Antonio Cassano
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Antonio Cassano (Template:IPA;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> born 12 July 1982) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a forward. A talented and technically gifted player, he was usually deployed as a supporting forward,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but could also play as an attacking midfielder,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> winger,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> or as a striker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nicknamed Il Gioiello di Bari Vecchia ("the jewel of Old Bari"), and Fantantonio ("fantastic Antonio"), he was known for his short temper as much as his skill and ability on the pitch.<ref name="Rejuvenated">Template:Cite web</ref> Cassano won an Italian and Spanish league title each throughout his career as major honours.
Cassano began his senior club career with hometown club Bari in 1999; his performances earned him a transfer to Roma two years later, where he won the Supercoppa Italiana and was twice named Serie A Young Footballer of the Year in 2001 and 2003. In 2006, he moved to La Liga club Real Madrid, where he won a league title, but was chastised for his poor behaviour, inconsistent performances, and work-rate, and returned to Italy a year later, on loan to Sampdoria. There, he refound his form, and was signed by the club on a permanent basis in 2008. He then spent single seasons with AC Milan and cross-city rivals Inter Milan, winning a Serie A title and his Supercoppa Italiana with the former, before signing for Parma in 2013. In 2015, he returned to Sampdoria, and in 2017, signed with Verona. He failed to make an appearance for the club and subsequently retired.
At international level, Cassano represented the Italy national football team on 39 occasions between 2003 and 2014, scoring 10 goals; he took part at three UEFA European Championships, and one FIFA World Cup, winning a runners-up medal at UEFA Euro 2012. Along with Mario Balotelli, he is Italy's top-scorer in the UEFA European Championships, with three goals.<ref name=stars>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cassano's short temper and disputes with managers and teammates led to birth of the neologism "cassanata" by his former coach, Fabio Capello, in 2002. The word is now regularly used by Italian sports journalists as a euphemism for any behavior incompatible with team spirit.<ref name="Antonio il terribile">Template:Cite web</ref>
Club career
Bari
Cassano was born in Bari<ref name="SWOOP">Template:Cite news</ref> and his father left the family shortly thereafter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was raised in poverty by his mother in the San Nicola district of the Bari Vecchia neighbourhood, and began playing football on the streets at an early age.<ref name="Cassano no longer Italy’s rebel">Template:Cite web</ref> Cassano was spotted by a Bari scout and brought up through the team's youth system, and he made his Serie A debut for Bari against local rivals Lecce on 11 December 1999.<ref name="BARI IN THE BLOOD">Template:Cite web</ref> During his time with Bari, he soon emerged as one of Serie A's most promising young Italian players, drawing particular attention to himself after scoring a notable, individual, match-winning goal (his first ever Serie A goal) in a 2–1 home win over Italian giants Inter Milan, on 18 December 1999, at the age of 17: in the 88th minute, after controlling a 40-yard lobbed pass on the run with his backheel, he subsequently dribbled past veteran defenders Christian Panucci and Laurent Blanc, wrong-footing goalkeeper Fabrizio Ferron with a dummy, before finishing at the near post.<ref name="Cassano, il suo gol numero 100 in serie A"/><ref name="Le nuove stelle">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="new Antonio Cassano"/> Cassano's technical skill, precocious talent and impressive performances earned him the nicknames "Fantantonio", due to his flair and creativity,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and "El Pibe de Bari" ("The Kid from Bari"), a reference to the legendary Diego Maradona's nickname, "El Pibe de Oro".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During his two seasons with Bari, he scored a total of 6 goals in 48 Serie A matches, scoring 3 goals in 21 appearances during his first season, and 3 goals in 27 league matches during his second season with the club.<ref name="BARI IN THE BLOOD"/>
Roma
In 2001, at the age of 19, Cassano signed with reigning Serie A champions Roma for a transfer fee of 60 billion Italian lire (about €30 million); at the time, this was the most expensive teenage signing ever.<ref name="Cassano no longer Italy’s rebel"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His first season produced five goals, as well as a 2001 Supercoppa Italiana victory, and he attracted media attention after openly clashing with coach Fabio Capello after he was left out of a practice match a few days after his international debut.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 2003 Italian Cup final against Milan, Cassano was sent off after protesting an official's decision, and he flashed the sign of the horns at the referee while leaving the pitch. During his time with Roma, he won the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year Award in 2001 and in 2003.
