Gianpaolo Pazzini
Encyclopedia
Giampaolo Pazzini is an Italian
footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A
club Internazionale
and the Italian national team
. Fans call him Il Pazzo ("the Madman
").
, with whom he made his professional debut in 2003, and quickly emerging as a promising youngster. He spent two seasons with Atalanta, playing 51 league games and scoring 12 goals (of which 3 of them at Serie A level). He switched from a left back to a striker.
from Atalanta
for around €9.5 million in January 2005. During his first season
he scored 10 goals in 4 appearances. but did not find space in Cesare Prandelli
's plans as the latter preferred Luca Toni
as the main striker, with Pazzini and Bojinov
acting as second strikers.
With the arrival of former Milan
striker Alberto Gilardino
, Prandelli opted for Adrian Mutu
and Gilardino to form a striking partnership, reducing Pazzini to a backup player role.
on January 2009.
After his first match versus Palermo
, in the next matchday Pazzini found the back of the net for the first time with the blucerchiati against Udinese
in the Coppa Italia
. He scored his first goal in Serie A with his new team on February 1, 2009 in the match against Chievo
, finished in a 1–1 draw. His rejuvenated form continued when he hit his first brace with Sampdoria in a 3–0 hammering against Italian champions Internazionale
in the Coppa Italia, and his second consecutive brace arrived in the Serie A encounter against Roma
(2–2). He combined very well with Antonio Cassano
up front, forming arguably one of the most effective partnership in Serie A in the season.
Pazzini scored 19 goals in his second season at Sampdoria making him the 3rd top scorer in the 2009–10 Serie A
season.
on a four and a half year deal, on January 28, 2011, with Jonathan Biabiany
heading in the opposite direction as part of the deal. He scored a brace on his debut, a 3–2 home win over Palermo
and scored another goal in his second game against Bari. He also scored the winner in a 1–2 win against Fiorentina on 16 February 2011. On 30 April 2011 he scored 2 in a 2–1 win over Cesena, both in stoppage time. On the 22 May 2011 he scored a further 2 goals in Inter's 3–1 victory over Catania. As a result of this great scoring form, he was put on the Italian FIFA 12 pack. Giampaolo "Pazzo" Pazzini is proving to be fundamental for Internazionale especially after the poor performance of Milito.
team. He holds the record for the first goal and first hat-trick at the new Wembley Stadium
. However, Louis Saha
broke one of his records, scoring after 26 seconds in the 2009 FA Cup Final
.
on 28 March 2009, in a World Cup qualification match
against Montenegro
, scoring his first goal. Four days later, Pazzini was awarded with a place in the starting line-up against the Republic of Ireland
. Unfortunately his second cap was a less fortunate one as he was sent off
in the second minute of the match for elbowing defender John O'Shea
. He now holds the record for fastest sending off in Italian history. Pazzini started the friendly against Northern Ireland
at Pisa
on 6 June 2009, where he missed a penalty in the 55th minute.
He took part at the 2010 World Cup
in South Africa.
On 3 June 2011, two years after his debut, he scored his second goal with the national team in a qualifying game
against Estonia
.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
footballer who plays as a striker for 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...
club Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
and the Italian national team
Italy 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...
. Fans call him Il Pazzo ("the Madman
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
").
Early career
Pazzini started his career at AtalantaAtalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
, with whom he made his professional debut in 2003, and quickly emerging as a promising youngster. He spent two seasons with Atalanta, playing 51 league games and scoring 12 goals (of which 3 of them at Serie A level). He switched from a left back to a striker.
Fiorentina
Pazzini joined FiorentinaACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
from Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
for around €9.5 million in January 2005. During his first season
Serie A 2005-06
In the 2005–06 season, Serie A, the major professional football league in Italian, was contested for the second year in a row by 20 teams. The league commenced on August 28, 2005 and finished on May 14, 2006...
he scored 10 goals in 4 appearances. but did not find space in Cesare Prandelli
Cesare Prandelli
Cesare Claudio Prandelli is an Italian football coach and former player. He is currently the manager of the Italy national football team.-Playing career:...
