Luca Antonini
Encyclopedia
Luca Antonini is an Italian footballer
who plays as a defender
for Serie A
club Milan
.
, originally as a winger, playing for 11 years in their youth teams
. At the start of the 2001–02 season, he was loaned out to Serie C2 side Prato
, where he made his professional debut, totalling 26 appearances and scoring 3 goals. The following year, he made 17 appearances and scored one goal in his first Serie B
season, during a loan spell at Ancona
. The team got promoted to Serie A
and Antonini's contribution was significant, as he became a regular in the second half of the season.
in a co-ownership
deal with the Rossoneri, for €2 million. In exchange, Ikechukwu Kalu
moved to Milan in co-ownership deal for €1 million. He did not get much playing time, as he served mainly as a backup winger for Gasbarroni
. However, he made his Serie A debut on 14 December, in an away match against Perugia
.
, being first loaned out to Modena
and then switching, during the January transfer window, to Pescara. Still seeking for more playing time, for the 2005–06 season he moved to Arezzo
on another loan spell, where he finally managed to play regularly throughout the whole season, making 39 appearances and scoring 3 goals.
At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, the then 24-year-old midfielder was sent to Siena
on a fourth consecutive loan spell, and faced his second Serie A
season, which proved much more successful than the first one. He made 32 appearances and scored 3 goals. In particular, his very first goal in the top-tier came on 26 November, in a home game against Fiorentina.
for €1 million, along with his future teammate Ignazio Abate
(the 50% valued €0.9 million), in a new co-ownership
deal. With Empoli, Antonini made his debut in European competitions on 20 September 2007, in a UEFA Cup first-round game against Zürich, also scoring a penalty
. Despite the team being relegated, he had an extremely good season, also showing versatility when coach Alberto Malesani
started to employ him as a fullback.
, who initially did not seem to take Antonini into much consideration. However, as the season progressed, injuries to first-string players such as Zambrotta
and Jankulovski
prompted the Brazil
ian to put him in the line-up. Antonini seized his chance and earned Leonardo's trust by constantly performing well. His valuable performances also persuaded the club to offer him a contract extension until 2014, which was signed on 11 February 2010. He finished his second year at Milan on a high, scoring his first goal for the Rossoneri in the last match of the season, a home game against Juventus
, on 15 May 2010.
and U-18, between 1999 and 2001. However, he did not receive any further call-up at higher levels of youth international football.
Nine years later, Antonini got his first call-up for the senior team
; newly-appointed coach Cesare Prandelli
named him in the squad for a friendly against Côte d'Ivoire
, to be played on 10 August 2010. However, he was left as an unused substitute.
1European competitions include the UEFA Champions League
and UEFA Cup
2Other tournaments include Coppa Italia Serie C
. The couple has two daughters, Sofia Vittoria and Viola Maria (b. 2010).
Football in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times , trailing only Brazil . Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful European nation in the subject of football...
who plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
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 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...
.
Early career
Antonini started his career at MilanA.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...
, originally as a winger, playing for 11 years in their youth teams
A.C. Milan Primavera
Associazione Calcio Milan Primavera are the under-20 team of Italian professional football club Associazione Calcio Milan. They play in the Group B of the Campionato Nazionale Primavera. They have been champions only once, back in 1965...
. At the start of the 2001–02 season, he was loaned out to Serie C2 side Prato
A.C. Prato
Associazione Calcio Prato is an Italian association football club, based in Prato, Tuscany.Prato currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione group B, having last been in Serie B in 1964.The team's colors are blue and white.- History :...
, where he made his professional debut, totalling 26 appearances and scoring 3 goals. The following year, he made 17 appearances and scored one goal in his first 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...
season, during a loan spell at Ancona
A.C. Ancona
Associazione Calcio Ancona was a professional Italian football club, based in Ancona, Marche. It was founded in 1905 as Unione Sportiva Anconitana, changing its name to Ancona Calcio 1905 in 1981 and being refounded in 2004 with its last denomination....
. The team got promoted to 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...
and Antonini's contribution was significant, as he became a regular in the second half of the season.
