Alessandro Rosina
Encyclopedia
Alessandro Rosina is an Italian
footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Russian Premier League
club Zenit St. Petersburg.
, Rosina started his career at Cittadella del Capo youth team at the age of five, where he caught the eye of Juventus
, Roma
and Milan
scouts. His father, however, decided to let him join Parma
. He was subsequently brought up in the club's youth system.
Rosina spent 2001–2002 playing for Parma Primavera
team. He was promoted to the first team next season, making his professional debut on 16 February 2003 against Juventus as a substitute for Hidetoshi Nakata
. In two and a half years at the club, he made 25 league appearances.
With a change of team's formation, Rosina found first-team opportunities hard to come by. In January 2005 he was loaned to Hellas Verona
, where he had a hugely successful spell. After the end of the loan he was bought by Torino
, then in Serie B
.
Rosina was regarded as a revelation since his arrival to the club. He became the driving force behind Torino's 2005–2006 promotion campaign, making 42 appearances, scoring twelve times. In two subsequent Serie A
seasons, he dragged the team to survival from relegation, averaging a goal every three games as well as providing assists. As a result, he earned the captain's armband in January 2008 and became a popular figure amongst Torino fans. He was nicknamed Rosinaldo, a portmanteau of his last name and Ronaldo
's name, due to his Brazilian-style flair. He stayed loyal to Torino despite awakening the interest of Italian powerhouses, signing a contract extension until 2011 in 2007.
The 2008–2009 season was a major setback for Torino, as Rosina was unable to prevent the club from suffering relegation.
club Zenit St. Petersburg for a fee in the region of €7 million, signing a 4 year contract with Sine-Belo-Golubyye. Dick Advocaat
, then-manager of Zenit who planned to quit the club at the end of the year to become Belgium coach, declared himself unhappy with the acquisition of Rosina and Sergei Kornilenko
, labelling them newly appointed sporting director Igor Korneev
's creatures, as the Dutch gaffer wished to sign two top-class forwards, namely Goran Pandev
and Paolo Guerrero, instead. Nevertheless, Rosina made his debut on 5 August 2009 against FC Nizhny Novgorod
in Russian Cup, also scoring his first Zenit goal, and played full 90 minutes in subsequent league game against Tom.
As Zenit lost to Tom at home, Advocaat was replaced at the helm by former Zenit player Anatoly Davydov, who soon afterwards brought in another offensive midfielder, controversial Vladimir Bystrov
. Despite finding little playing time through tough competition, Rosina had impressed on occasions, achieving a total of two goals and two assists in nine RFPL
games out of remaining fourteen.
2010 preseason saw another head coach change, as fellow Italian Luciano Spalletti
took reign. However, with Danny having recovered from crucial ligaments injury, Rosina again found himself on the bench at the start of the season. Being used mainly as a substitute, he managed to contribute with a vital assist against archrivals Spartak Moscow, finding Nicolas Lombaerts
' head with a perfect cross in a game that finished 1–1.
As Spalletti settled to a counterattacking 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation with two wingers, and established internationals Danny, Konstantin Zyryanov
and Danko Lazović
all being options on the left, left-footed Rosina was mainly used in the rotation on the right as a backup for Bystrov. He scored after coming on as a substitute in 6-1 trashing of Saturn in September, rounding the keeper and scoring in the empty net.
On January 29, 2011, before the start of Russian Premier League 2011–12 season
, Rosina was loaned to Serie A
side Cesena
until July 2011.
, coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute for Emanuele Giaccherini
. He scored his first goal for Cesena on February 20, 2011 against Parma
, firing home the opener in the 31st minute. Rosina struggled with his fitness during his time on loan and amassed only 9 league appearances for Serie A newcomers.
, Szabolcs Huszti
as well as recovering Bystrov.
from 2004 to 2007.
On October 17, 2007, Rosina made his Italian national team
debut against South Africa
in an international friendly match.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Russian Premier League
Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
club Zenit St. Petersburg.
Early career
Born in Belvedere MarittimoBelvedere Marittimo
Belvedere Marittimo is a town and comune in the province of Cosenza in the Calabria region of southern Italy.The town is made of two separate urbanized areas also called "paese" and "marina"...
, Rosina started his career at Cittadella del Capo youth team at the age of five, where he caught the eye of Juventus
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...
, 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...
and Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
scouts. His father, however, decided to let him join Parma
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...
