Marco Ballotta
Encyclopedia
Marco Ballotta is a retired Italian
footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
His senior club career spanned a quarter of a century, but Ballotta was never capped
for the Italian national team
. He also holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever to appear in both the Serie A
and the Champions League
.
. He made 22 starts over two seasons before moving to Modena FC
, where he remained for the next six years. In January 1991, he transferred to his first Serie A
club A.C. Cesena
, but only stayed for six months before he was purchased by Parma A.C.
from relegated Cesena.
Ballotta was in top form during the 1992–93 campaign, as Parma won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
and finished third in the league. However, his momentum did not carry over into the next season and he only made three league appearances. He did start both legs in Parma's 2–1 aggregate win over A.C. Milan
in the UEFA Super Cup, but was benched in favor of Luca Bucci
for the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup.
the following season, which was relegated in his lone stint. He then spent the next campaign in the second division
with A.C. Reggiana
, with whom he returned to the top level in 1996. However, Reggiana's stay in Italy's top flight was also brief, and he left for S.S. Lazio
for the 1997–98 season, initially as the club's third-choice.
After three seasons with the Biancocelesti, Ballotta enjoyed a brief stint with F.C. Internazionale Milano
in 2000–01, during which he rejoined Modena on loan during the season to help the club gain promotion to the top flight, eventually signing permanently in 2002, and remaining at the club until its relegation in 2003–04, with Ballotta spending the following campaign with second-divisioner Treviso F.B.C. 1993. Despite their fourth-place finish in the Cadetti race, Treviso were promoted in place of Genoa CFC
, after the latter were demoted to the third level following a match-fixing scandal, and he was once again back in the top level rejoining Lazio, replacing Fabrizio Casazza
as third goalkeeper.
and Matteo Sereni
. On 23 October 2005, he set the record as the oldest player to have played in the first division when he started in Lazio's lineup against A.S. Roma
at the age of 41 years and 203 days, beating the previous record set on 7 May 1983, when Dino Zoff
played his last game at the age of 41 years and 34 days.
Due to Peruzzi's ongoing injury problems the following season, Ballotta made eleven league appearances as Lazio finished third behind runaway winner Inter and Roma, subsequently clinching a UEFA Champions League
berth.
Ballotta started the first two matches of the 2007–08 campaign until the gloves were handed to new acquisition Fernando Muslera
for the next five league matches. Following Lazio's embarrassing 1–5 home loss against Milan on 7 October 2007, he regained the starting spot, which he kept until the end of the campaign. He also started all of Lazio's Champions League matches, in which he also became the oldest player ever to play in the competition, during a 1–1 draw with Olympiacos F.C. on 18 September 2007, at the age of 43 years and 168 days, beating the previous record held by another Italian, Alessandro Costacurta
, who was 40 years and 211 days in Milan's loss to AEK Athens F.C. on 21 November 2006.
Ballotta retired after his contract with Lazio expired at the end of the season, expressing an interest in continuing his career, before eventually signing a deal as general manager
at former club Modena. This experience was however short-lived and, after just 35 days, he decided to stop working at the club.
In late 2008, Ballotta returned to active, with Prima Categoria
(eighth level) side Calcara Samoggia, but in another position: forward. This also did not last very long, as he retired for good shortly after.
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 played as a goalkeeper.
His senior club career spanned a quarter of a century, but Ballotta was never capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the 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...
. He also holds the distinction of being the oldest player ever to appear in both the 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...
and the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
.
The first years (1983–94)
Ballotta cut his footballing teeth with Bologna FC's youth side before starting his professional career in 1983 with hometown club A.C. Boca San LazzaroA.C. Boca San Lazzaro
Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Boca Pietri is an Italian association football club from Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, but currently playing home games in Vignola, in the province of Modena. The club was founded in 1966 as Associazione Calcio Boca. In 2002 the club merged with Felsina San Lazzaro...
. He made 22 starts over two seasons before moving to Modena FC
Modena F.C.
Modena Football Club is an Italian football club based in Modena, Emilia-Romagna. The club was formed in 1912 and currently plays in Italian Serie B, after being relegated from a two year period in Serie A in the year 2004. The team's previous stay in Italy's top division ended in 1964. The team...
