Manuele Blasi
Blasi with Napoli in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-08-17) 17 August 1980 (age 43)
Place of birth Civitavecchia, Italy
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1996–1998 Roma
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Roma 5 (0)
1998–1999 → Lecce (loan) 12 (0)
2000–2002 Perugia 46 (0)
2002–2007 Juventus 40 (0)
2002–2003 → Perugia (loan) 30 (0)
2003–2004 → Parma (loan) 12 (0)
2006–2007 → Fiorentina (loan) 31 (1)
2007–2011 Napoli 61 (0)
2009–2010 → Palermo (loan) 14 (0)
2011–2012 Parma 6 (0)
2012 Lecce 16 (0)
2012–2013 Pescara 12 (0)
2013–2015 Varese 45 (0)
2015–2016 Chennaiyin FC 19 (0)
2016 → Ischia (loan) 4 (0)
2017 CPC 2005
International career
1996 Italy U-15 10 (1)
1996–1997 Italy U-16 10 (0)
1998–1999 Italy U-18 10 (0)
2000 Italy U-20 4 (0)
2000–2002 Italy U-21 6 (0)
2004–2005 Italy 8 (0)
Managerial career
2017–2018 CPC 2005
2019–2020 Hamrun Spartans
2020–2021 AO Ayia Napa
2021 Apolonia Fier
2023 Enosis Neon Paralimni
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Manuele Blasi (Italian pronunciation: [manuˈɛːle ˈblaːzi]; born 17 August 1980) is an Italian former professional footballer who played a midfielder and now works as a coach.

Club career

Primarily a central midfielder, Blasi made his Serie A debut for A.S. Roma in a match against Piacenza on 22 January 2000. he also played for Lecce at Serie B before returned to Roma. In mid-2000 he was signed by Perugia at (first in co-ownership deal for a peppercorn of 1 million Italian lire; €516). At Perugia he played 46 Serie A matches. In June 2001, he was signed permanently for 18 billion lire (€9.296 million)),[1][2] however, in terms of the signing of Giuseppe Cattivera also for 18 billion lire.[3]

In July 2002, he was signed by Juventus for about €17.7 million,[4] and loaned back to Perugia in the first season.

In the second season he joined Parma.[5] He was suspended due to testing positive for nandrolone[6] until March.[7]

Juventus

Blasi returned to Juventus F.C. in 2004, under Fabio Capello, his coach at Roma; he received his first Italy call-up in August.[8] In his first season with Juventus, he was often partnered with his former Roma teammate Emerson in the centre of the team's midfield, in Capello's 4–4–2 formation, fighting off competition from Stephen Appiah and Alessio Tacchinardi for a starting spot, and collecting 27 appearances as Juventus won the league title.[9][10][11][12][13]

The following season, due to the injuries of Jonathan Zebina and Gianluca Pessotto, he often played as a right-back. Due to the arrival of Patrick Vieira and the emergence of Giorgio Chiellini, however, he often found a lack of first team opportunities both in midfield and defence,[9][10][11][12][13] although he was awarded a new contract extension, which would keep him with the club until 2009.[14] He made six starts for the club throughout the season, as the team won a second consecutive league title.[12][13]

While waiting for the outcome of the 2006 Italian football scandal sentences, which ultimately saw Juventus relegated to Serie B and stripped of their previous two league titles due to their involvement in Calciopoli,[12][13] Blasi joined Fiorentina on a loan with an option to buy,[15] under Cesare Prandelli, who had previously also been his coach at Parma.

Napoli

Along with his former Juventus teammate Marcelo Zalayeta, Blasi was sold to newly promoted Serie A team Napoli for €1.4 million and €2.45 million respectively in co-ownership deal in the summer of 2007.[16][17] He signed a five-year contract with the club.[16] In June 2008, Napoli bought the remaining half of the player's registration rights from Juventus for €2.6 million.[18]

On 31 August 2009, Blasi was loaned to Palermo[19][20] after he had played the opening match of the season against Salernitana in the Coppa Italia on 16 August.[21] On 20 May 2010, he joined A.C. Milan on loan exclusively for a three-game friendly tournament in the United States.[22]

Lecce

On 27 January 2012, Blasi signed with Serie A side Lecce during the January transfer window.[23]

Pescara

On 7 August 2012, Blasi joined the newly promoted Serie A side Delfino Pescara 1936 on a one-year deal.

