Alessandro Pistone
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Pistone is a former Italian
footballer.
and Crevalcore
, two small Italian teams who in recent years have slid to the lowest tier of professional Italian football, before moving to Vicenza
for the duration of the 1995–96 season. He transferred to Internazionale
for season 1996–97.
manager Kenny Dalglish
snapped Pistone up for £4.5 million in July 1997. He played in the 1998 FA Cup Final
against Arsenal
, which Newcastle United lost. After Dalglish was sacked, Pistone was frozen out of the team by his replacement Ruud Gullit
and banished to the reserve team along with former club captain Rob Lee
as well as being sent out on loan to Venezia. After Gullit was sacked, Pistone was restored to the first team by Bobby Robson
, before being sold to Everton
in 2000. In his time at Newcastle he scored one league goal against Middlesbrough in May 2000.
.
Though initially his future looked bleak after David Moyes
would only offer Pistone a one year contract which Pistone refused to sign but he later offered a two year contract due to a left-back crisis and having played in the vast majority of games through 2004–05, he returned to the first-team lineup for the 2005–06 season. However he soon received a cruciate knee ligament injury which ended his season prematurely.
Pistone was released by Everton at the end of the 2006–07
season on 14 May 2007.
manager Gareth Southgate
that Pistone was having a trial at the Premier League club and, as Pistone was a free agent, he could be signed after the transfer deadline, giving Southgate more time to decide. It was reported on 9 September 2007 that Southgate had decided against offering Pistone a contract. Pistone also went on trial with Watford
but could not convince Aidy Boothroyd to offer him a contract.http://www.watford.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=83675.
. After impressing manager Geo Van Pyperzeele, Pistone signed for the club on 6 December 2007 until the end of the season, and was given the number 4 jersey. After signing for the club, Pistone was quoted as saying "I signed here because I felt that the club immediately believed in me. R.A.E.C. Mons gives me the opportunity to play at a certain level and, very importantly, I felt the confidence of the club and the direction towards me". However, despite making four appearances for the club, Pistone left R.A.E.C. Mons at the end of the 2007-2008 season.
he won in 1996 the European Under-21 Championship
. He also played for Italy
at the 1996 Olympics
.
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.
Early career
Pistone started his career at SolbiateseSolbiatese Arno Calcio
Solbiatese Arno Calcio is an Italian association football club located in Solbiate Arno , Lombardy.In the 2010-11 season, the club has been relegated from Serie D group B to Eccellenza Lombardy.-History:...
and Crevalcore
Crevalcore
Crevalcore is a town and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region near Bologna, Italy.-External links:*...
, two small Italian teams who in recent years have slid to the lowest tier of professional Italian football, before moving to Vicenza
Vicenza Calcio
Vicenza Calcio is an Italian football club based in Vicenza, Veneto. The club was formed in 1902 and currently plays in Italy's Serie B, having spent the entire 1960s and a large part of the 1990s in Serie A...
for the duration of the 1995–96 season. He transferred to 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...
for season 1996–97.
Newcastle United
After an impressive season at Internazionale, Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
manager Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish
Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and...
snapped Pistone up for £4.5 million in July 1997. He played in the 1998 FA Cup Final
1998 FA Cup Final
The 1998 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Newcastle United at Wembley. Arsenal won 2–0, with goals by Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka to complete their second league and cup double....
against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, which Newcastle United lost. After Dalglish was sacked, Pistone was frozen out of the team by his replacement Ruud Gullit
Ruud Gullit
OON is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played professionally in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the captain of the Netherlands national team that was victorious at Euro 88 and was also a member of the squad for the 1990 World Cup. He was named the European Footballer of the...
and banished to the reserve team along with former club captain Rob Lee
Rob Lee
Robert Martin "Rob" Lee is a retired English footballer who played the majority of his career for Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United.-Charlton Athletic:...
as well as being sent out on loan to Venezia. After Gullit was sacked, Pistone was restored to the first team by Bobby Robson
Bobby Robson
Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, CBE was an English footballer and manager, who coached seven European clubs and the England national team during his career....
, before being sold to Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in 2000. In his time at Newcastle he scored one league goal against Middlesbrough in May 2000.
Everton
Pistone appeared in the first match of the 2000–01 season, before being beset by a year full of injuries, including a six-month layoff for a knee injury. Throughout the following season he also suffered a major injury, thus missing most of the campaign. During the next season, however, he notched his first goal for the club against Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Though initially his future looked bleak after David Moyes
David Moyes
David William Moyes is an association football manager and former player, currently managing English Premier League club Everton. He was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 League Managers Association Manager of the Year...
would only offer Pistone a one year contract which Pistone refused to sign but he later offered a two year contract due to a left-back crisis and having played in the vast majority of games through 2004–05, he returned to the first-team lineup for the 2005–06 season. However he soon received a cruciate knee ligament injury which ended his season prematurely.
Pistone was released by Everton at the end of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season on 14 May 2007.
Free Agent
After being released by Everton, on 31 August 2007 it was confirmed by MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
manager Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate in Crawley, West Sussex is a retired English footballer and ex-manager. He is known as the "Penalty Misser of '96." He served as manager of Middlesbrough from June 2006, until he was dismissed in October 2009...
that Pistone was having a trial at the Premier League club and, as Pistone was a free agent, he could be signed after the transfer deadline, giving Southgate more time to decide. It was reported on 9 September 2007 that Southgate had decided against offering Pistone a contract. Pistone also went on trial with Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
but could not convince Aidy Boothroyd to offer him a contract.http://www.watford.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=83675.
R.A.E.C. Mons
After failing to secure a contract with a club in England, Pistone spent a week on trial for Belgian club R.A.E.C. MonsR.A.E.C. Mons
R.A.E.C. Mons is a Belgian football club based in Mons, Belgium. The team was promoted to the Belgian Jupiler League recently on 29 May 2011 after beating Waasland-Beveren in a "Winner-Take-All" Test match of the Final Tour of the Belgian second division and has Re-Joined the Top Belgian League...
. After impressing manager Geo Van Pyperzeele, Pistone signed for the club on 6 December 2007 until the end of the season, and was given the number 4 jersey. After signing for the club, Pistone was quoted as saying "I signed here because I felt that the club immediately believed in me. R.A.E.C. Mons gives me the opportunity to play at a certain level and, very importantly, I felt the confidence of the club and the direction towards me". However, despite making four appearances for the club, Pistone left R.A.E.C. Mons at the end of the 2007-2008 season.
Post-football
Since retiring from football, Pistone has made a number of appearances on the Italian Poker Circuit, and participated in the eight Annual Night of Aces event in 2010 http://www.pokeritaliaweb.org/poker-live/altri-eventi/la-notte-degli-assi-8-day-1a-383-iscritti.html.International career
With the Italian Under-21 national teamItaly 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...
he won in 1996 the European Under-21 Championship
1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 1996, which spanned two years , had 44 entrants. After the quarter-finals stage, Spain were chosen as the hosts of the final stages, consisting of four matches in total....
. He also played for Italy
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...
at the 1996 Olympics
Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The association football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia....
.