He was omitted from the squad during Roma's tumultuous 2004–05 campaign while Luigi Delneri, Roma's third coach of the season (after Cesare Prandelli and Rudi Völler), was in charge. After Delneri himself resigned during the season, his replacement, Bruno Conti, returned Cassano to the starting lineup, with Cassano captaining the team in the absence of incumbent Francesco Totti, who was serving a five-match suspension.
During the 2005–06 pre-season, Cassano was in constant conflict with club management over the renewal of his contract, which was due to expire on 30 June 2006.<ref>Training accident keeps Cassano out Template:Webarchive; UEFA.com 14 October 2005</ref> In January 2006, he acrimoniously parted ways with Roma and signed with Real Madrid<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> for just €5M.<ref>http://bo.asroma.it/UserFiles/755.pdfTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Real Madrid
Cassano became the second ever Italian player to sign for Real Madrid after former Roma teammate Christian Panucci. His debut came on 18 January 2006 in a Spanish Cup match against Real Betis, and scored his first goal just three minutes after entering the match in the second half.<ref name="SWOOP"/> Just four months into his tenure with the club, however, he began gaining weight due to poor eating habits, which resulted in Madrid fining him for every gram he remained over his playing weight,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and earned him the nickname "Gordito".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 30 October, Real Madrid's official website announced that Cassano had been suspended due to his "disrespect" of Capello, who had joined the club at the beginning of 2006–07 season, following a dressing room argument arising from his omission from the team after a game against Gimnàstic de Tarragona,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and was subsequently benched along with David Beckham and Ronaldo. In an interview with a Roman radio station, Cassano said he would "walk all the way back" to rejoin Roma, and indicated his eagerness to make peace with Totti, with whom Cassano had conflicted with before his departure from Roma. Cassano, however, remained with Madrid after the January 2007 transfer window had closed, and the rest of his season was cut short by an ankle injury. Despite winning the 2006–07 La Liga title with Real Madrid, Cassano only made seven league appearances, scoring just a single goal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In an interview with Spanish radio in July 2007, Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón described Cassano's attitude as "unsustainable in the last couple of months" and indicated that he would be leaving the club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sampdoria
On 13 August 2007, Sampdoria took Cassano on a one-year loan, agreeing to pay €1.2 million of his €4.2 million salary.<ref name="SWOOP"/> He was presented to approximately 2,500 fans five days later.Template:Citation needed In his first press conference, Cassano said that he had chosen to wear the shirt number 99 for several reasons: firstly, as his first-choice, the number 18, was already taken by teammate Vladimir Koman, and because 9 plus 9 equals 18, secondly, because his other teammate Francesco Flachi was already wearing the number 10 shirt, which was his second choice, and thirdly, as he intended the number to be an homage to Brazilian striker Ronaldo, who was wearing the same number at Milan.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He made his Sampdoria début that season in the Derby della Lanterna against Genoa on 23 September, in which he was substituted by former Roma teammate Vincenzo Montella in the final minutes of the match. Cassano scored his first league goal upon his return against Atalanta a week later, in a 3–0 victory. He scored in three consecutive games in January, and helped end league leaders Inter's winning league run with a goal in a 1–1 draw. Cassano, however, was sent off in a 2–2 draw with Torino on 2 March 2008, which he compounded by hurling his shirt at the referee as he left the pitch,<ref name="youtube">Cassano red card, 3/2/08 Template:Webarchive; YouTube</ref> and was punished with a five-match ban. Sampdoria ended the season with an UEFA Cup berth, while Cassano was acquired on a permanent basis by the club on free transfer (plus bonus) from Madrid.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In his second season, Cassano confirmed to have temperamentally improved, also becoming vice-captain for the team behind Angelo Palombo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the January signing of Giampaolo Pazzini from Fiorentina, Cassano managed to form a fruitful striking partnership with the former Viola forward, that was praised by both media and Sampdoria supporters, and led club chairman Riccardo Garrone to compare it with striking duo of Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini that led Sampdoria to win their only Scudetto to date,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> an opinion that was later shared also by both Vialli and Mancini.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Cassano scored 12 goals in Serie A and helped Sampdoria to reach the Coppa Italia final that season, scoring a goal in the semi-final against the Serie A Champions, Inter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the final, Sampdoria were defeated by Lazio in a penalty shoot-out, with Cassano missing the first penalty.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
