Michele Di Piedi
Encyclopedia
Michele Di Piedi is an Italian
professional footballer, most famous for playing for Sheffield Wednesday
. He is currently a free agent.
and was Paul Jewell
's first acquisition for the South Yorkshire
club, Di Piedi made his debut for Sheffield Wednesday
in their first game since relegation from The Premiership against Wolverhampton Wanderers
at The Molineux on 13 August 2000 at the age of 19 as a 60th minute substitute for Gilles De Bilde
, with Andy Booth
scoring a 79th minute equaliser after Kevin Pressman
was sent off in the first minute. Di Piedi was immediately welcomed and warmed to the Wednesday fans (this was possibly due to his nationality and the wednesdayites were looking at him as a possible replacement to the unfaithfuls Paulo Di Canio or Benito Carbone
). He showed signs he was full of energy, chasing lost causes and what he lacked in skill he made up for with his effort. His first goal for the club was a spectacular strike on his first start and was the only goal in a game away at Grimsby on 26 August. He scored some wonderful goals for The Owls, his last-minute strike at Birmingham City is well remembered by those who saw it, as he tore his shirt off, placed it on the corner flag and waved it in the air in front of the thousands of travelling Owls fans at St Andrews. His debut season was a big success with some great goals and performances which won him a four year contract. His second season was ruined by injuries and he never fulfilled his earlier impact, although he did wow the crowds with a fantastic long-range overhead kick against Sunderland in the Carling Cup that saw the team progress against Premiership opposition.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihA8faV_hgc He scored seven goals in ten starts and thirty four substitute appearances for Wednesday. After spending time on loan at Norwegian side Odd Grenland in 2002 and Bristol Rovers
in 2003 he was released by the club due to his child being ill and he returned to Italy
to play for A.S. Sora but returned the next year for a trial at Bournemouth, after he had been recommended to them by Efan Ekoku
. However, he failed to earn a permanent contract after breaking his neck in training. He then had a spell at Cypiot side Apoel Nicosia before moving to Sicily to play for Serie C2
side Gela FC. He would again return to England in the summer of 2006, signing for Doncaster Rovers
after having trials at Gillingham
and Yeovil Town
. Unfortunately he only made three appearances and did not score before returning to his native country again.
After leaving England, he returned in Italy to play at lower level leagues, including Lega Pro Seconda Divisione with Nuorese
and Serie D
with Calabrians Castrovillari
and Vigor Lamezia
throughout the 2009–10 season. On August 2010 he was signed by Western Sicilian club Mazara on a free transfer. He left the club by mutual consent on 29 November 2010.
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...
professional footballer, most famous for playing for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. He is currently a free agent.
Biography
Signed from PerugiaPerugia Calcio
Associazione Calcistica Perugia Calcio is an Italian association football club based in Perugia, Umbria, direct heir of the old Perugia Calcio and A.C. Perugia, excluded from Italian football because of financial troubles....
and was Paul Jewell
Paul Jewell
Paul Steven Jewell is a former English footballer who is currently the manager of Ipswich Town.His playing career started with Liverpool before moving to Wigan Athletic and then a ten-year spell with Bradford City...
's first acquisition for the South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
club, Di Piedi made his debut for Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in their first game since relegation from The Premiership against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
at The Molineux on 13 August 2000 at the age of 19 as a 60th minute substitute for Gilles De Bilde
Gilles De Bilde
Gilles De Bilde is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a striker. He played club football for Eendracht Aalst, Anderlecht, PSV, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Lierse and Willebroek-Meerhof...
, with Andy Booth
Andy Booth
Andrew David "Andy" Booth is a retired professional footballer. Whilst at Huddersfield he announced his retirement on 22 April 2009, but remains at the club as an ambassador.-Huddersfield Town:...
scoring a 79th minute equaliser after Kevin Pressman
Kevin Pressman
Kevin Paul Pressman is an English former football goalkeeper, currently coaching at Bradford City. Pressman made 588 appearances in English and Northern Irish league football for 5 different clubs over 3 decades....
was sent off in the first minute. Di Piedi was immediately welcomed and warmed to the Wednesday fans (this was possibly due to his nationality and the wednesdayites were looking at him as a possible replacement to the unfaithfuls Paulo Di Canio or Benito Carbone
Benito Carbone
Benito known as Benny Carbone is a retired Italian professional footballer and former manager of Serie B club Varese. He played as a forward, winger or midfielder...
). He showed signs he was full of energy, chasing lost causes and what he lacked in skill he made up for with his effort. His first goal for the club was a spectacular strike on his first start and was the only goal in a game away at Grimsby on 26 August. He scored some wonderful goals for The Owls, his last-minute strike at Birmingham City is well remembered by those who saw it, as he tore his shirt off, placed it on the corner flag and waved it in the air in front of the thousands of travelling Owls fans at St Andrews. His debut season was a big success with some great goals and performances which won him a four year contract. His second season was ruined by injuries and he never fulfilled his earlier impact, although he did wow the crowds with a fantastic long-range overhead kick against Sunderland in the Carling Cup that saw the team progress against Premiership opposition.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihA8faV_hgc He scored seven goals in ten starts and thirty four substitute appearances for Wednesday. After spending time on loan at Norwegian side Odd Grenland in 2002 and Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in 2003 he was released by the club due to his child being ill and he returned to Italy
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...
to play for A.S. Sora but returned the next year for a trial at Bournemouth, after he had been recommended to them by Efan Ekoku
Efan Ekoku
Efangwu Goziem "Efan" Ekoku is an English-born Nigerian former footballer who played as a striker.- Playing career :...
. However, he failed to earn a permanent contract after breaking his neck in training. He then had a spell at Cypiot side Apoel Nicosia before moving to Sicily to play for Serie C2
Serie C2
Lega Pro Seconda Divisione is the name of the fourth highest football league in Italy, the lowest with a professional status. Usually it consists of 54 teams, but in the season 2010–11 the teams are only 49 divided geographically into three divisions of 17, 16 and 16 teams each...
side Gela FC. He would again return to England in the summer of 2006, signing for Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
after having trials at Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
and Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
. Unfortunately he only made three appearances and did not score before returning to his native country again.
After leaving England, he returned in Italy to play at lower level leagues, including Lega Pro Seconda Divisione with Nuorese
F.C. Nuorese Calcio
U.S.D. Nuorese Calcio are an Italian association football club from Nuoro, Sardinia, founded in 1930. The club was known as A.S. Nuorese Calcio until 2006, and F.C...
and Serie D
Serie D
Serie D is the top level of the Italian non-professional football association called Lega Nazionale Dilettanti. The association represents over a million football players and thousands of football teams across Italy. Serie D ranks just below Lega Pro Seconda Divisione , and is thus considered the...
with Calabrians Castrovillari
U.S. Castrovillari Calcio
Unione Sportiva Castrovillari Calcio is an Italian association football club located in Castrovillari, Calabria.It currently plays in Eccellenza Calabria.Its colors are red and black.-2009–2010 squad:-External links:* *...
and Vigor Lamezia
Vigor Lamezia
Vigor Lamezia is an Italian association football club, based in Lamezia Terme, Calabria. The club was founded in 1919 and refounded in 1975. Vigor Lamezia currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. The team's colors are green and white....
throughout the 2009–10 season. On August 2010 he was signed by Western Sicilian club Mazara on a free transfer. He left the club by mutual consent on 29 November 2010.