Andrea Cossu (born 1980)
Encyclopedia
Andrea Cossu is an Italian
footballer who plays in the in the role of an attacking midfielder, for Cagliari Calcio
.
. In 1997 he joined Verona
, where he spent the first two years as a member of the under-19 youth team. In January 1999 he was loaned out to Serie C1
side Lumezzane
; the loan move was then later repeated for two more years, in January 2000 and November 2000. In January 2002 he was loaned out for a fourth time, this time to Sassari Torres, and he finally made his debut in a Verona jersey during the 2002–03 season in the Serie B
league.
In 2005 he left Verona to join Cagliari
, where he had the chance to make his Serie A
debut, where he made 22 appearances, mostly as a substitute, and no goals. He returned to Verona on 31 August 2006, this time with little success, and was transferred again to Cagliari on 29 January 2008 in free transfer. In his second stint at Cagliari, Cossu's level of performances quickly rose up, and he became one of the team protagonists in a well-remembered escape from relegation during the 2007–08 season under head coach Davide Ballardini
, who changed the then-winger to a playmaker role behind young strikers Alessandro Matri
and Robert Acquafresca
. He kept a high level of performances also during the two successful seasons under new boss Massimiliano Allegri, being often picked as one of the key players for Cagliari.
for a friendly game versus Cameroon
, making him the first Sardinian call-up after local legend Gianfranco Zola
. Cossu played the game, held on March 3, 2010, as a starter: the match ended in a 0–0 draw.
He was in Lippi's 28-men provisional 2010 FIFA World Cup
squad, but was not included in the 23-men final squad on 1 June.
But after the injuries of Mauro Camoranesi
and Andrea Pirlo
, he was named as an additional 24th standby player and was featured in the starting lineup in the last friendly game before the World Cup kick-off, against Switzerland
on 5 June.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
footballer who plays in the in the role of an attacking midfielder, for Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
.
Club career
Cossu made his professional debut in 1996 with Sardinian side OlbiaOlbia Calcio
U.S. Olbia 1905 is an Italian association football club, based in Olbia, Sardinia. The club was founded in 1905. Olbia currently plays in Eccellenza...
. In 1997 he joined Verona
Hellas Verona F.C.
Hellas Verona Football Club is a professional Italian association football team, based in Verona, Veneto. The team's colours are yellow and blue and gialloblu is the team's most widely used nickname...
, where he spent the first two years as a member of the under-19 youth team. In January 1999 he was loaned out to Serie C1
Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
side Lumezzane
A.C. Lumezzane
Associazione Calcio Lumezzane is an Italian association football club, based in Lumezzane, Lombardy. The club was founded in 1948. The club currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione....
; the loan move was then later repeated for two more years, in January 2000 and November 2000. In January 2002 he was loaned out for a fourth time, this time to Sassari Torres, and he finally made his debut in a Verona jersey during the 2002–03 season in the Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
league.
In 2005 he left Verona to join Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
, where he had the chance to make his Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
debut, where he made 22 appearances, mostly as a substitute, and no goals. He returned to Verona on 31 August 2006, this time with little success, and was transferred again to Cagliari on 29 January 2008 in free transfer. In his second stint at Cagliari, Cossu's level of performances quickly rose up, and he became one of the team protagonists in a well-remembered escape from relegation during the 2007–08 season under head coach Davide Ballardini
Davide Ballardini
Davide Ballardini is an Italian association football manager who is currently the head coach at Serie A club Cagliari...
, who changed the then-winger to a playmaker role behind young strikers Alessandro Matri
Alessandro Matri
Alessandro Matri is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Italian Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team.-Milan:...
and Robert Acquafresca
Robert Acquafresca
Robert Acquafresca is an Italian footballer of half-Polish descent who plays for Serie A club Bologna as a striker.-Club career:...
. He kept a high level of performances also during the two successful seasons under new boss Massimiliano Allegri, being often picked as one of the key players for Cagliari.
International career
On February 28, 2010 he received his first call-up for the Italian national teamItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
for a friendly game versus Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
, making him the first Sardinian call-up after local legend Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola, OBE, Ufficiale OMRI is a retired Italian footballer and manager, who most recently managed West Ham United from 2008 to 2010, after having been assistant manager of the Italy U-21 under Pierluigi Casiraghi...
. Cossu played the game, held on March 3, 2010, as a starter: the match ended in a 0–0 draw.
He was in Lippi's 28-men provisional 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
squad, but was not included in the 23-men final squad on 1 June.
But after the injuries of Mauro Camoranesi
Mauro Camoranesi
Mauro Camoranesi, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian Argentine World Cup-winning footballer who plays for Lanús in the Argentine Primera División. He is a midfielder, usually on the right wing...
and Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo, Ufficiale OMRI , is an Italian World Cup winning footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Juventus, and for the Italian national team. He is usually deployed as a deep-lying playmaker for both Juventus and Italy and is regarded as one of best players in this position...
, he was named as an additional 24th standby player and was featured in the starting lineup in the last friendly game before the World Cup kick-off, against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
on 5 June.