Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca
Personal information
Full name Vincenzo Maresca
Date of birth (1980-02-10) 10 February 1980
Place of birth Pontecagnano Faiano, Italy
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Verona
Number 16
Youth career
1991–1994 Milan
1994–1998 Cagliari
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 West Bromwich Albion 47 (5)
2000–2004 Juventus 37 (4)
2000–2001 → Bologna (loan) 23 (0)
2002–2003 → Piacenza (loan) 31 (9)
2004–2005 Fiorentina 25 (5)
2005–2009 Sevilla 96 (13)
2009–2010 Olympiacos 24 (5)
2011–2012 Málaga 39 (4)
2012–2014 Sampdoria 17 (3)
2014–2016 Palermo 47 (1)
2016– Verona 3 (0)
National team
1995 Italy U15 5 (0)
1995 Italy U16 1 (0)
1998 Italy U17 1 (1)
1998–1999 Italy U18 12 (4)
1999–2000 Italy U20 11 (6)
2000–2002 Italy U21 15 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 October 2016.


Vincenzo 'Enzo' Maresca (Italian pronunciation: [ˈɛntso maˈreska]; born 10 February 1980) is an Italian footballer who plays for Hellas Verona F.C. as a midfielder.

In his country he played for several clubs including Juventus, who loaned him twice for the duration of his contract. Released in 2004 he went to play one season with Fiorentina, then resumed his career in La Liga with Sevilla (four years) and Málaga, appearing in 134 games and scoring 17 goals in the competition whilst winning five major titles with the former.

Maresca represented Italy at youth level, including the under-21.

Club career

Early years

Born in Pontecagnano Faiano, Province of Salerno, Maresca started playing football at the age of 11 with A.C. Milan, joining Cagliari Calcio after three years.

He made his senior debuts with English club West Bromwich Albion in 1998, where he played for two incomplete seasons in the Football League First Division.

Juventus

In January 2000, Maresca moved back to Italy and joined Juventus F.C. in a transfer worth £4.3 million, a club record sale for Albion at the time.[1] He played in only one Serie A game until the end of the season.

For two of the following three seasons, Maresca was loaned to fellow league teams Bologna F.C. 1909 and Piacenza Calcio – co-ownershp deal in the latter case – scoring nine goals in 2002–03 but suffering team relegation. During the previous campaign, he notably netted an important equaliser in the Derby della mole return leg, against neighbouring Torino FC; he attracted controversy, however, when he celebrated the goal by mimicking Torino's Marco Ferrante's earlier "Bull-horn" goal celebration (the bull being a club symbol as it is Turin's coat of arms, and the side also being known in its contracted form as "Toro", bull in Italian).[2] Subsequently, Juve bought the remainder 50% of his rights, for €2.6 million.[3]

Fiorentina

In the 2004 summer, ACF Fiorentina signed Maresca along with Fabrizio Miccoli and Giorgio Chiellini for €13 million, with Juventus holding half of the players' rights. He made his official debut on 12 September, playing 60 minutes in a 0–1 away loss against A.S. Roma.

At the end of the season, with the Viola narrowly avoiding top level relegation, Juventus bought back all three for about €6.7 million in a blind auction between the clubs.[4] Maresca's cost was of only about €7,000,[5] but an additional €420,000 agent fee in order to keep the player was also involved.

Sevilla

On 16 July 2005, Maresca moved to Sevilla FC in Spain, for a transfer fee of €2.5 million and four years.[6] He quickly emerged as a key player for his new club, and finished his first season in La Liga with 29 games and eight goals, adding 11/3 in the side's victorious campaign in the UEFA Cup, including two in the final against Middlesbrough (4–0) where he was also named Man of the match,[7] donating the €10.000 prize money to the San Juan de Dios hospital in Seville.[8]

Maresca played 45 minutes in the 2007 UEFA Cup Final in Glasgow's Hampden Park, as Sevilla successfully defended its European title, against RCD Espanyol.[9] He appeared in an average of 22 league matches in his last three years combined.

Olympiacos

On 13 July 2009, Maresca transferred to Olympiacos F.C. from Greece in a three-year deal.[10] He scored in his Superleague debut, a 2–0 win at Larissa FC, and appeared regularly during the 2009–10 campaign as the Piraeus-based club finished in second position.

Málaga

After terminating his contract with Olympiacos in August 2010, Maresca trained with former club Fiorentina in order to maintain match fitness. On 7 December, it was announced that he had been in talks with Málaga CF; after undergoing a medical examination, he signed with the Andalusians until June 2012.[11]

Maresca made his league debut for his new team on 8 January 2011, playing 57 minutes in a 1–1 home draw against Athletic Bilbao.[12] On 7 May, he contributed with one goal to the team's 3–0 success at Atlético Madrid.[13]

Maresca appeared in 19 matches in 2011–12 (nine starts, two goals[14][15]) as his team finished in fourth position and qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in its history.