His third season with Sampdoria again began very well, as he continued his prolific partnership with Pazzini, and was instrumental in the club's impressive seasonal start, that led them up to first place after a 1–0 home win to Inter. However, a result crisis, including a 3–0 defeat in the local derby against crosstown rivals Genoa, left Sampdoria down to mid-table on January, leading head coach Luigi Delneri to put Cassano off the team for "technical and tactical reasons", casting doubts about the player's future at the club.
In the final days of the January transfer window, he was linked with a move on loan to Fiorentina, that was however denied with an official statement from the club,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but was described by the media as Cassano's own refusal to leave Sampdoria.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> This was confirmed by Cassano himself through an official statement published on Sampdoria's website, citing his relationship with club chairman Riccardo Garrone, his teammates and the team supporters as the main reason for his choice.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He soon came back into the starting line-up, and eventually helped Sampdoria to a fourth-place finish UEFA Champions League qualifying spot in Serie A. Sampdoria were defeated by Werder Bremen in the play-off round, however, and were to enter into the Europa League that season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Del Neri left Sampdoria at the end of the season.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
Cassano's final season with the club was more difficult. In October 2010, Cassano was excluded from the first team squad with immediate effect after he had a heated row with chairman Riccardo Garrone following the player's refusal to attend an award ceremony.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following such events, Sampdoria formally applied for a contract termination to a league arbitration panel, a position that was confirmed even after Cassano apologised to Garrone and the club.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 16 December, the arbitration panel ordered Sampdoria to reinclude Cassano into the first team from 1 January 2011, rejecting the Blucerchiati's request for a contract termination, but also concluding Cassano will be paid only 50% of his salary for the remainder of his contract.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Milan
On 20 December 2010, it was reported that Milan, Sampdoria and the player agreed on the instalment plan to pay a €5 million to Real Madrid, which was indicated in Cassano's buy-out clause when he left the Spanish club. Eventually, Sampdoria paid €5 million to Real Madrid;<ref name=Sampdoria2010bilancio>Relazione sulla Gestione of UC Sampdoria Report and Accounts on 31 December 2010</ref> Milan paid €3.33 million to Sampdoria,<ref name=Sampdoria2010bilancio/> while Cassano had a wage cut with Milan. Cassano then signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Milan,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which was later confirmed by Milan's owner Silvio Berlusconi,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> replacing the gap left by Ronaldinho's departure. His former strike partner at Sampdoria, Giampaolo Pazzini, also left the club in January to move to Milan's city rivals, Inter. Cassano made his debut for his new club in a 1–0 win against Cagliari where he came on as a substitute for Alexander Merkel in the latter stages of the game. He scored his first goal for Milan in a 4–0 win against Parma. He went on to score three more goals that season, as Milan claimed the 2010–11 Serie A title that season, Cassano's first Scudetto of his career; two of these goals came against former clubs Bari and Sampdoria, and the other one from a penalty against fierce rivals Inter on 2 April 2011, after coming on as a substitute; he was later sent off during the same match after being booked twice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the meantime, Sampdoria struggled without Cassano and Pazzini, and were relegated to Serie B at the end of the season.