Sampdoria (2003–2004)
In June 2003 he moved 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...
in a co-ownership
Co-ownership (football)
Co-ownership is a system whereby two football clubs own the contract of a player jointly, although the player is only registered to play for one club...
deal with the Rossoneri, for €2 million. In exchange, Ikechukwu Kalu
Ikechukwu Kalu
Ikechukwu Kalu is a Nigerian football striker who plays for Chiasso. His name, Ikechukwu, means "Power of God".-Football career:...
moved to Milan in co-ownership deal for €1 million. He did not get much playing time, as he served mainly as a backup winger for Gasbarroni
Andrea Gasbarroni
Andrea Gasbarroni is an Italian football midfielder, currently contracted with Torino.- Career :An attacking midfielder who can also play occasionally as a winger or second striker, Gasbarroni started his career at Juventus F.C. youth team, but after graduate from Primavera team, he was loaned to...
. However, he made his Serie A debut on 14 December, in an away match against Perugia
Perugia Calcio
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria, direct heir of the old Perugia Calcio and A.C. Perugia, excluded from Italian football because of financial troubles....
.
Various loan spells (2004–2007)
The following season he returned to play in Serie BSerie 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...
, being first loaned out to Modena
Modena F.C.
Modena Football Club is an Italian football club based in Modena, Emilia-Romagna. The club was formed in 1912 and currently plays in Italian Serie B, after being relegated from a two year period in Serie A in the year 2004. The team's previous stay in Italy's top division ended in 1964. The team...
and then switching, during the January transfer window, to Pescara. Still seeking for more playing time, for the 2005–06 season he moved to Arezzo
A.C. Arezzo
Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Atletico Arezzo is an Italian association football club based in Arezzo, Tuscany...
on another loan spell, where he finally managed to play regularly throughout the whole season, making 39 appearances and scoring 3 goals.
At the beginning of the 2006–07 season, the then 24-year-old midfielder was sent to Siena
A.C. Siena
Associazione Calcio Siena is an Italian football club based in Siena.The club currently plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B at the end of the 2010-2011 season....
on a fourth consecutive loan spell, and faced his second 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, which proved much more successful than the first one. He made 32 appearances and scored 3 goals. In particular, his very first goal in the top-tier came on 26 November, in a home game against Fiorentina.
Empoli (2007–2008)
Prior to the start of the 2007–08 season, Milan reclaimed Antonini and sent him to EmpoliEmpoli F.C.
Empoli Football Club is an Italian association football club located in Empoli, Tuscany, founded in 1920 and played its first official match in 1921.In recent years, the club has all too often been bouncing between Italy's two top divisions...
for €1 million, along with his future teammate Ignazio Abate
Ignazio Abate
Ignazio Abate is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a fullback for Serie A club Milan. He is renowned for his quick sprints down the right wing and accurate crosses.- Early years :...
(the 50% valued €0.9 million), in a new co-ownership
Co-ownership (football)
Co-ownership is a system whereby two football clubs own the contract of a player jointly, although the player is only registered to play for one club...
deal. With Empoli, Antonini made his debut in European competitions on 20 September 2007, in a UEFA Cup first-round game against Zürich, also scoring a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
. Despite the team being relegated, he had an extremely good season, also showing versatility when coach Alberto Malesani
Alberto Malesani
Alberto Malesani is an Italian association football manager, currently in charge of Genoa.-Early career and breakthrough at Chievo:...
started to employ him as a fullback.
Return to Milan (2008–present)
On 9 June 2008 he was brought back by Milan and included in their squad for €2.9million. In his first season with the Rossoneri, he did not get much playing time though, making only 11 league appearances. For the 2009–10 campaign, Milan signed new head coach LeonardoLeonardo Araújo
Leonardo Nascimento de Araújo, known as Leonardo , is a football manager and a former midfielder. He is currently active as director of football of French club Paris Saint-Germain....
, who initially did not seem to take Antonini into much consideration. However, as the season progressed, injuries to first-string players such as Zambrotta
Gianluca Zambrotta
Gianluca Zambrotta is a world cup winning Italian footballer who currently plays as a full back for Serie A club Milan.Zambrotta was decorated as Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2000 and he was made an Officer of the same order in 2006.-Como:Zambrotta began his...
and Jankulovski
Marek Jankulovski
Marek Jankulovski is a Czech footballer who currently plays for Czech club Baník Ostrava. His former club was Milan. He was voted the 2007 Czech Player of the Year....
prompted the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian to put him in the line-up. Antonini seized his chance and earned Leonardo's trust by constantly performing well. His valuable performances also persuaded the club to offer him a contract extension until 2014, which was signed on 11 February 2010. He finished his second year at Milan on a high, scoring his first goal for the Rossoneri in the last match of the season, a home game against Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, on 15 May 2010.