Return to Italy

On 2 July 2012, as his contract was about to expire, Maresca signed a new one-year link with Málaga.[16] On 30 August, however, he returned to his country after seven years, joining U.C. Sampdoria for free.[17]

Maresca scored his second goal of the season through a bicycle kick, but in a 1–2 home loss against Atalanta B.C. on 4 November 2012.[18] In January 2014, after having featured rarely in the first half of the new campaign, he agreed on a return to the second division and joined league leaders U.S. Città di Palermo, who were in need of a playmaker.

On 15 May 2016, in the last matchday, Maresca scored in a 3–2 home win over Hellas Verona F.C. to help save his team from relegation.[19] Ironically, in September, the free agent joined the opposition who in turn had dropped down a level.[20]

International career

Maresca was selected by the Italian under-20 team for the 2000 Toulon Tournament, and finished runner-up with the under-18s in the 1999 UEFA European Championship.

He also represented the under-21 side during two years, although he missed the 2002 UEFA European Championship tournament in Switzerland due to injury as the nation went on to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.[21] Despite his club success, in particular during his time with Sevilla, he was never capped at full level.

Style of play

A versatile and hardworking player, Maresca is capable of playing anywhere in midfield,[22][23][24] although his preferred role is as a playmaking central or attacking midfielder, a position which allows him to make attacking runs.[25][26] A quick, creative and tenacious player with good technique, he also possesses good vision, tactical intelligence and passing ability,[22][23][24] also being competent defensively and consistent.[22][23][27]

Honours

Club

Juventus[28]
Sevilla[28]

References

  1. ↑ "Albion's timeline". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  2. ↑ "Gol, nervi tesi ed emozioni il derby ferma la Juve" [Goals, bundle of nerves and excitement Juve closes derby] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 24 February 2002. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Reports and financial statements at 30 June 2003; Juventus FC, 2003
  4. ↑ Reports and financial statements at 30 June 2005; Juventus FC, 2005
  5. ↑ "Six-monthly report at 31 December 2005" (PDF). Juventus FC. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  6. ↑ Maresca makes Sevilla move; UEFA.com, 16 July 2005
  7. ↑ Middlesbrough 0–4 Sevilla; BBC Sport, 10 May 2006
  8. ↑ Enzo Maresca fue elegido mejor jugador de la final (Enzo Maresca chosen final MVP); Marca, 10 May 2006 (Spanish)
  9. ↑ "Palop ensures cup joy for Sevilla". UEFA.com. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Announcement". Olympiakos F.C. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  11. ↑ Maresca ficha por el Málaga (Maresca signs for Málaga); Diario AS, 8 December 2010 (Spanish)
  12. ↑ "Martinez leaves it late for Bilbao". ESPN Soccernet. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  13. ↑ "Vital win for visitors". ESPN Soccernet. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Malaga hit back to sink Getafe". ESPN Soccernet. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "Rondon doubles up in Malaga win". ESPN Soccernet. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  16. ↑ Maresca renueva por una temporada con el Málaga (Maresca renews with Málaga for one season); Marca, 2 July 2012 (Spanish)
  17. ↑ "Enzo Maresca, l'emigrante di successo e di ritorno" [Enzo Maresca, the successful immigrant returns] (in Italian). U.C. Sampdoria. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  18. ↑ "Sampdoria 1–2 Atalanta". ESPN Soccernet. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "Serie A survival a 'miracle' – Gilardino". FourFourTwo. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  20. ↑ "Hellas Verona, è ufficiale: Maresca ha firmato un biennale" [Hellas Verona, it's official: Maresca signed for two years] (in Italian). Stadio 24. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  21. ↑ "Holders' high expectations". UEFA.com. 14 May 2002. Retrieved 11 September 2009.
  22. 1 2 3 "Mondonico: " Maresca, giocatore completo. Regista? Secondo me... "" [Mondonico: " Maresca, complete player. Playmaker? According to me... "] (in Italian). Palermo 24. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  23. 1 2 3 "Piacere, Superman" [Nice to meet you, Superman] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 18 October 2000. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  24. 1 2 "Palermo, con Maresca sarebbe un centrocampo perfetto" [Palermo, with Maresca we will have a perfect midfield] (in Italian). Tutto Palermo. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Il mercato adesso frena Lucchesi deve vendere" [Market now comes to a still Lucchesi must sell] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 6 August 2004. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  26. ↑ "Gli eroi in bianconero: Vincenzo MARESCA" [Heroes in black and white: Vincenzo MARESCA] (in Italian). Tutto Juve. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  27. ↑ Franco Esposito (4 February 2000). "Maresca alla Juve sogno da 10 miliardi" [Maresca to Juve a dream worth 10 billion] (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  28. 1 2 "E. Maresca – Trophies". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
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