As Cassano faced competition for a spot in the Milan starting XI from the likes of forwards Zlatan Ibrahimović, Alexandre Pato and Robinho, a lot of speculation formed over his future for the following season, as Cassano wanted to gain more playing time, due to his wish to keep his spot in the Italian national side. Although he was initially linked to other clubs, he stayed with Milan, and after a good pre-season, he won the 2011 Supercoppa Italiana with Milan over Inter, and he scored in the first Serie A game of the 2011–12 season against Lazio. On 29 October 2011, following Milan's match against Roma in Rome, Cassano was hospitalised after suffering a stroke upon arriving in Milan, and was operated on 4 November.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He returned to the first team on 7 April 2012, after almost six months on the side-lines, featuring as a substitute in Milan's 2–1 home defeat to Fiorentina in Serie A, and received a standing ovation from the crowd as he entered the pitch for Gianluca Zambrotta in the 79th minute.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also appeared as a substitute in a 1–0 home win against Genoa on 25 April,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and on 29 April, he scored his first goal since his operation, in a 4–1 win over Siena, also setting up both of Ibrahimović's goals during the match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Milan finished the Serie A season in second place behind Juventus, also reaching the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, and the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Internazionale
After reportedly being upset over the sale of Milan's key players, particularly Zlatan Ibrahimović and Thiago Silva, Cassano requested a transfer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 21 August 2012, Milan and Inter reached an agreement over an exchange deal involving Giampaolo Pazzini and Cassano, with a compensatory sum of €7.5 million in favor of the Nerazzurri. (Pazzini tagged for €13 million and Cassano for €5.5 million.)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He officially joined the team the next day.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Cassano signed a two-year contract with the club. Cassano's season at Inter was negative, as the club struggled in the league, while Cassano only scored five league goals and often argued with manager Andrea Stramaccioni, although he provided nine assists in Serie A.<ref name="Rejuvenated"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The club finished the 2012–13 Serie A season in ninth place. In total, he scored 9 goals in 39 games for Inter in all competitions, providing 15 assists.<ref name="Cassano-Inter reports intensify">Template:Cite web</ref>
Parma
After only one season at Inter, Cassano joined Parma on 4 July 2013 on a temporary deal, and was given the number 99 shirt that he had also worn at previous clubs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cassano's work-rate, fitness and discipline improved at Parma, as he managed to keep control of his weight through a stricter diet and training regime, losing 10 kg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 30 November, he scored his 100th Serie A goal in a 1–1 home draw against Bologna.<ref name="Cassano, il suo gol numero 100 in serie A">Template:Cite web</ref> He refound his form with the club and had a successful 2013–14 season at Parma,<ref name=Rejuvenated/> as he helped the club to a sixth-place finish in the league, achieving a Europa League qualifying spot, also scoring 13 goals and managing 8 assists in 36 appearances in all competitions, with 12 goals and 7 assists coming in Serie A.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2014, he signed a pre-contract agreement with Parma for the 2014–15 season.<ref name=Rejuvenated/>
In the first half of the 2014–15 season, Cassano managed 5 goals in 20 appearances as Parma were rooted to the bottom of the table and battling serious financial difficulties. On 26 January 2015, Parma allowed Cassano to terminate his contract with the club in advance, which made him a free agent; due to the club's financial struggles, he had reportedly not been paid his wages since June 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the termination of his contract, he was initially linked with a return to Inter.<ref name="Cassano-Inter reports intensify"/>
Return to Sampdoria
Following his release from Parma back in January of the same year, Cassano re-joined former club Sampdoria for a third time on 9 August 2015. He agreed a two-year deal with the club, lasting until 30 June 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He scored his first goal since his return to the club on 10 January 2016, in the 64th minute of a 2–1 home defeat to Juventus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During the 2016–17 pre-season, the club's president, Massimo Ferrero, communicated that Cassano was not a part of his plans and was excluded from the Sampdoria first team. Cassano rejected offers from several clubs and obtained permission to train with the Sampdoria youth side, in particular with the Primavera team's goalkeeper.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 25 January 2017, Cassano terminated his contract with Sampdoria by mutual consent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hellas Verona, Entella trial and retirement
