 campaign.
International career
Giovinco has represented Italy at every youth level from under-16s upwards. He was called up to Italy U-21 by head coach Pierluigi Casiraghi, on June 1, 2007 to make his first appearance at that level in a qualification match against Albania.[6] He gave the assist for Aquafresca who scored. Italy U-21 won the match 0–1.
He also starred at the 2008 Toulon Tournament, where he was voted most valuable player, scoring two goals in the opening game against the Ivory Coast,[7] and netting the winning penalty in the semifinal match against Japan.[8] Italy ultimately won the competition, defeating Chile 1–0 in the final.
Giovinco is currently appearing in the 2008 Olympic Games for the Italian team. He scored the first goal in a 3–0 win to Honduras in the first match of the competition.
Honours
Club
- 2005–06 Torneo di Viareggio (Juventus)
- 2006–07 Serie B (Juventus)
International
- 2008 International Tournament of Toulon (Italy U-21)
References
- ^ a b "Sebastian GIOVINCO" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g "GIOVINCO SEBASTIAN" (in Italian). FIGC.it. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
- ^ "Sebastian Giovinco: Sebastian's way". Football Italia. 2007-04-01. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Sebastian Giovinco Complete Interview". J1897.com. 2007-04-01. Retrieved 2007-09-15.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Giovinco Wonder Goal Denies Roma". Goal.com. 2007-11-04. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ^ "U.21: Italia-Albania, 21 convocati" (in Italian). RAI Sport. 2007-05-25. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
- ^ http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may21r.html
- ^ http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may28b.html
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