Graziano Pellè
Encyclopedia
Graziano Pellè is an Italian
footballer who plays for Parma F.C.
in Serie A
, as a centre forward.
, Province of Lecce
, Pellè started playing for U.S. Lecce
's youth teams, winning two Campionato Primavera titles (2003–04) and the Coppa Italia Primavera
(2002). He made his Serie A
debut on 11 January 2004, in 1–2 home defeat against Bologna F.C. 1909
, making a total of two appearances in the season.
In January 2005, Pellè was loaned out to Catania Calcio in Serie B
, being regularly used but failing to find the net. In the summer took part in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
with the under-20 team, scoring four goals in an eventual quarterfinal exit, and returned to Lecce for 2005–06, only to be loaned again in the winter transfer window
, again to the second division, now to F.C. Crotone
.
In the 2006–07 season, Pellè was yet again loaned to a level two club, this time to A.C. Cesena
, where he had a breakthrough year with 10 goals, thus earning a spot in the Italian team
at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
, where he collected three appearances, all as a substitute. In the 5th-place playoff match against Portugal
, he scored the first penalty kick
in the shootout win, through a chip.
outfit AZ. He stated in an interview that he had a choice of staying at Lecce, who would loan him to U.S. Città di Palermo
, but chose the Alkmaar
club instead because of its willingness to give chances to young players. However, his debut was larlgely unfruitful, as he struggled to replace PSV Eindhoven-bound Danny Koevermans
, and finished his first season with just three goals in 27 games (16 starts).
On 28 December 2008, Pellè scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win against NEC Nijmegen. He then netted twice goals in a 3–0 home win over FC Groningen, but was overall sparingly used by the North Holland
side over the course of four Eredivisie
seasons, being released in June 2011.
confirmed through its official website that Pellè had signed a multiyear contract with the team.
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 Parma F.C.
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...
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 centre forward.
Lecce
Born in San Cesario di LecceSan Cesario di Lecce
San Cesario di Lecce is a town and comune in the Italian province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy....
, Province of Lecce
Province of Lecce
The Province of Lecce is a province in the Apulia region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Lecce. Totally included in the Salento peninsula, it is the second most populous province in Apulia and the twenty-first most populous in Italy....
, Pellè started playing for U.S. Lecce
U.S. Lecce
Unione Sportiva Lecce or simply U.S. Lecce is an Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia who play in the Italian Serie A. After being crowned Serie B champions in 2009–10, the team successfully managed to avoid relegation in 2010-11....
's youth teams, winning two Campionato Primavera titles (2003–04) and the Coppa Italia Primavera
Coppa Italia Primavera
The Coppa Italia Primavera is an Italian football competition played for by youth teams from Campionato Primavera. All players are under 20 of age. The first edition was held in the 1972-73 season....
(2002). He made his 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...
debut on 11 January 2004, in 1–2 home defeat against Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
, making a total of two appearances in the season.
In January 2005, Pellè was loaned out to Catania Calcio 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...
, being regularly used but failing to find the net. In the summer took part in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
with the under-20 team, scoring four goals in an eventual quarterfinal exit, and returned to Lecce for 2005–06, only to be loaned again in the winter transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, again to the second division, now to F.C. Crotone
F.C. Crotone
Football Club Crotone is an Italian football club based in Crotone, Calabria. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in Serie B, holding home games at Stadio Ezio Scida, which has a 9,631-seat capacity.-History:...
.
In the 2006–07 season, Pellè was yet again loaned to a level two club, this time to A.C. 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...
, where he had a breakthrough year with 10 goals, thus earning a spot in the Italian team
Italy 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...
at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
, where he collected three appearances, all as a substitute. In the 5th-place playoff match against Portugal
Portugal national under-21 football team
The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation . They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future...
, he scored the first penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in the shootout win, through a chip.
AZ
In July 2007, Pellè lost all ties to Lecce and signed for DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
outfit AZ. He stated in an interview that he had a choice of staying at Lecce, who would loan him to 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...
, but chose the Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
club instead because of its willingness to give chances to young players. However, his debut was larlgely unfruitful, as he struggled to replace PSV Eindhoven-bound Danny Koevermans
Danny Koevermans
Danny Koevermans is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a centre forward for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Early career:...
, and finished his first season with just three goals in 27 games (16 starts).
On 28 December 2008, Pellè scored the winning goal in a 1–0 win against NEC Nijmegen. He then netted twice goals in a 3–0 home win over FC Groningen, but was overall sparingly used by the North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
side over the course of four Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
seasons, being released in June 2011.
Parma
In early July 2011, Parma F.C.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...
confirmed through its official website that Pellè had signed a multiyear contract with the team.