On 10 July 2017, Cassano was signed by Verona.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appeared in two summer friendlies for the club the next week; however, on 18 July, he was involved in a curious incident, which gained much publicity in the media: he initially communicated that he would be retiring from football, as he missed his family too much, before holding a press conference later the same day, in which he announced that he had reversed his decision, and stated that he was looking forward to "having a fun season" with Verona.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, on 24 July, he overturned his decision once again, stating that he would be leaving the club and retiring from football, commenting: "As opposed to what appeared on my wife’s official social profiles, I would like to clarify the following. Carolina was wrong, after thinking and reflecting in the end I decided. Antonio Cassano will not play football anymore. I apologise to the city of Verona, to all the fans, to the president. For a 35-year-old man I need to be motivated and at this moment I feel that my priority is represented by being close to my children and my wife."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 27 July, Cassano's contract with Verona was officially terminated by mutual consent,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> before he had played any official matches for the club; regarding his reasons for parting ways with Verona so suddenly, he later stated in an interview with Tiki Taka that "[t]here was no spark there", adding: "It's like when you’re seeing a woman and she no longer attracts you, so you leave. I took a big risk 12 years ago leaving Real Madrid for Sampdoria. I didn't feel like making a similar choice this time. I knew this would be a season of suffering for Verona, but I didn't know if I could give 100 per cent to avoid relegation. I gave up a lot of money, which not everyone would do. I left things on good terms with them, we have a good rapport."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In spite of his previous comments, on 31 July, however, he stated that he would not be retiring, and that he was looking for a new club closer to home,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but added that he would retire if he did not sign with a club by September.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although he received no other offers from Italian clubs, and was ultimately unable to sign for a team prior to the end of the summer transfer window, in September Cassano stated that he would be following a fitness training schedule given to him by his former Sampdoria fitness coach Agostino Tibaudi, and that he was hoping to sign for a club in the January transfer window.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In spite of rumours in the media of Cassano being linked with several clubs for January, towards the end of September, he once again stated that he was "done" with football.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
After a year of inactivity, in August 2018, Cassano announced that he was looking to return to football.<ref name="Cassano looking for a new club">Template:Cite news</ref> In October 2018, it was confirmed he was about to start training with Serie C team Virtus Entella, a club he was already linked to in the past.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a prior interview a few days earlier, he had rejected reports linking him to Monza after Berlusconi's acquisition of the club, stating Virtus Entella would be the only club from outside of Serie A he would be willing to join.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A few days later, however, he confirmed that he had officially retired from football.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
International career
Cassano made 39 appearances for the Italy national team, scoring ten goals.<ref name=figc>Template:Cite web</ref> He made his senior international debut on 12 November 2003, aged 21, in a 3–1 friendly defeat against Poland in Warsaw, in which he also scored his first goal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cassano was included in Italy's UEFA Euro 2004 squad by manager Giovanni Trapattoni. He was initially thought to serve as a reserve, but after Francesco Totti was suspended following a spitting incident with Christian Poulsen in Italy's opening group match against Denmark, which ended in a 0–0 draw, Cassano was inserted into the starting lineup for a 1–1 draw with Sweden, in which he scored the opening goal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In Italy's final group match, which ended in a 2–1 victory over Bulgaria, he was named man of the match, as he was involved in Simone Perrotta's equaliser, and also netted the last-minute winner, but Italy were eliminated in the group stage on direct encounters after a three-way, five-point tie with Denmark and Sweden.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
