Mario Cassano

Mario Cassano (born 8 October 1983) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Mario Cassano

Personal information
Date of birth	(1983-10-08) 8 October 1983 (age 39)
Place of birth	Vizzolo Predabissi, Italy
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
2001–2002	Fiorentina
2002–2003	Empoli
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1999–2001	Voghera	35	(0)
2001–2002	Fiorentina	2	(0)
2002–2005	Empoli	12	(0)
2005–2012	Piacenza	161	(0)
2009–2010	→ Reggina (loan)	17	(0)
2010	→ Sampdoria (loan)	7	(0)
International career^‡
2003–2004	Italy U-20	6	(0)
2005	Italy U-21 Serie B^[1]	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 August 2010 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 March 2005

Club career

Born in Vizzolo Predabissi, Lombardy, Cassano started his senior career at Serie D side Voghera, located at near-by province. In summer 2001, he joined A.C. Fiorentina and played twice for first team. In August 2002, after the bankrupt of La Viola, he joined Empoli F.C. which also located in Tuscany.^[2] After 3 seasons as backup goalkeeper, he joined Serie B side Piacenza, where he played as first choice except 2006–07 season behind Ferdinando Coppola (and also injured^[3]) and first season shared the role with Gabriele Aldegani. In 2009–10 season, he swapped club with Christian Puggioni, both joined the team on loan. In January 2010, Sampdoria signed Cassano on loan,^[4] due to the injury of their first choice Luca Castellazzi and sent Vincenzo Fiorillo to Reggina on loan.^[5] However, he worked as backup of Marco Storari, another new signing. At the end of the loan spell, he came back to Piacenza. Cassano was the first choice until December 2011. He was questioned by the prosecutor on 21 March 2012.^[6]

Cassano was banned from football in June 2012.

Italian football scandal

On 1 June 2012 the prosecutor requested to ban Cassano for 5 years due to involvement in 2011–12 Italian football scandal. It was suspected that the match AlbinoLeffe–Piacenza on 20 December 2010, Atalanta–Piacenza on 19 March 2011 were fixed.^[7] Eventually FIGC announced to ban him for 5 years on 18 June 2012.^[8]

International career

Cassano has capped for Italy U20 team, the feeder team of U21 team, which the coach also tested several other players. He also received several U21 call-up but did not play.

References

1. Di Ragogna, Dante (18 March 2005). "L' Italia si diverte Brilla Vantaggiato". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 1 September 2010.
2. "Fiorentina players seek new homes". Sky Sports. 2 August 2002. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
3. "Infortunio a Cassano. Esordio di Coppola". Piacenza Calcio (in Italian). 22 August 2006. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
4. "Risolto il trasferimento temporaneo di Mario Cassano". Reggina Calcio (in Italian). 14 January 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
5. "Mario Cassano è blucerchiato, Fiorillo alla Reggina". UC Sampdoria (in Italian). 13 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
6. "CALCIO SCOMMESSE: RINVIATA L'AUDIZIONE DI PEDERSOLI. IL CALENDARIO" (in Italian). FIGC. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
7. (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
8. (PDF). Commissione Disciplinare Nazionale (in Italian). FIGC. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.

External links

• Mario Cassano at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)
• AIC Football profile (in Italian)
• National team data (in Italian)