Mario Cassano
Height1.85 m
Birth date8 October 1983 (age 42)
Birth placeVizzolo Predabissi, Italy
PositionGoalkeeper
Youthyears 12001–2002
Youthclubs 1Fiorentina
Youthyears 22002–2003
Youthclubs 2Empoli
Years 11999–2001
Caps 135
Goals 10
Clubs 1Voghera
Years 22001–2002
Caps 22
Goals 20
Clubs 2Fiorentina
Years 32002–2005
Caps 312
Goals 30
Clubs 3Empoli
Years 42005–2012
Caps 4161
Goals 40
Clubs 4Piacenza
Years 52009–2010
Caps 517
Goals 50
Clubs 5→ Reggina (loan)
Years 62010
Caps 67
Goals 60
Clubs 6→ Sampdoria (loan)
Nationalyears 12003–2004
Nationalteam 1Italy U-20
Nationalcaps 16
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22005
Nationalteam 2Italy U-21 Serie B[1]
Nationalcaps 21
Nationalgoals 20
Pcupdate28 August 2010
Ntupdate18 March 2005

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

Club career

Born in Vizzolo Predabissi, Lombardy, Cassano started his senior career at Serie D side Voghera, located a nearby province. In the summer of 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 the 2009–10 season, he swapped clubs 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 the 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 the U21 team, for which the coach also tested several other players. He also received several U21 call-ups but did not play.

References

  1. ^ Di Ragogna, Dante (18 March 2005). "L' Italia si diverte Brilla Vantaggiato" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 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" (in Italian). Piacenza Calcio. 22 August 2006. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Risolto il trasferimento temporaneo di Mario Cassano" (in Italian). Reggina Calcio. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Mario Cassano è blucerchiato, Fiorillo alla Reggina" (in Italian). UC Sampdoria. 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. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Comunicato Ufficiale N°101/CDN (2011–12)" (in Italian). Commissione Disciplinare Nazionale. FIGC. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.