Alberto Maria Fontana
Encyclopedia
Alberto Maria Fontana is an Italian
footballer who plays for Novara Calcio
in Serie A
, as a goalkeeper.
During his career, he played more than 10 seasons as a backup.
, Fontana started his career at Juventus FC
, but played his first seasons as a senior in Serie C1, Serie C2 and Serie D
. In mid-1998, he joined level two
club Hellas Verona
, where he played twice. In the next season he returned to the third division, successively representing A.C. Reggiana 1919
and A.C. Sandonà 1922.
In mid-2000, Fontana returned to the second level, signing with A.C. Pistoiese
, where he served as David Dei
's backup, meeting the same fate at his new club, U.S. Città di Palermo
, to Vincenzo Sicignano
.
In June 2002, he joined Torino FC
of the top division in a co-ownership deal, in exchange with Gabriele Paoletti
. During his seven-year stint, the longest of his career, he played second-fiddle to Luca Bucci
, Stefano Sorrentino
, Massimo Taibi
, Christian Abbiati
and Matteo Sereni
.
In summer 2009, 35-year old Fontana was released by Toro, and joined Novara Calcio
at Lega Pro Prima Divisione, where he again was second-choice, now to Albanian international
Samir Ujkani
.
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 Novara Calcio
Novara Calcio
Novara Calcio is an Italian football club based in Novara, Piedmont.-History:In December 1908 the F.A.S. was created by eight students of Liceo Carlo Alberto, aged between 15–16 years; among them an engineer, Gianni Canestrini, and a lawyer, Piero Omodei Zorini...
in Serie A
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...
, as a goalkeeper.
During his career, he played more than 10 seasons as a backup.
Football career
Born in TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Fontana started his career at Juventus FC
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, but played his first seasons as a senior in Serie C1, Serie C2 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...
. In mid-1998, he joined level two
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...
club Hellas Verona
Hellas Verona F.C.
Hellas Verona Football Club is a professional Italian association football team, based in Verona, Veneto. The team's colours are yellow and blue and gialloblu is the team's most widely used nickname...
, where he played twice. In the next season he returned to the third division, successively representing A.C. Reggiana 1919
A.C. Reggiana 1919
Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919 is an Italian association football club, based in Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1919 as A.C. Reggiana and refounded in July 2005 as Reggio Emilia F.C., but it was renamed A.C. Reggiana 1919 soon after the start of the 2005–06 season. The...
and A.C. Sandonà 1922.
In mid-2000, Fontana returned to the second level, signing with A.C. Pistoiese
A.C. Pistoiese
Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921 is an Italian association football club, based in Pistoia, Tuscany.At the end of the 2010-11 Eccellenza season, Pistoiese was promoted to Serie D....
, where he served as David Dei
David Dei
David Dei is an Italian association footballer.Dei made his Serie A debut on 23 May 1999 against Udinese Calcio....
's backup, meeting the same fate at his new club, U.S. Città di Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
, to Vincenzo Sicignano
Vincenzo Sicignano
Vincenzo Sicignano is an Italian football goalkeeper. He currently plays for Frosinone.-Football career:...
.
In June 2002, he joined 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....
of the top division in a co-ownership deal, in exchange with Gabriele Paoletti
Gabriele Paoletti
Gabriele Paoletti is an Italian football goalkeeper.-Career:In summer 2002, Paoletti was exchanged with Alberto Maria Fontana. In summer 2004, he joined Reggiana in co-ownership deal, for €0.5K....
. During his seven-year stint, the longest of his career, he played second-fiddle to Luca Bucci
Luca Bucci
Luca Bucci is a retired Italian football goalkeeper.-Club career:After a few years in the third and second levels, Bucci made his Serie A debut playing for Parma F.C., in a league match against Udinese Calcio on August 29, 1993...
, Stefano Sorrentino
Stefano Sorrentino
Stefano Sorrentino is an Italian professional footballer, who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Chievo.- Club career :...
, Massimo Taibi
Massimo Taibi
Massimo Taibi is a retired Italian football goalkeeper, who played for several clubs, mostly in Italy's Serie A, B, and C1.-Italy:...
, Christian Abbiati
Christian Abbiati
Christian Abbiati is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Milan.-Milan:His debut in Serie A came on January 17, 1999 as a 92nd-minute substitute for Sebastiano Rossi...
and Matteo Sereni
Matteo Sereni
Matteo Sereni is an Italian football goalkeeper.-Career:Born in Parma, Sereni started his career at UC Sampdoria, and was loaned out to A.C. Crevalcore in 1994. He returned to Sampdoria and only made 10 appearances before being transferred to Piacenza Calcio in 1997...
.
In summer 2009, 35-year old Fontana was released by Toro, and joined Novara Calcio
Novara Calcio
Novara Calcio is an Italian football club based in Novara, Piedmont.-History:In December 1908 the F.A.S. was created by eight students of Liceo Carlo Alberto, aged between 15–16 years; among them an engineer, Gianni Canestrini, and a lawyer, Piero Omodei Zorini...
at Lega Pro Prima Divisione, where he again was second-choice, now to Albanian international
Albania national football team
The Albania national association football team is the national association football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
Samir Ujkani
Samir Ujkani
Samir Ujkani is a Albanian international football goalkeeper, currently playing for Novara in a co-ownership agreement with Palermo, and the Albanian national team.-Early life:...
.