Daniele Adani
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-07-10) 10 July 1974 (age 49)
Place of birth Correggio, Italy
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Modena
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1994 Modena 48 (1)
1994 Lazio 0 (0)
1994–1999 Brescia 159 (8)
1999–2002 Fiorentina 75 (4)
2002–2004 Inter Milan 30 (2)
2004–2005 Brescia 13 (0)
2005–2006 Ascoli 3 (0)
2006–2008 Empoli 21 (0)
Total 379 (13)
International career
2000–2004 Italy 5 (0)
Managerial career
2011–2012 Vicenza (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Daniele Adani (Italian pronunciation: [daˈnjɛːle aˈdaːni]; born 10 July 1974) is an Italian football pundit and former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

Adani started his career in Serie B with Modena, making his first team debuts at the age of 18. In 1994, he transferred to top level's Lazio but, after two gameless months, moved to Brescia in November; subsequently, he followed the club's promotion and relegation between the first and second divisions, appearing in nearly 200 official matches.

In 1999, Adani transferred to Fiorentina for 7 billion lire (€3.615 million),[1] winning the Italian Cup in his second season.[2] In 2002, the club faced bankruptcy, and the player signed for Inter Milan on a free transfer.[3][4] Though he was not regarded as member of the starting lineup,[according to whom?] he would be in the starting lineup more times than expected, managing to score two goals during his two-season stint (in away wins against Empoli and Ancona); he also broke his nose while playing for the Nerazzurri and decided to play with a titanium mask, as Paolo Maldini had done previously. Adani also wore a similar non-metallic mask after he recovered, but dropped it shortly after.[5]

In 2004, Adani returned to Brescia, but left the club in March of the following year, along with Roberto Guana.[6] He joined Ascoli shortly after, appearing in only three games as the Marche side managed to retain its top flight status.

Before retiring from professional football at the age of 34, Adani played two years with Empoli, both in the first division, being regularly used in his first year, as the club qualified to the UEFA Cup, but only in six games in his second, as the club were relegated.

In 2009, Adani returned to football with amateurs Sammartinese, in Seconda Categoria (ninth level).[7]

International career

Adani received five caps for Italy in four years.[8] His debut came on 15 November 2000, in a 1–0 friendly win with England.[9]

On 27 March 2002, against the same opponent, in another exhibition match, Adani made his second appearance, in a 2–1 win at Elland Road, again as a second-half substitute.[10]

Style of play

Regarded as a promising defender in his youth, Adani was known for his composure on the ball and versatility; although he was usually deployed as a man marking centre-back, he was capable of playing anywhere along the back line.[9][11]

Coaching career

He obtained UEFA B coaching license in 2008. (third category of the license)[12] In 2010, he got the A license, made him eligible to coach Serie C team or as an assistant head coach in higher divisions. On 19 July 2011, it was announced that he would be the assistant head coach of Serie B team Vicenza,[13] under Silvio Baldini.

TV commentator

In 2010, he started working as a color commentator for Sportitalia. In 2012, he joined Sky Sport (Italy). After joining RAI as a commentator, during 2022 World Cup quarter finals, Adani compared Lionel Messi with Jesus, saying that the Argentinian is capable of making wine from water.[14]

Honours

Fiorentina[15]

References

  1. ^ A.C. Fiorentina S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2001 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  2. ^ "Coppa alla Fiorentina col pareggio più bello" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 13 June 2001. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Daniele Adani signs for Inter – Three-year contract for ex-Fiorentina defender". Inter.it. 5 August 2002. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Benfica sign Gomes". BBC Sport. 4 August 2002. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  5. ^ "TORNA ADANI, IL NERAZZURRO MASCHERATO" (in Italian). Inter.it. 18 December 2003. Archived from the original on 6 March 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Ci sacrifichiamo per il Brescia" [We sacrificed ourselves for Brescia] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 10 March 2005. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  7. ^ Ex viola Adani ricomincia dalla Seconda categoria (Former Viola Adani starts again in Seconda Categoria) Archived 30 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine; Viola News, 24 January 2009 (in Italian)
  8. ^ "Adani, Daniele" (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Italy squad at a glance". BBC. 14 November 2000. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Due centri per Air Force 9" (in Italian). RAI Sport. 27 March 2002. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Inter Milan - Squad Profiles". ESPN FC. 11 February 2003. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  12. ^ http://www.settoretecnico.figc.it/allegati/2682008121634.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  13. ^ "Al via la nuova stagione". Vicenza Calcio (in Italian). 19 July 2011. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Adani paragona Messi a Gesù, l'ultimo urlo in telecronaca: "Trasforma l'acqua in vino!"". Sport Fanpage (in Italian). 3 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Daniele Adani". Eurosport. Retrieved 5 February 2016.

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