Andrea Russotto
Encyclopedia
Andrea Russotto is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie B
outfit Livorno
.
youth system. In 2004, Russotto, already a regular in the national youth teams, was approached by football agency GEA World who wanted to represent the rising star. Russotto refused the pressure from GEA and, in order to get away from their continuing pressure, he moved to Switzerland, where he signed for AC Bellinzona
, a team from the Italian part of Switzerland that were playing in Swiss Second Division at the time.
On 2005, newly-promoted Serie A club Treviso
acquired his services on loan but made him play with the Primavera side all season, where he formed a valid striking partnership with Italian youth international Robert Acquafresca
. Russotto did later make his debut in Serie A that season, at the age of 17, and completed the season with 4 first team appearances. Famed magazine World Soccer even inserted Russotto on the list of the top 50 young players in the world, as one of only two Italians (the other being Lorenzo De Silvestri
).
The following season Treviso extended the loan (although they had been relegated to Serie B) and Russotto finally started to show signs of a potential explosion. He made his Italy U-21 debut at the age of 18 and racked up 32 appearances and 4 goals that season. Treviso extended his loan for one more year in 2007-2008 but even though he played 31 times and scoring 1 goal, Russotto failed to perform at a high level like the previous season and was used mainly as a sub.
In the summer of 2008, he finally returned to Bellinzona, and then left out again on loan, this time to join Napoli
in the Serie A, with an option for the Southern Italian side to make the move permanent. However the young trequartista was used sparingly by head coach Edy Reja and his end-of-season substitute Roberto Donadoni
, and Napoli then decided not to exercise the buy-out clause and therefore Russotto was sent back to Switzerland again.
He consequently returned in Switzerland, where he spent the first half of the season playing with AC Bellinzona's first team in the Swiss Super League
. On January 2010, he was sent on loan (with a permanent move option) to Serie B club Crotone
.
, 12 December 2006, replacing Valerio Virga
at half-time and notching an assist. He was placed on reserve for the 2008 Olympics squad and was later called-up to replace the injured Claudio Marchisio
.
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...
outfit Livorno
A.S. Livorno Calcio
Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio is an Italian football club based in Livorno, Tuscany. The club was formed in 1915 and currently plays in Italian Serie B. The team's colors are dark red or maroon...
.
Club career
Hailed as one of the most promising Italian youngsters, he started his career as part of the S.S. LazioS.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
youth system. In 2004, Russotto, already a regular in the national youth teams, was approached by football agency GEA World who wanted to represent the rising star. Russotto refused the pressure from GEA and, in order to get away from their continuing pressure, he moved to Switzerland, where he signed for AC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona
AC Bellinzona is a Swiss football club based in Bellinzona. It was founded in 1904, and won the Swiss Super League in 1948.-History:Since Bellinzona is an Italian speaking region, many Italian Serie A clubs loan youth players to the club to get first team experience. AS Roma are a parent club to...
, a team from the Italian part of Switzerland that were playing in Swiss Second Division at the time.
On 2005, newly-promoted Serie A club Treviso
Treviso F.B.C. 1993
Football Club Treviso is an Italian football club based in Treviso. The club was formed in 1909, and refounded in 1993 and in 2009. The club currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.Treviso's official colours are light blue and white.-History:...
acquired his services on loan but made him play with the Primavera side all season, where he formed a valid striking partnership with Italian youth international Robert Acquafresca
Robert Acquafresca
Robert Acquafresca is an Italian footballer of half-Polish descent who plays for Serie A club Bologna as a striker.-Club career:...
. Russotto did later make his debut in Serie A that season, at the age of 17, and completed the season with 4 first team appearances. Famed magazine World Soccer even inserted Russotto on the list of the top 50 young players in the world, as one of only two Italians (the other being Lorenzo De Silvestri
Lorenzo De Silvestri
Lorenzo De Silvestri is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Fiorentina. He is an offensive fullback with an imposing physique.-Lazio:...
).
The following season Treviso extended the loan (although they had been relegated to Serie B) and Russotto finally started to show signs of a potential explosion. He made his Italy U-21 debut at the age of 18 and racked up 32 appearances and 4 goals that season. Treviso extended his loan for one more year in 2007-2008 but even though he played 31 times and scoring 1 goal, Russotto failed to perform at a high level like the previous season and was used mainly as a sub.
In the summer of 2008, he finally returned to Bellinzona, and then left out again on loan, this time to join Napoli
S.S.C. Napoli
Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....
in the Serie A, with an option for the Southern Italian side to make the move permanent. However the young trequartista was used sparingly by head coach Edy Reja and his end-of-season substitute Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni is an Italian football manager and former player, last in charge of Serie A club Cagliari.An attacking midfielder or winger known for pace and technique, he was a pillar of the powerhouse AC Milan teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and one of the pioneers of Major League...
, and Napoli then decided not to exercise the buy-out clause and therefore Russotto was sent back to Switzerland again.
He consequently returned in Switzerland, where he spent the first half of the season playing with AC Bellinzona's first team in the Swiss Super League
Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
. On January 2010, he was sent on loan (with a permanent move option) to Serie B club Crotone
F.C. Crotone
Football Club Crotone is an Italian football club based in Crotone, Calabria. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in Serie B, holding home games at Stadio Ezio Scida, which has a 9,631-seat capacity.-History:...
.
International career
He made his U-21 team debut against Luxembourg U-21Luxembourg national under-21 football team
The Luxembourg national under-21 football team is the national representative under-21 football team of Luxembourg. Controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation , the team feeds into Luxembourg's full national team....
, 12 December 2006, replacing Valerio Virga
Valerio Virga
Valerio Virga is an Italian footballer, currently plays for Virtus Lanciano on loan from A.S. Roma.-Career:A product of the AS Roma youth academy and one of the bright prospects of the giallorossi, Virga usually plays as midfielder. He made his Serie A debut on 10 April 2005, in an away league...
at half-time and notching an assist. He was placed on reserve for the 2008 Olympics squad and was later called-up to replace the injured Claudio Marchisio
Claudio Marchisio
Claudio Marchisio is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team. A product of the Juventus youth system, he has spent his whole career thus far at his hometown club, with the exception of a season-long loan spell at Empoli...
.