International career
Antonini made up a total of 5 caps with Italy U-17Italy national under-17 football team
The Italy national U-17 football team is the national under-17 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, held every year.-UEFA U-17 Championship Record:...
and U-18, between 1999 and 2001. However, he did not receive any further call-up at higher levels of youth international football.
Nine years later, Antonini got his first call-up for the senior 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...
; newly-appointed coach 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:...
named him in the squad for a friendly against Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
, to be played on 10 August 2010. However, he was left as an unused substitute.
Style of play
Antonini is a versatile footballer who has been employed either as a winger or as a fullback, playing both on the left or the right side. His speed and stamina also allows him to attack and fall back to his position with ease.Statistics
As of 25 September 2010.| Team | Season | Domestic League |
Domestic Cup |
European Competition1 |
Other Tournaments2 |
Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 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... |
2000–01 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | |
| Prato A.C. Prato Associazione Calcio Prato is an Italian association football club, based in Prato, Tuscany.Prato currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione group B, having last been in Serie B in 1964.The team's colors are blue and white.- History :... |
2001–02 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | 30 | 3 | |
| Ancona A.C. Ancona Associazione Calcio Ancona was a professional Italian football club, based in Ancona, Marche. It was founded in 1905 as Unione Sportiva Anconitana, changing its name to Ancona Calcio 1905 in 1981 and being refounded in 2004 with its last denomination.... |
2002–03 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 19 | 1 | ||
| 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... |
2003–04 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 7 | 1 | ||
| Modena Modena F.C. Modena Football Club is an Italian football club based in Modena, Emilia-Romagna. The club was formed in 1912 and currently plays in Italian Serie B, after being relegated from a two year period in Serie A in the year 2004. The team's previous stay in Italy's top division ended in 1964. The team... |
2004–05 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 1 | ||
| Pescara | 2005 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 22 | 3 | ||
| Arezzo A.C. Arezzo Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Atletico Arezzo is an Italian association football club based in Arezzo, Tuscany... |
2005–06 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 40 | 3 | ||
| Siena A.C. Siena Associazione Calcio Siena is an Italian football club based in Siena.The club currently plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B at the end of the 2010-2011 season.... |
2006–07 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 34 | 3 | ||
| Empoli Empoli F.C. Empoli Football Club is an Italian association football club located in Empoli, Tuscany, founded in 1920 and played its first official match in 1921.In recent years, the club has all too often been bouncing between Italy's two top divisions... |
2007–08 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 36 | 2 | |
| 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... |
2008–09 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | – | 18 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Serie A The 2009–10 Serie A was the seventy-eighth season since its establishment. There were three promoted teams from the Serie B, replacing the three teams that were relegated following the 2008–09 season. Nike provided a new match ball - the T90 Ascente - for this season... |
22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 Serie A The 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011... |
29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 30 | 0 | ||
| Total | 38 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 1 | |
| Career Total | 224 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 252 | 18 | |
1European competitions include the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
2Other tournaments include Coppa Italia Serie C
Personal life
Antonini is married to Benedetta Balleggi, whom he first met at the time he was in PratoPrato
Prato is a city and comune in Tuscany, Italy, the capital of the Province of Prato. The city is situated at the foot of Monte Retaia , the last peak in the Calvana chain. The lowest altitude in the comune is 32 m, near the Cascine di Tavola, and the highest is the peak of Monte Cantagrillo...
. The couple has two daughters, Sofia Vittoria and Viola Maria (b. 2010).
Honours
Milan- Serie ASerie ASerie 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...
20112010–11 Serie AThe 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011... - Supercoppa ItalianaSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 20112011 Supercoppa Italiana- References :...
External links
- Profile at official club website
- Profile at Assocalciatori.it
- International caps at FIGC.it
- ESPN Profile