Massimo Donati

Massimo Donati (born 26 March 1981) is an Italian former professional footballer, who played as a central or defensive midfielder.

For the Italian cyclist, see Massimo Donati (cyclist).
Not to be confused with Massimo Donadi.

Massimo Donati
Donati playing for Celtic
Personal information
Full name Massimo Donati
Date of birth (1981-03-26) 26 March 1981
Place of birth San Vito al Tagliamento, Italy
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1998–1999 Atalanta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2001 Atalanta 46 (2)
2001–2007 Milan 17 (0)
2002–2003 → Parma (loan) 7 (1)
2003 → Torino (loan) 17 (4)
2003–2004 → Sampdoria (loan) 19 (0)
2004–2006 → Messina (loan) 67 (2)
2006–2007 → Atalanta (loan) 32 (1)
2007–2009 Celtic 31 (3)
2009–2012 Bari 82 (4)
2012–2013 Palermo 46 (2)
2013–2014 Hellas Verona 20 (1)
2014–2016 Bari 51 (3)
2016–2018 Hamilton Academical 41 (2)
2018 St Mirren 1 (0)
National team
1998 Italy U16 9 (1)
1999–2000 Italy U18 7 (0)
2000 Italy U20 1 (0)
2000–2004 Italy U21 26 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Born in San Vito al Tagliamento, Italy, Donati began his career at Atalanta, before joining Milan in June 2001. After spending time on loan at Parma, Torino, Sampdoria, Messina and Atalanta, he signed for Scottish club Celtic in June 2007. While at Celtic, he won one Scottish Premier League medal and one Scottish League Cup medal. He returned to Italy in August 2009, to join Bari, where he remained until January 2012, when he signed for Palermo. He joined Hellas Verona in June 2013, before going back to Bari in August 2014. He returned to Scotland in July 2016, to sign for Hamilton Academical and then moved to St Mirren in February 2018.

Donati represented Italy at under-16, under-18, under-20 and under-21 levels.

Playing career

Atalanta and Milan

Donati started his club career at Atalanta, before moving to Milan in June 2001 along with Cristian Zenoni for 60 billion lire in a cash-plus-player deal.[2] However, due to the competition at the club, Donati was unable to retain a first team place after his first season, spending the 2002–03 season on loan at Parma and then Torino.

The 2003–04 season, his third as a Milan player, saw him join Sampdoria on loan, before enjoying a successful spell at Messina for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons. Despite finding his form at Messina, Donati still found himself out of favour at Milan and was again sent on loan, this time returning to his first club Atalanta for the 2006–07 season.

Donati was a youth international, representing Italy at under-16, under-18, under-20 and under-21 levels.[3]

Celtic

On 29 June 2007, Celtic confirmed the signing of Donati on a four-year contract for a fee of €2 million.[4][5] Donati was given the number 18 jersey, vacated by ex-captain Neil Lennon and was unveiled at Celtic Park.[6] He made his Celtic debut in their first league game of the season on 5 August, a 0–0 draw with Kilmarnock.[7] In Celtic's next league game against Falkirk, Donati was involved in his side's equaliser when his shot hit Kenny Milne and went into the net; Celtic won the game 4–1.[8] The following week, Donati grabbed his first competitive Celtic goal with an equalising goal against Aberdeen and later added an assist for Kenny Miller as Celtic won 3–1.[9]

On 28 November, Donati won the match for Celtic in the UEFA Champions League fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk, netting in the 92nd minute to win the match 2–1.[10] This result meant Celtic only needed a point away to Donati's former club Milan at the San Siro to qualify for the last 16 stage of the tournament. Celtic lost 1–0 to Milan,[11] but still qualified for the last 16 as runners-up in their group after Benfica defeated Shakhtar in Ukraine. As the season went on, Donati's form began to dip, resulting in the central midfield positions being changed with Barry Robson and Paul Hartley in place of Donati and Scott Brown. In May 2008, it was reported that Donati wanted to go back to Serie A.[12]