Varese

Blasi joined Varese in 2013. He spent two seasons at the club and was released in 2015.[24][25]

Chennaiyin

Blasi joined Indian club Chennaiyin FC in 2015 after the expiry of his contract at Varese. He was retained in 2016, after a short spell at Ischia Isolaverde.[26][27]

International career

At youth level, Blasi played for the Italy U-15 team, the Italy U-16 team in 1997 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship qualifying; the Italy U-18 team at the 1999 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship, where they lost out to the Portugal U-18 side in the final;[28][29] and the Italy U-20 team at the 2000 Toulon Tournament. He also played for the Italy U-21 side at the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, as a starter, due to the injury of Enzo Maresca;[30] he partnered Matteo Brighi, Andrea Pirlo and Marco Marchionni in midfield, as they reached the semi-finals.[31]

Manuele Blasi has also played for the Italian senior national team, for which he debuted on 18 August 2004 in a 2–0 friendly away loss against Iceland, at the age of 24, which was also manager Marcello Lippi's first match in charge of the national side.[32] In total he made eight appearances for Italy between 2004 and 2005.[33]

Style of play

A dynamic, tenacious, combative, and hard-working box-to-box midfielder, with notable stamina, a powerful shot from distance, and good ball-winning abilities, Blasi is a tactically versatile player, who is capable of playing as a right-sided or central midfielder, or even as a defensive midfielder in the centre of a three-man midfield, where his main function is to break down opposition plays and distribute the ball to his teammates. He is also known for his leadership and team spirit, although he has also drawn criticism at times from his managers for committing too many rash fouls and for having a tendency to pick up cards.[9][10][11][12][13][34][35] Primarily a midfielder, throughout his career, he has also played as a right-back on occasion. Due to his technical characteristics and wide range of skills, he has also been deployed as a deep-lying playmaker in midfield, in front of the back-line, courtesy of his good feet, distribution, and ability to switch the play.[12][13][35][36]

Coaching career

On 12 January 2017, it was announced, that Blasi had joined Italian amateur club CPC 2005 Civitavecchia.[37] However, in September 2017, he was announced as the club's new manager.[38]

On 23 May 2019, Blasi was named manager of the Maltese club of Hamrun Spartans[39] for his first professional experience as a manager. despite reaching the quarter-finals in the Maltese FA Trophy, he has been sacked by the club on the beginning of February 2020.[40]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coppa Italia Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Lecce (loan) 1998–99[41] Serie B 12 0 6 0 – 18 0
Roma 1999–2000[42] Serie A 5 0 2 0 0 0 7 0
Perugia 2000–01[42] Serie A 20 0 1 0 2 0 23 0
2001–02[42] 26 0 4 0 0 0 30 0
Total 46 0 5 0 2 0 53 0
Perugia (loan) 2002–03[42] Serie A 30 0 5 0 2 0 37 0
Parma (loan) 2003–04[42] Serie A 12 0 0 0 1 0 13 0
Juventus 2004–05[42] Serie A 27 0 1 0 8 0 36 0
2005–06[42] 13 0 3 0 5 0 21 0
Total 40 0 4 0 13 0 57 0
Fiorentina (loan) 2006–07[42] Serie A 31 1 2 0 0 0 33 1
Napoli 2007–08[42] Serie A 27 0 3 0 0 0 30 0
2008–09[42] 32 0 0 0 5 0 37 0
2009–10[42] 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
2010–11[42] 2 0 1 0 2 0 5 0
Total 61 0 5 0 7 0 73 0
Palermo (loan) 2009–10[42] Serie A 14 0 1 0 0 0 15 0
Parma 2011–12[42] Serie A 6 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
Lecce 2011–12[42] Serie A 16 0 2 0 – 18 0
Pescara 2012–13[42] Serie A 12 0 0 0 – 12 0
Varese 2013–14[42] Serie B 22 0 1 0 – 23 0
2013–14[42] 23 0 3 0 – 26 0
Total 45 0 4 0 0 0 49 0
Career total 330 1 37 0 25 0 392 1

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Italy 2004 4 0
2005 4 0
Total 8 0

