Claudio Bellucci
Encyclopedia
Claudio Bellucci is an Italian association football
striker
who currently plays for Modena
.
, making his Serie A
debut against A.C. Milan
on 13 March 1994, at the age of 18. He made one more appearance for the Genoa
-based side, before being loaned to Fiorenzuola
of Serie C1
. In his first game after his return to Sampdoria, on 20 April 1995, he scored two goals in the 83rd and 86th minute of the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup return leg semifinal against Arsenal
. Arsenal, who won the first leg 3–2, reached to score two minutes before the end of the match, and eventually won the successive penalty shootout. He then left for Venezia of Serie B
.
for only one season, before signing for Napoli
. He followed the club's relegation to Serie B in summer 1998, and after two seasons they regained promotion to the top flight. When Napoli were once again relegated, he transferred to Bologna
.
He scored 12 goals in 32 Serie A games in 2007–08 Serie A but ruptured his right achilles tendon on 21 May 2008, in the 2–0 win over Palermo
. Bellucci returned in action in October, but found few opportunities due to the rise in importance of Antonio Cassano
and the mid-season signing of Giampaolo Pazzini. In the 2009–10 season
, he made 8 league appearances, three of them coming as a starter.
signed the forward from Sampdoria on loan.
on a free transfer.
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...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who currently plays for 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...
.
Football career
He started his career with 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...
, making his 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...
debut against A.C. 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...
on 13 March 1994, at the age of 18. He made one more appearance for the Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
-based side, before being loaned to Fiorenzuola
U.S. Fiorenzuola 1922
Unione Sportiva Fiorenzuola 1922 is an Italian association football club from Fiorenzuola d'Arda, Emilia-Romagna. It was founded in 1922 and its official and colours are red and black....
of Serie C1
Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
. In his first game after his return to Sampdoria, on 20 April 1995, he scored two goals in the 83rd and 86th minute of the 1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup return leg semifinal 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...
. Arsenal, who won the first leg 3–2, reached to score two minutes before the end of the match, and eventually won the successive penalty shootout. He then left for Venezia of 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...
.
Naples
He stayed at VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
for only one season, before signing for 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....
. He followed the club's relegation to Serie B in summer 1998, and after two seasons they regained promotion to the top flight. When Napoli were once again relegated, he transferred to Bologna
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
.
Bologna
Bellucci signed a contract extension in September 2004. Bellucci followed Bologna relegated to Serie B in summer 2005, in which he scored 25 and 19 goals, became the second highest goal scorers of the two successive seasons.Return to Sampdoria
He returned to Sampdoria on 15 June 2007 on a free transfer. He signed a two-year contract with an option for further one year.He scored 12 goals in 32 Serie A games in 2007–08 Serie A but ruptured his right achilles tendon on 21 May 2008, in the 2–0 win over Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
. Bellucci returned in action in October, but found few opportunities due to the rise in importance of Antonio Cassano
Antonio Cassano
Antonio Cassano is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan as a striker. Nicknamed Il Gioiello di Bari Vecchia , he is known for his short temper as much as his ability on the pitch, which led to the coining of the neologism Cassanata by his former coach, Fabio Capello, in November...
and the mid-season signing of Giampaolo Pazzini. In the 2009–10 season
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...
, he made 8 league appearances, three of them coming as a starter.
Livorno
On 19 January 2010 LivornoA.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...
signed the forward from Sampdoria on loan.
Modena
On 10 September 2010 Bellucci signed a contract from ModenaModena 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...
on a free transfer.