After a poor season with Real Madrid, Cassano was left off coach Marcello Lippi's final roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.<ref name=lippi>Template:Cite news</ref> The Azzurri went on to lift the trophy in Berlin, beating France in a penalty shootout.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In September 2006, Cassano was called up by new manager Roberto Donadoni for Euro 2008 qualifiers against Lithuania and France. However, he was not selected again until he was surprisingly being included in the Euro 2008 squad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He went scoreless in the tournament as Italy were eliminated in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Spain after a penalty shootout.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Lippi returned as coach for the 2010 World Cup qualification campaign and did not select Cassano during the qualifying matches or the 2010 World Cup finals.<ref name=lippi/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After a two-year absence from the Azzurri, and following widespread criticism from the media towards Lippi about his exclusion from the World Cup squad, Cassano was readmitted into the squad on 6 August 2010 by new head coach Cesare Prandelli for his first game in charge of the team, a friendly match against the Ivory Coast played on 10 August at Upton Park, London.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Almost a month later, in Italy's Euro 2012 qualifier played in Estonia, Cassano scored the tying goal in a 1–2 away victory and also assisted Leonardo Bonucci's second goal with a back-heel. Cassano scored a long-range goal from just outside the box in Italy's 5–0 qualifying win over the Faroe Islands. He scored again against Estonia helping Italy secure a 3–0 win.
Cassano played in all six of Italy's matches and scored one goal against the Republic of Ireland during Euro 2012,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> where the Italians reached the final, losing 4–0 against Spain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the semi-final against Germany, Cassano set up Mario Balotelli's first goal of the match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cassano wore the number 10 shirt for Italy throughout the tournament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In July 2012, he was fined by UEFA for making a homophobic comment at a press conference during Euro 2012. At the conference, when asked if he thought there were any homosexual players in the Italian team, he replied, "I hope there are none." He later issued a statement saying he had been misinterpreted.<ref name="fine">Template:Cite news</ref>
Despite not featuring during the qualification campaign, Cassano was selected in Italy's squad for the 2014 World Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 20 June 2014, at the age of 31, Cassano made his World Cup debut as a substitute in a 1–0 loss to Costa Rica.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also appeared as a substitute in Italy's 1–0 defeat to Uruguay, in their final group match on 24 June, which resulted in Italy's elimination in the first round of the tournament for the second consecutive time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cassano was criticised by the press for his poor performances and lack of fitness, as he failed to improve his team's results and did not provide pace and creativity to the team's attacking plays.<ref name="new Antonio Cassano">Template:Cite web</ref> This would be his final appearance for Italy, as he was no longer called up by Italy's new manager, Antonio Conte, after the tournament.
Style of play
A creative forward, or fantasista, in Italian,<ref name="The end for Cassano?">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Tridente o fantasista">Template:Cite web</ref> who usually functioned as an assist provider in his teams, due to his ability to create chances for teammates<ref name="Tridente o fantasista"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (Cassano himself once stated that he preferred creating goals to scoring them),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cassano was capable of playing anywhere along or behind the front-line, on either flank or through the centre of the pitch; in addition to his usual role as a second striker, he was able to act as an advanced playmaker. He was also deployed in a central role as a main striker, as a false-9, or even as a winger on occasion.<ref name="Tridente o fantasista"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cassano has been described as a player who was "skillful and intelligent on the ball" who possessed "excellent vision and also impresses with his eye for goal".<ref name=espn>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="The future of Italian football">Template:Cite web</ref> His best technical qualities were his trapping skills, control, dribbling, crossing ability and passing accuracy;<ref name=espn/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> although naturally right-footed, he could also strike well with either foot.