Fabio Celestini
Encyclopedia
Fabio Celestini is a retired Swiss
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Having started and finished his 15-year professional career with Lausanne, he also played one full decade combined in France
and Spain
, representing four teams.
Celestini appeared with the Swiss national team
at Euro 2004.
, Celestini started playing professionally with hometown's FC Lausanne-Sport, then had a four-season spell in France
; two seasons each with Troyes AC
and Olympique de Marseille
. Whilst with the latter, he played the 2004 UEFA Cup final
, coming on as a substitute in the second half of the 0–2 loss to Valencia CF
.
In 2004, Celestini moved to Spain
, playing one season with Levante UD
. After the club's relegation
, he stayed in the country, joining fellow La Liga
outfit Getafe CF
. Never an undisputed starter with the Madrid
outskirts side, he managed to feature heavily in consecutive seasons. In 2007–08, as the club reached the quarterfinals in the UEFA Cup, he scored against R.S.C. Anderlecht
in a 2–1 group stage home win.
On 17 February 2010, after having been regularly used in the past two seasons, albeit not as a usual first-choice, the 34-year old Celestini announced he would not renew his contract with Getafe, choosing to return to Lausanne on a one-year contract. However, due to a break in negotiations over his future role at the club after his playing career, he decided to retire before the end of the season
, playing his last game on 15 December, against U.S. Città di Palermo
for the Europa League group stage.
since 1998, Celestini gained 35 caps, and was a participant at the UEFA Euro 2004 (appearing in two incomplete matches, as the nation exited in the group stage).
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Having started and finished his 15-year professional career with Lausanne, he also played one full decade combined in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, representing four teams.
Celestini appeared with the Swiss national team
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
at Euro 2004.
Club career
Born in LausanneLausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Celestini started playing professionally with hometown's FC Lausanne-Sport, then had a four-season spell in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; two seasons each with Troyes AC
Troyes AC
Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube Champagne is a French association football club, based in Troyes. It was founded in 1900. The club was promoted to Ligue 1 for the 2005–06 season and their first Ligue 1 season was in 1954/55, and their second spell came in 1999/2000 Espérance Sportive Troyes Aube...
and Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
. Whilst with the latter, he played the 2004 UEFA Cup final
2004 UEFA Cup Final
The 2004 UEFA Cup Final was played on May 19, 2004 at Gothenburg, between Valencia CF of Spain and Olympique de Marseille of France. Valencia won the match 2-0 thanks to goals from Vicente and Mista...
, coming on as a substitute in the second half of the 0–2 loss to Valencia CF
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
.
In 2004, Celestini moved to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, playing one season with Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
. After the club's relegation
2004–05 La Liga
2004–05 season was composed of the following clubs:* Albacete Balompié* Athletic Bilbao* Atlético Madrid* FC Barcelona* Real Betis* Deportivo de La Coruña* Espanyol* Getafe CF* Levante UD* Málaga CF* Real Mallorca* CD Numancia* CA Osasuna...
, he stayed in the country, joining fellow La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
outfit Getafe CF
Getafe CF
Getafe Club de Fútbol is a Spanish La Liga football club based in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area, founded in 1946 and refounded in 1983.In the top level since 2004-05, it holds home games at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez....
. Never an undisputed starter with the Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
outskirts side, he managed to feature heavily in consecutive seasons. In 2007–08, as the club reached the quarterfinals in the UEFA Cup, he scored against R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
in a 2–1 group stage home win.
On 17 February 2010, after having been regularly used in the past two seasons, albeit not as a usual first-choice, the 34-year old Celestini announced he would not renew his contract with Getafe, choosing to return to Lausanne on a one-year contract. However, due to a break in negotiations over his future role at the club after his playing career, he decided to retire before the end of the season
2010–11 Swiss Super League
The 2010–11 Swiss Super League was the 114th season of top-tier football in Switzerland. It began on 17 July 2010 and ended on 25 May 2011. The league comprised ten teams....
, playing his last game on 15 December, against 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...
for the Europa League group stage.
International career
A Swiss internationalSwitzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
since 1998, Celestini gained 35 caps, and was a participant at the UEFA Euro 2004 (appearing in two incomplete matches, as the nation exited in the group stage).