. He was subsequently brought up in the club's youth system.
Rosina spent 2001–2002 playing for Parma Primavera
Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti
The Campionato Nazionale Primavera – Trofeo Giacinto Facchetti, is an Italian football competition played by youth teams of all Serie A and all Serie B clubs, and organized by the Football League. All players must be under 20, but two overaged are allowed in eliminatory rounds...
team. He was promoted to the first team next season, making his professional debut on 16 February 2003 against Juventus as a substitute for Hidetoshi Nakata
Hidetoshi Nakata
, is a retired Japanese football player. He was one of the most famous Asian footballers of his generation.Nakata began his professional career in 1995 and won the Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year award in 1997 and 1998, the Scudetto with A.S...
. In two and a half years at the club, he made 25 league appearances.
With a change of team's formation, Rosina found first-team opportunities hard to come by. In January 2005 he was loaned to 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 had a hugely successful spell. After the end of the loan he was bought by Torino
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....
, then in 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...
.
Torino
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...
seasons, he dragged the team to survival from relegation, averaging a goal every three games as well as providing assists. As a result, he earned the captain's armband in January 2008 and became a popular figure amongst Torino fans. He was nicknamed Rosinaldo, a portmanteau of his last name and Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima , commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who last played for Corinthians. Ronaldo is widely considered to be the greatest 'pure' striker in the history of the modern game, and by some accounts, in the history of football. Ronaldo was one of the...
's name, due to his Brazilian-style flair. He stayed loyal to Torino despite awakening the interest of Italian powerhouses, signing a contract extension until 2011 in 2007.
The 2008–2009 season was a major setback for Torino, as Rosina was unable to prevent the club from suffering relegation.
Zenit
On July 31, 2009, Rosina was sold to Russian Premier LeagueRussian Premier League
The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
club Zenit St. Petersburg for a fee in the region of €7 million, signing a 4 year contract with Sine-Belo-Golubyye. Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat
Dirk Nicolaas "Dick" Advocaat is a Dutch football manager and former player currently the manager of the Russia national football team.He has been moderately successful as a football player and as a coach, which included two stints with the Dutch national football team...
, then-manager of Zenit who planned to quit the club at the end of the year to become Belgium coach, declared himself unhappy with the acquisition of Rosina and Sergei Kornilenko
Sergei Kornilenko
Sergei Aleksandrovich Kornilenko is a Belarusian professional footballer who plays for FC Krylia Sovetov Samara.- Career :Vitebsk-born Kornilenko began his career in his native Belarus as a trainee with FC Dinamo Minsk before joining his hometown club...
, labelling them newly appointed sporting director Igor Korneev
Igor Korneev
Igor Vladimirovich Korneev is a former association footballer who played midfielder. Since 2002 he also holds Dutch citizenship...
's creatures, as the Dutch gaffer wished to sign two top-class forwards, namely Goran Pandev
Goran Pandev
Goran Pandev , is a Macedonian footballer who plays as a forward for Italian Serie A club Napoli on loan from Internazionale. He is also considered a key player for the Macedonian national team.-Early career:...
and Paolo Guerrero, instead. Nevertheless, Rosina made his debut on 5 August 2009 against FC Nizhny Novgorod
FC Nizhny Novgorod
FC Nizhny Novgorod is an association football club based in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Currently the club plays in the Russian First Division.In December 2007 a new team formed from an amateur team playing in the regional championship....
in Russian Cup, also scoring his first Zenit goal, and played full 90 minutes in subsequent league game against Tom.
As Zenit lost to Tom at home, Advocaat was replaced at the helm by former Zenit player Anatoly Davydov, who soon afterwards brought in another offensive midfielder, controversial Vladimir Bystrov
Vladimir Bystrov
Vladimir Sergeyevich Bystrov born 31 January 1984 in Luga, Leningrad Oblast) is an association football right winger who currently plays for FC Zenit St. Petersburg and Russia.-Euro 2008:...
. Despite finding little playing time through tough competition, Rosina had impressed on occasions, achieving a total of two goals and two assists in nine RFPL
Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
games out of remaining fourteen.