's plans as the latter preferred Luca Toni
Luca Toni
Luca Toni, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Juventus. He has had successful spells at top clubs such as Palermo, Fiorentina, Bayern Munich, and Roma...
as the main striker, with Pazzini and Bojinov
Valeri Bojinov
Valeri Emilov Bozhinov , commonly known as Valeri Bojinov, is a Bulgarian footballer who currently plays for Sporting CP.-Biography:Born in the Bulgarian town of Gorna Oryahovitsa, Bozhinov moved to Malta at the age of 12 with his mother Pepa, a former Bulgarian national basketball team player and...
acting as second strikers.
With the arrival of former Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
striker Alberto Gilardino
Alberto Gilardino
Alberto Gilardino, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Fiorentina and the Italian national team....
, Prandelli opted for Adrian Mutu
Adrian Mutu
Adrian Mutu is a Romanian footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Cesena.-Argeş Piteşti:Mutu began his professional career with his home club Argeş Piteşti...
and Gilardino to form a striking partnership, reducing Pazzini to a backup player role.
Sampdoria
As a result of limited first team opportunities, Pazzini agreed a move to SampdoriaU.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
on January 2009.
After his first match versus Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
, in the next matchday Pazzini found the back of the net for the first time with the blucerchiati against Udinese
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
in the Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
. He scored his first goal in Serie A with his new team on February 1, 2009 in the match against Chievo
A.C. ChievoVerona
Associazione Calcio Chievo Verona is a professional Italian football club named after and based in Chievo, a suburb of 2,800 inhabitants in Verona, Veneto, and owned by Paluani, a cake company and the inspiration for their original name, Paluani Chievo...
, finished in a 1–1 draw. His rejuvenated form continued when he hit his first brace with Sampdoria in a 3–0 hammering against Italian champions Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
in the Coppa Italia, and his second consecutive brace arrived in the Serie A encounter against Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
(2–2). He combined very well with Antonio Cassano
Antonio Cassano
Antonio Cassano is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan as a striker. Nicknamed Il Gioiello di Bari Vecchia , he is known for his short temper as much as his ability on the pitch, which led to the coining of the neologism Cassanata by his former coach, Fabio Capello, in November...
up front, forming arguably one of the most effective partnership in Serie A in the season.
Pazzini scored 19 goals in his second season at Sampdoria making him the 3rd top scorer in the 2009–10 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...
season.
Internazionale
Pazzini joined Italian champions InternazionaleF.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
on a four and a half year deal, on January 28, 2011, with Jonathan Biabiany
Jonathan Biabiany
Jonathan Ludovic Biabiany is a French footballer who currently plays as a winger or striker for Serie A club Parma on loan from Sampdoria.-Youth career:...
heading in the opposite direction as part of the deal. He scored a brace on his debut, a 3–2 home win over Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
and scored another goal in his second game against Bari. He also scored the winner in a 1–2 win against Fiorentina on 16 February 2011. On 30 April 2011 he scored 2 in a 2–1 win over Cesena, both in stoppage time. On the 22 May 2011 he scored a further 2 goals in Inter's 3–1 victory over Catania. As a result of this great scoring form, he was put on the Italian FIFA 12 pack. Giampaolo "Pazzo" Pazzini is proving to be fundamental for Internazionale especially after the poor performance of Milito.
Under-21
Pazzini was formerly a member of the Italy Under-21Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
team. He holds the record for the first goal and first hat-trick at the new Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. However, Louis Saha
Louis Saha
Louis Laurent Saha is a French footballer of Guadelupian origin who currently plays as a forward for Everton FC in the Premier League and the France national team. A former scholar at the Clairefontaine football academy, he started his career at Metz before playing on loan at Newcastle United...
broke one of his records, scoring after 26 seconds in the 2009 FA Cup Final
2009 FA Cup Final
The 2009 FA Cup Final was the 128th final of the world's oldest domestic football cup competition, the FA Cup. The final was played at Wembley Stadium in London on 30 May 2009 and marked the third time that the final has been staged at the stadium since it was rebuilt...
.
Senior team
Pazzini made his debut with the senior 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...
on 28 March 2009, in a World Cup qualification match
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
against Montenegro
Montenegro national football team
The Montenegro national football team represents Montenegro in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Montenegro, the governing body for football in Montenegro...