Honours

Chennaiyin FC

References

  1. ^ "Lupatelli va al Chievo, Di Francesco a Piacenza". AS Roma (in Italian). 29 June 2001. Archived from the original on 2 June 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  2. ^ "CAMPAGNA TRASFERIMENTI" (PDF). AS Roma (in Italian). 28 June 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2001. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  3. ^ AS Roma SpA Report and Accounts on 30 June 2001 (in Italian)
  4. ^ A.C. Perugia S.p.A. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2003 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  5. ^ "Appiah arrives at Juventus". UEFA.com. 30 June 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Drugs duo face ban". BBC. 10 December 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Bans reduced for Kallon and Blasi". UEFA.com. 9 February 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  8. ^ "Lippi looks for fresh approach". UEFA.com. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  9. ^ a b c Ben Lyttleton (16 December 2007). "Five football teams built by Fabio Capello". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  10. ^ a b c Paolo Bandini; Sid Lowe (14 December 2007). "How Capello won his nine league titles". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "Capello, qualità al centro con Vieira-Emerson" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 26 July 2005. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Stefano Bedeschi (16 August 2016). "Gli eroi in bianconero: Manuele BLASI" (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Il pallone racconta: Manuele Blasi" (in Italian). Il pallone racconta. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  14. ^ "Blasi nets new Juve deal". UEFA.com. 16 September 2005. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  15. ^ "Ufficiale l'arrivo di Manuele Blasi". ACF Fiorentina (in Italian). 21 June 2006. Archived from the original on 30 June 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2006. La Fiorentina comunica di aver acquisito a titolo temporaneo con diritto di riscatto le prestazioni sportive del centrocampista Manuele Blasi, classe 1980, dalla Juventus FC.
  16. ^ a b "Blasi e Zalayeta al Napoli" (in Italian). SSC Napoli. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  17. ^ "Six-Monthly Report at 31 December 2007" (PDF). Juventus FC. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  18. ^ "Agreements with S.S.C. Napoli S.p.A." (PDF). Juventus FC. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  19. ^ "Preso Blasi dal Napoli" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 31 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 September 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  20. ^ "Blasi in prestito al Palermo, Montervino ceduto alla Salernitana" (in Italian). SSC Napoli. 31 August 2009. Archived from the original on 29 June 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  21. ^ "Napoli-Salernitana 3–0". SSC Napoli (in Italian). 16 August 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  22. ^ "CALCIO, MILAN: AGGREGATI 7 GIOCATORI PER TOURNEE USA". repubblica.it (in Italian). 20 May 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  23. ^ "Us Lecce Spa". Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  24. ^ "Indian Super League: Chennaiyin FC sign Italian Manuele Blasi". Zee News. 17 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  25. ^ Schira, Nicholas (30 July 2015). "Manuele Blasi verso l'Indian Super League: lo ha chiamato Materazzi". La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  26. ^ "Chennaiyin FC retain Manuele Blasi". The Times of India. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  27. ^ "Ufficiale, Ischia: rescinde Manuele Blasi - Calcio News 24". Calcio News 24 (in Italian). 22 March 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  28. ^ Manlio Gasparotto (26 July 1999). "L' Italia a un passo dall' Europa" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  29. ^ Erik Garin (3 February 2004). "European U-18 Championship 1999". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Holders' high expectations". UEFA.com. 14 May 2002. Archived from the original on 8 December 2005. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  31. ^ GIANLUCA MORESCO (26 May 2002). "Piccola Italia, maledetto golden gol" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
  32. ^ "Pessimo esordio per Lippi Italia sconfitta in Islanda" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 28 August 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  33. ^ "Blasi, Manuele" (in Italian). FIGC. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  34. ^ Cosmi: "Quando cambiai ruolo a Blasi..." Mediagol.it
  35. ^ a b Salvatore Bavari (2 September 2009). "Palermo, Cosmi: "Blasi? Dovrebbe avere l'intraprendenza di Tedesco ma è forte"" (in Italian). Tuttopalermo.net. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  36. ^ Cosmi: "Blasi regista? Può farlo, ha piedi buoni" Archived 5 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Mediagol.it (in Italian)
  37. ^ Colpo della Cpc, arriva Manuele Blasi, centumcellae.it, 12 January 2017
  38. ^ Manuele Blasi è il nuovo tecnico della Cpc, ,civonline.it 12 September 2017
  39. ^ Lia, Gianluca (23 May 2019). "Blasi ready to test himself at Ħamrun Spartans". Times of Malta. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  40. ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (3 February 2020). "Spartans sack coach Blasi". Times of Malta. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  41. ^ Manuele Blasi at FootballDatabase.eu
  42. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Manuele Blasi » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 10 December 2021.

External links

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