2010 preseason saw another head coach change, as fellow Italian Luciano Spalletti
Luciano Spalletti
Luciano Spalletti is a retired Italian footballer and current coach of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg.-Playing career:Born in Certaldo, Province of Florence, Spalletti played for Serie C teams such as Entella, Spezia, Viareggio and Empoli....
took reign. However, with Danny having recovered from crucial ligaments injury, Rosina again found himself on the bench at the start of the season. Being used mainly as a substitute, he managed to contribute with a vital assist against archrivals Spartak Moscow, finding Nicolas Lombaerts
Nicolas Lombaerts
Nicolas Lombaerts is a Belgian left-footed football defender who plays for FC Zenit Saint Petersburg and the Belgium national team. He is tall, a leader on the pitch and a good header, both strong in defence as in constructive play.-Brugge:Lombaerts joined Club Brugge at young age where he went...
' head with a perfect cross in a game that finished 1–1.
As Spalletti settled to a counterattacking 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation with two wingers, and established internationals Danny, Konstantin Zyryanov
Konstantin Zyryanov
Konstantin Georgiyevich Zyryanov is an association footballer who currently plays for Zenit Saint Petersburg and the Russian national team....
and Danko Lazović
Danko Lazovic
Danko Lazović is a Serbian footballer who plays for Russian Premier League club Zenit as a second striker or a winger.-Feyenoord:...
all being options on the left, left-footed Rosina was mainly used in the rotation on the right as a backup for Bystrov. He scored after coming on as a substitute in 6-1 trashing of Saturn in September, rounding the keeper and scoring in the empty net.
On January 29, 2011, before the start of Russian Premier League 2011–12 season
2011–12 Russian Premier League
The 2011–12 Russian Premier League is the 20th season of the Russian football championship since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and 10th under the current Russian Premier League name. The season began on 12 March 2011. The last matches will be played in spring 2012, as the league will switch...
, Rosina was loaned to 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...
side Cesena
A.C. Cesena
Associazione Calcio Cesena is an Italian football club based in Cesena, Romagna. The club was formed in 1940 and won the first promotion to Serie A in 1973. Since then, the club have been in the Italian Premier League for a total of in 11 seasons, reaching the best achievement in 1976 with the 6th...
until July 2011.
Cesena
Rosina made his debut for Cesena on February 2, 2011 against CataniaCalcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...
, coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute for Emanuele Giaccherini
Emanuele Giaccherini
Emanuele Giaccherini is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Juventus. He can play as a striker or as a winger.-Cesena:...
. He scored his first goal for Cesena on February 20, 2011 against Parma
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...
, firing home the opener in the 31st minute. Rosina struggled with his fitness during his time on loan and amassed only 9 league appearances for Serie A newcomers.
Return to Zenit
After his loan deal with Cesena came to an end, Rosina returned to Zenit and was subsequently registered for Russian Premier League football. On 14 August he was included in the starting line-up against Amkar and put off a dynamic performance, but due to below-par passing and general lack of end product he was substituted even before the break. Despite this, Zenit head coach Luciano Spaletti praised Rosina for his footballing attitude and determination to fight for a place in the team, promising him a squad role for the remainder of the season. Rosina had to fight off competition from Lazović, Aleksei IonovAleksei Ionov
Aleksei Sergeyevich Ionov is an association footballer who played midfielder, who currently plays for Zenit.He started playing football at the age of six. Later he graduated from SCYSSOR Zenit, and started playing for Zenit Reserves in 2007. He played for Zenit three times in UEFA Cup...
, Szabolcs Huszti
Szabolcs Huszti
Szabolcs Huszti is a Hungarian footballer who plays for FC Zenit St. Petersburg.-Career:Huszti began his professional career at the Hungarian club Ferencváros. Following a solitary first team appearance, he was loaned out to fellow top flight team FC Sopron in December 2003...
as well as recovering Bystrov.
International career
Rosina was a member of the Italy U-21 teamItaly 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...
from 2004 to 2007.
On October 17, 2007, Rosina made his Italian national team
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...
debut against South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
in an international friendly match.
Career honours
Zenit St. Petersburg- Russian Premier LeagueRussian Premier LeagueThe Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
: 20102010 Russian Premier LeagueThe 2010 Russian Premier League is the 19th season of the Russian football championship since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and 9th under the current Russian Premier League name. The season started on 12 March 2010. The last matches have been played on 29 November 2010. On 14 November 2010,... - Russian Cup: 20102009–10 Russian CupThe Russian Cup 2009–10 is the eighteenth season of the Russian football knockout tournament since the dissolution of Soviet Union. The competition started on April 20, 2009 and finished with the Final held on 16 May 2010.-First round:...