Giuseppe Abruzzese

Giuseppe Abruzzese
Personal information
Date of birth	17 May 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth	Andria, Italy
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Central Defender, Left back
Team information
Current team	Audace Cerignola
Youth career
000?–1999	Fidelis Andria
Senior career*
Years	Team
1999–2002	Fidelis Andria
1999–2000	→ Tricase (loan)
2002–2007	Lecce
2006	→ Avellino (loan)
2006–2007	→ Triestina (loan)
2007–2009	Grosseto
2009–2014	Crotone
2014–2016	Lecce
2016–2018	Virtus Francavilla
2018	Fidelis Andria
2018–	Audace Cerignola
International career
2003	Italy U21 Serie B
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 October 2018

Giusepe Abruzzese (born 17 May 1981) is a former Italian footballer who played as a defender for Audace Cerignola.

Biography

Andria

Born in Andria, the Province of Bari, Abruzzese started his career at hometown club Fidelis Andria. Abruzzese made his professional debut on 17 January 1999, started the match against Torino, which the team lost 0–2 in the away match of Serie B.^[1] The team relegated at the end of season, and Abruzzese was loaned from Serie C1 to Serie C2 side Tricase. On 1 July 2000 Abruzzese returned to Andria but tasted relegation again, this time to Serie C2 at the end of 2000–01 Serie C1 season.

Lecce

In July 2002, he left for Serie B side Lecce in co-ownership deal for undisclosed fee. Andria also signed Stefano Morello and Carmine Nuzzaci as part of the deal for undisclosed fees.^[2] In the first season, he played 26 Serie B matches and was selected to Italy under-21 Serie B representative team and won Belgium U21 2–1.^[3] Lecce finished as the third and promoted to Serie A.

Abruzzese made his Serie A debut on 31 August 2003 against Lazio, the opening match of 2003–04 Serie A. He made 26 league appearances that season.

In the next season he lost his place both in starting line-up and often as unused substitute, under new coach Zdeněk Zeman who replaced Delio Rossi. After playing 5 league matches for Lecce in 2005–06 Serie A season (all due to the absence of Erminio Rullo), he left for Serie B struggler Avellino in January 2006.^[4]

In 2006–07 Serie B season, he left on loan to fellow Serie B team Triestina near the end of transfer window.^[5] He started 24 times for the Serie B struggler.

Grosseto

In July 2007, he was signed by Serie B newcomer Grosseto,^{[citation needed]} which he immediately secured a place in starting line-up. Grosseto finished in the mid-table that season and entered the promotion playoffs in next season, which lost to Livorno in the first round/semi-final. Livorno eventually the playoffs winner.

Crotone

In August 2009, he was signed by Serie B newcomer Crotone.^[6] The team made a break through which finished at the 8th (Deducted 1 point, if included, finished the 7th, ahead Grosseto by head to head), just few points away to qualify for the promotion playoffs (the 3rd to the 6th place).

References

^ "Match Report". Panini Digiatal (in Italian). (Published by Lega Calcio). 17 January 1999. Retrieved 18 August 2010.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Di Rosa, Angelo (10 July 2002). "Il Palermo a Zamparini". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 18 August 2010.
^ Lulli, Sandro (13 February 2003). "Baù, Budel e Antonini, il trio Milan batte il Belgio". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 18 August 2010.
^ Bertozzi, Giorgia; Binda, Nicola (24 December 2005). "Atalanta argentina: preso Osvaldo". La Gazzeeta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 19 August 2010.
^ Calvi, Giuseppe; Grimaldi, Filippo (27 August 2006). "Croce ad Arezzo Viali al Vicenza Abruzzese a Trieste". La Gazzeeta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 19 August 2010.
^ "ESCLUSIVA TMW – Crotone, è fatta per Abruzzese". Tutto Mercato Web (in Italian). 19 August 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2010.