, scoring his first goal. Four days later, Pazzini was awarded with a place in the starting line-up against the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
. Unfortunately his second cap was a less fortunate one as he was sent off
Misconduct (football)
Misconduct in association football is any conduct by a player that is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction in accordance with Law 12 of the Laws of the Game. Misconduct may occur at any time, including when the ball is out of play, during half-time and before and after the...
in the second minute of the match for elbowing defender John O'Shea
John O'Shea
John O'Shea can refer to:*John O'Shea, Irish footballer with Sunderland*John O'Shea , New Zealand film director*John O'Shea *John O'Shea , Wales international rugby union footballer*John O'Shea...
. He now holds the record for fastest sending off in Italian history. Pazzini started the friendly against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
at Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
on 6 June 2009, where he missed a penalty in the 55th minute.
He took part at the 2010 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...
in South Africa.
On 3 June 2011, two years after his debut, he scored his second goal with the national team in a qualifying game
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...
against Estonia
Estonia national football team
The Estonia national football team represents Estonia in international association football. Team members are selected by the head coach of Estonian Football Association . Estonia play their home matches at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
.
Club statistics
As of 27 November 2011| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... |
Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atalanta Atalanta B.C. Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici... |
|||||||||
| 2003–04 Serie B 2003-04 This article contains information on the 2003-2004 season of Serie B, the second highest football league in Italy.-Final classification:-Results:... |
39 | 9 | |||||||
| 39 | 9 | ||||||||
| 2004–05 Serie A 2004-05 In the 2004–05 season, the Serie A, the highest professional football league in Italy, was composed of 20 teams for the first time in several years.... |
12 | 3 | |||||||
| 12 | 3 | ||||||||
| Total | 51 | 12 | - | - | - | - | 51 | 12 | |
| Fiorentina ACF Fiorentina ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A... |
|||||||||
| 2004–05 Serie A 2004-05 In the 2004–05 season, the Serie A, the highest professional football league in Italy, was composed of 20 teams for the first time in several years.... |
14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 14 | 3 | ||||||||
| 2005–06 Serie A 2005-06 In the 2005–06 season, Serie A, the major professional football league in Italian, was contested for the second year in a row by 20 teams. The league commenced on August 28, 2005 and finished on May 14, 2006... |
27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 27 | 5 | ||||||||
| 2006–07 Serie A 2006-07 The Serie A 2006–2007 season began September 10, 2006. It was scheduled to begin on August 26 and 27, but was then postponed due to the Serie A scandal of 2006. It is the 104th Italian championship ever held, the first without the presence of Juventus, and the 75th Serie A league, the first... |
24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 24 | 7 | ||||||||
| 2007–08 Serie A 2007-08 The 2007-08 Serie A football season was the seventy-sixth since its establishment, and started on August 26, 2007 and ended on May 18, 2008. Internazionale successfully defended the championship on the final day of the season, finishing first with 85 points, three ahead of Roma.-Plusvalenze... |
31 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 41 | 9 | |
| 2008–09 Serie A 2008-09 The 2008–09 Serie A was the seventy-seventh season since its establishment. It began on 30 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009, with the announcement of the list of fixtures made on 25 July 2008... |
12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 1 | |
| Total | 108 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 122 | 25 | |
| Sampdoria U.C. Sampdoria Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria... |
|||||||||
| 2008–09 Serie A 2008-09 The 2008–09 Serie A was the seventy-seventh season since its establishment. It began on 30 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009, with the announcement of the list of fixtures made on 25 July 2008... |
19 | 11 | 4 | 4 | |||||
| 23 | 15 | ||||||||
| 2009–10 | 37 | 19 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| 39 | 21 | ||||||||
| 2010–11 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 12 | |
| Total | 75 | 36 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 87 | 48 | |
| Internazionale F.C. Internazionale Milano Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always... |
|||||||||
| 2010–11 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 11 | |
| 2011–12 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 4 | |
| Total | 26 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 33 | 15 | |
| Career total | 260 | 85 | 11 | 8 | 24 | 7 | 293 | 100 | |
External links
- Giampaolo Pazzini – Player profile Espnsoccernet.com Profile on sampdoria.it
- Pazzini's stats footballdatabase.eu