<ref name="The future of Italian football"/> In addition to his skills, touch and excellent technique, Cassano also possessed considerable upper-body strength and balance, which aided him in defending the ball with his back to goal despite his diminutive stature, and allowed him to retain possession in tight spaces, while his technical ability and acceleration enabled him to beat defenders in one on one situations, or when dribbling at speed.<ref name="The future of Italian football"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was also effective from set-pieces and penalties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Despite his flair, ability and talent, throughout his career, Cassano was also criticised for his behaviour and lack of discipline, both on and off the pitch, which often led him to pick up unnecessary cards;<ref name=cassanate>Template:Cite web</ref> he was also condemned for his poor work-rate and lack of fitness throughout different intervals of his career,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which led him to gain weight,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and lose some of his speed, stamina, and agility.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although he was initially regarded as one of the most promising young players of his generation,<ref name="Le nuove stelle"/> even being described as Roberto Baggio's heir,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> due to his inconsistency, difficult character, and unpredictability, many in the sport, including his former manager Fabio Capello, have argued that he did not live up to the potential he demonstrated in his youth, and that his personality affected his career.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Post-retirement
During 2019, Cassano was a pundit for Italia 1 football show Tiki Taka.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In December 2019, Cassano successfully completed a director of football course at Coverciano.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
He successively joined fellow friends and former Serie A footballers Christian Vieri, Daniele Adani and Nicola Ventola in a regular Twitch show named Bobo TV, which started in 2020 during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Italy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Cassano got engaged to water polo player Carolina Marcialis in 2008, then married on 19 June 2010 at a church, Chiesa di San Martino, in Portofino.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The couple have two sons.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 30 October 2011, it was reported that Cassano complained of finding it difficult to speak or move on the team plane when the team returned to Milan.<ref name="Milan's Cassano has heart surgery">Template:Cite news</ref> Three days later, his club Milan announced and confirmed that he was suffering from ischemic-based cerebral damage, though it was thought to be only temporary.<ref>Milan's Cassano out for months, to have surgery Template:Webarchive. Rediff.com. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.</ref> Cassano underwent minor heart surgery soon after.<ref name="Milan's Cassano has heart surgery"/>
Controversy
In addition to his skill, Cassano is known for his temper, poor behaviour and lack of discipline; these have led to several controversial incidents both on and off the pitch throughout his career, which have thus been dubbed Cassanate by the press and his former manager Capello.<ref name="Antonio il terribile"/><ref name="Cassano no longer Italy’s rebel"/><ref name=cassanate/>
During a Euro 2012 press conference, Cassano stated his preference for there to be no gay players on the squad and used a derogatory descriptor; he was subsequently fined by UEFA for making homophobic comments.<ref name="fine"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
On 1 February 2013, Cassano had a locker room brawl with his then-coach at Inter, Andrea Stramaccioni. It occurred following Friday's training session and had started off as a relatively normal discussion before the pair got into a heated slanging match, then degenerated into pushing and shoving before the other players intervened to pull them apart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sponsorship
Cassano was a brand ambassador for Diadora, and wore their Evoluzione K Pro GX 14 football boots in black and fluorescent yellow throughout his career.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Career statistics
Club
- Source:<ref name=SW/><ref name="ESPN Profile"/><ref name="Gazzetta Profile">Template:Cite web</ref>
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bari | 1999–2000 | Serie A | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 | 3 | |
| 2000–01 | Serie A | 27 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | 29 | 3 | ||
| Total | 48 | 6 | 2 | 0 | – | 50 | 6 | |||