, where he remained for the next six years. In January 1991, he transferred to his first 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...
club 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...
, but only stayed for six months before he was purchased by Parma A.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...
from relegated Cesena.
Ballotta was in top form during the 1992–93 campaign, as Parma won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
and finished third in the league. However, his momentum did not carry over into the next season and he only made three league appearances. He did start both legs in Parma's 2–1 aggregate win over A.C. 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...
in the UEFA Super Cup, but was benched in favor of 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...
for the 1994 Cup Winners' Cup.
Rise to success (1994–2005)
Ballotta signed with Brescia CalcioBrescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
the following season, which was relegated in his lone stint. He then spent the next campaign in the second division
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...
with A.C. Reggiana
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...
, with whom he returned to the top level in 1996. However, Reggiana's stay in Italy's top flight was also brief, and he left for S.S. Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
for the 1997–98 season, initially as the club's third-choice.
After three seasons with the Biancocelesti, Ballotta enjoyed a brief stint with F.C. Internazionale Milano
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
in 2000–01, during which he rejoined Modena on loan during the season to help the club gain promotion to the top flight, eventually signing permanently in 2002, and remaining at the club until its relegation in 2003–04, with Ballotta spending the following campaign with second-divisioner Treviso F.B.C. 1993. Despite their fourth-place finish in the Cadetti race, Treviso were promoted in place of Genoa CFC
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
, after the latter were demoted to the third level following a match-fixing scandal, and he was once again back in the top level rejoining Lazio, replacing Fabrizio Casazza
Fabrizio Casazza
Fabrizio Casazza is a former Italian football goalkeeper.-Playing career:Casazza started his career at Sampdoria, but spent his career at Serie C1 for Fidelis Andria and Pro Sesto....
as third goalkeeper.
Winning records and retirement (2005–08)
Ballotta made eight starts during the 2005–06 season, as an injury replacement for both Angelo PeruzziAngelo Peruzzi
Angelo Peruzzi, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian former World Cup-winning football goalkeeper, and a three-time winner of the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award....
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...
. On 23 October 2005, he set the record as the oldest player to have played in the first division when he started in Lazio's lineup against A.S. 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...
at the age of 41 years and 203 days, beating the previous record set on 7 May 1983, when Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff is an Italian former football goalkeeper and is the oldest winner ever of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italian team in the 1982 tournament in Spain, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability and has a place in the...
played his last game at the age of 41 years and 34 days.
Due to Peruzzi's ongoing injury problems the following season, Ballotta made eleven league appearances as Lazio finished third behind runaway winner Inter and Roma, subsequently clinching a UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
berth.
Ballotta started the first two matches of the 2007–08 campaign until the gloves were handed to new acquisition Fernando Muslera
Fernando Muslera
Néstor Fernando Muslera Micol is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Galatasaray and is first-choice keeper for the Uruguayan national team.-Uruguay:...
for the next five league matches. Following Lazio's embarrassing 1–5 home loss against Milan on 7 October 2007, he regained the starting spot, which he kept until the end of the campaign. He also started all of Lazio's Champions League matches, in which he also became the oldest player ever to play in the competition, during a 1–1 draw with Olympiacos F.C. on 18 September 2007, at the age of 43 years and 168 days, beating the previous record held by another Italian, Alessandro Costacurta
Alessandro Costacurta
Alessandro "Billy" Costacurta is an Italian former professional football defender turned manager.Costacurta spent some twenty years at Milan, with a brief period spent in AC Monza on loan. He is best known for his role alongside Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Mauro Tassotti, forming one of the...
, who was 40 years and 211 days in Milan's loss to AEK Athens F.C. on 21 November 2006.
Ballotta retired after his contract with Lazio expired at the end of the season, expressing an interest in continuing his career, before eventually signing a deal as general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
at former club Modena. This experience was however short-lived and, after just 35 days, he decided to stop working at the club.
In late 2008, Ballotta returned to active, with Prima Categoria
Prima Categoria
Prima Categoria is the name of a level of football in Italy. It is considered to be the eighth level in the Italian football league system and is organized by the National Amateur League by the Regional Committees. Each individual league winner within the Prima Categoria level progresses to their...
(eighth level) side Calcara Samoggia, but in another position: forward. This also did not last very long, as he retired for good shortly after.