Paolo Castellini
Encyclopedia
Paolo Castellini is an Italian
footballer who plays for U.C. Sampdoria
as a left defender.
, Lombardy
, Castellini joined made his professional debuts at U.S. Cremonese
at only 17, going on to appear for the club in both the Serie B
and Serie C1. In the 2000 summer, he moved to Torino FC
, achieving promotion to the top level
in his debut season, whilst appearing in 33 matches.
From January 2004, Castellini served a loan at hometown's Brescia Calcio
, in the first division (Torino had been again relegated), after which he was released by Toro. In the ensuing summer, he moved abroad and signed with Real Betis
of Spain
, on a five-year contract. However, his spell in Andalusia
would be disastrous, as he never dislodged veteran Luis Fernández
from his starting position, also suffering with injuries (torn ligaments and cartilage in his right knee
).
After cancelling his link to Betis, Castellini returned to his country in the summer of 2006, joining Parma FC
, and being an automatic first-choice from the beginning. In his third season, he played in 41 out of 42 matches, helping the club return to Serie A after only one year.
In the 2009–10 season
, Castellini often played as wingback in a 3–5–2 or 5–3–2 formation
, with Cristian Zaccardo
in the other flank. He helped Parma to a final eighth position, narrowly missing out on UEFA Europa League qualification.
On 26 August 2010, Castellini was loaned to A.S. Roma
, as cover for John Arne Riise
. On 24 June 2011, in the same predicament, he signed for U.C. Sampdoria
in the second division.
for Italy
, but appeared with the U-21s
at the 2002 European Football Championship
, helping the national side to the semifinals.
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 who plays for U.C. Sampdoria
U.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...
as a left defender.
Club career
Born in BresciaBrescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, Castellini joined made his professional debuts at U.S. Cremonese
U.S. Cremonese
Unione Sportiva Cremonese is an Italian football club, based in Cremona. The club was founded in 1903. Cremonese played the 2005/2006 season in Serie B, having won Serie C1/A the previous season. However, in the 2005/2006 Serie B campaign, Cremonese came out twenty-first, being therefore relegated...
at only 17, going on to appear for the club in both the 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...
and Serie C1. In the 2000 summer, he moved to Torino FC
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
, achieving promotion to the top level
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...
in his debut season, whilst appearing in 33 matches.
From January 2004, Castellini served a loan at hometown's Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
, in the first division (Torino had been again relegated), after which he was released by Toro. In the ensuing summer, he moved abroad and signed with Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, on a five-year contract. However, his spell in Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
would be disastrous, as he never dislodged veteran Luis Fernández
Luis Fernández Gutiérrez
Luis Fernández Gutiérrez is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a left defender.In a professional career which spanned almost 20 years, he is best known for his spell at Real Betis , in which he played one full decade.-Club career:After making his professional starts with lowly Gimnástica...
from his starting position, also suffering with injuries (torn ligaments and cartilage in his right knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
).
After cancelling his link to Betis, Castellini returned to his country in the summer of 2006, joining Parma FC
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
, and being an automatic first-choice from the beginning. In his third season, he played in 41 out of 42 matches, helping the club return to Serie A after only one year.
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...
, Castellini often played as wingback in a 3–5–2 or 5–3–2 formation
Formation (association football)
In association football, the formation describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. Different formations can be used depending on whether a team wishes to play more attacking or defensive football....
, with Cristian Zaccardo
Cristian Zaccardo
Cristian Zaccardo, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, who plays for Italian Serie A club Parma...
in the other flank. He helped Parma to a final eighth position, narrowly missing out on UEFA Europa League qualification.
On 26 August 2010, Castellini was loaned to A.S. Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
, as cover for John Arne Riise
John Arne Riise
John Arne Semundseth Riise is a Norwegian footballer who currently plays as a left wing-back for Fulham and the Norwegian national team. Riise spent seven years playing for Premier League side Liverpool before moving to Roma in 2008...
. On 24 June 2011, in the same predicament, he signed for U.C. Sampdoria
U.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...
in the second division.
International career
Castellini never gained one full capCap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
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...
, but appeared with the U-21s
Italy 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...
at the 2002 European Football Championship
2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2002 was the 13th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Switzerland between 16 and 28 May 2002.Czech Republic U-21s won the competition for the first time.-Qualification:...
, helping the national side to the semifinals.