| Roma | 2001–02 | Serie A | 22 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 5Template:Efn | 0 | 30 | 6 |
| 2002–03 | Serie A | 27 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 11Template:Efn | 4 | 43 | 14 | |
| 2003–04 | Serie A | 33 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6Template:Efn | 4 | 39 | 18 | |
| 2004–05 | Serie A | 31 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 3Template:Efn | 1 | 42 | 11 | |
| 2005–06 | Serie A | 5 | 2 | – | 2Template:Efn | 1 | 7 | 3 | ||
| Total | 118 | 39 | 16 | 3 | 27 | 10 | 161 | 52 | ||
| Real Madrid | 2005–06 | La Liga | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1Template:Efn | 0 | 17 | 2 |
| 2006–07 | La Liga | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4Template:Efn | 0 | 12 | 2 | |
| Total | 19 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 29 | 4 | ||
| Sampdoria | 2007–08 | Serie A | 22 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1Template:Efn | 0 | 25 | 10 |
| 2008–09 | Serie A | 35 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 6Template:Efn | 2 | 45 | 15 | |
| 2009–10 | Serie A | 32 | 9 | 1 | 2 | – | 33 | 11 | ||
| 2010–11 | Serie A | 7 | 4 | – | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | ||
| Total | 96 | 35 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 115 | 41 | ||
| Milan | 2010–11 | Serie A | 17 | 4 | 4 | 0 | – | 21 | 4 | |
| 2011–12 | Serie A | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3Template:Efn | 1 | 19 | 4 | |
| Total | 33 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 8 | ||
| Inter Milan | 2012–13 | Serie A | 28 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 9Template:Efn | 1 | 39 | 9 |
| Parma | 2013–14 | Serie A | 34 | 12 | 2 | 1 | – | 36 | 13 | |
| 2014–15 | Serie A | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | – | 20 | 5 | ||
| Total | 53 | 17 | 3 | 1 | – | 56 | 18 | |||
| Sampdoria | 2015–16 | Serie A | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 25 | 2 | |
| 2016–17 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 25 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 419 | 115 | 40 | 10 | 56 | 15 | 514 | 140 | ||
International
- Source:<ref name=SW/><ref name="ESPN Profile"/><ref name="NFT">Template:NFT player</ref><ref name="FIGC Profile">Template:Cite web</ref>
| Italy | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 | 1 |
| 2004 | 4 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | – | – |
| 2008 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | – | – |
| 2010 | 5 | 2 |
| 2011 | 8 | 4 |
| 2012 | 7 | 1 |
| 2013 | – | – |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 39 | 10 |
- Scores list Italy's tally first.<ref name=SW/><ref name="ESPN Profile">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="NFT"/><ref name="FIGC Profile"/>
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 November 2003 | Warsaw, Poland | Template:Fb | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 18 June 2004 | Porto, Portugal | Template:Fb | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2004 |
| 3 | 22 June 2004 | Guimarães, Portugal | Template:Fb | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2004 |
| 4 | 3 September 2010 | Tallinn, Estonia | Template:Fb | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2012 Qualification |
| 5 | 7 September 2010 | Florence, Italy | Template:Fb | 5–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 Qualification |
| 6 | 3 June 2011 | Modena, Italy | Template:Fb | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 Qualification |
| 7 | 2 September 2011 | Tórshavn, Faroe Islands | Template:Fb | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 Qualification |
| 8 | 11 October 2011 | Pescara, Italy | Template:Fb | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 Qualification |
| 9 | |||||
| 10 | 18 June 2012 | Gdańsk, Poland | Template:Fb | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2012 |
Honours
AS Roma<ref name=SW>Template:Cite web</ref>
Real Madrid<ref name=SW/>
AC Milan<ref name=SW/>
Individual
- Serie A Young Footballer of the Year: 2001, 2003<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
References
External links
- Profile at AIC Template:In lang
- National team data Template:In lang
- Template:Soccerbase Template:In lang
Template:Serie A Young Footballer of the Year Template:Navboxes
- Pages with broken file links
- 1982 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Bari
- Footballers from Apulia
- Italian men's footballers
- Men's association football forwards
- Serie A players
- SSC Bari players
- AS Roma players
- UC Sampdoria players
- Hellas Verona FC players
- AC Milan players
- Inter Milan players
- La Liga players
- Real Madrid CF players
- Italy men's youth international footballers
- Italy men's under-21 international footballers
- Italy men's international footballers
- UEFA Euro 2004 players
- UEFA Euro 2008 players
- UEFA Euro 2012 players
- 2014 FIFA World Cup players
- Italian expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
- Italian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
- Parma Calcio 1913 players
- 21st-century Italian sportsmen