In the 2008–09 season, Donati made only a handful of appearances for Celtic, though he started in the home game against Kilmarnock on 12 November 2008 and won the man of the match award.[13]

After the appointment of Tony Mowbray as Celtic manager, Donati won back his place in the Celtic midfield alongside new signing Landry N'Guémo. Donati played in most of the pre-season games and scored in a 5–0 win over African Champions League winners Al-Ahly in the Wembley Cup. He started the 2009–10 campaign in fine form and scored from a spectacular volley in Celtic's 3–1 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League play-off.[14]

Bari

On 27 August 2009, Donati left Celtic and signed a four-year contract with Serie A newcomers Bari.[15][16]

Palermo

On 18 January 2012, Donati left Bari for Palermo in Serie A.[17]

Hellas Verona

In June 2013, Donati was signed by Hellas Verona.[18]

Bari

On 26 August 2014, Donati returned to Bari.[19] He scored his first goal in the 2014–15 Serie B season on 13 September 2014, during a 1–1 draw with Frosinone.[20]

Hamilton Academical

On 18 July 2016, Donati returned to Scotland to sign for Hamilton Academical.[21] He scored on his debut as Hamilton won 3–0 against St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup.[22] On 9 November 2016, Donati signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2019.[23]

In January 2018, Hamilton announced that they had agreed with Donati to cancel his existing playing contract, in order for him to begin a coaching career.[24] Donati had also been coaching the Hamilton under-15 team.[25]

St Mirren

Donati signed a short-term contract with St Mirren in February 2018.[26] He was released by St Mirren at the end of this contract.[27]

Coaching career

In June 2019, Donati joined the coaching staff at Kilmarnock under Angelo Alessio.[28]

Career statistics
As of match played 17 April 2018[29]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atalanta 1999–00 Serie B 20110–––211
2000–01 Serie A 26171–––332
Total 46281–––543
Milan 2001–02 Serie A 17030–70–270
Parma (loan) 2002–03 Serie A 7120–201[lower-alpha 1]0121
Torino (loan) 2002–03 Serie A 17400–00–174
Sampdoria (loan) 2003–04 Serie A 19040–––230
Messina (loan) 2004–05 Serie A 34110–––351
2005–06 Serie A 33100–––331
Total 67210–––682
Atalanta (loan) 2006–07 Serie A 32121–––342
Celtic 2007–08 Scottish Premier League 2532000101–374
2008–09 Scottish Premier League 40101010–70
2009–10 Scottish Premier League 20000041–61
Total 3133010152–505
Bari 2009–10 Serie A 32100–––321
2010–11 Serie A 31110–––321
2011–12 Serie B 19231–––223
Total 82441–––865
Palermo 2011–12 Serie A 18200–00–182
2012–13 Serie A 28020–––300
Total 46220–00–482
Hellas Verona 2013–14 Serie A 20120–––221
Bari 2014–15 Serie B 35200–––352
2015–16 Serie B 16110–––171
Total 51310–––523
Hamilton Academical 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 3124041–1[lower-alpha 2]0403
2017–18 Scottish Premiership 1001021––131
Total 4125062–10534
St Mirren 2017–18 Scottish Championship 100000000010
Career total 47725373722422054732
  1. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  2. Appearance in SPFL play-offs

Honours

Club
Celtic[29]

References
  1. "Scheda anagrafica di Massimo Donati" (in Italian). AIC.football.it. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  2. Antonello Capone, Andrea Masala (3 June 2001). "Il Milan ha in pugno Thuram e Inzaghi". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  3. "Nazionale in cifre" [National Figures] (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  4. AC Milan Spa 2007 Annual Report Archived 25 April 2011 at WebCite (in Italian)
  5. Reuters UK (25 June 2007). "Celtic sign Donati from Milan". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  6. Celtic F.C. (28 June 2007). "Massimo Donati passes Celtic medical". Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2007.
  7. Moffat, Colin (5 August 2007). "Celtic 0–0 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport.
  8. Conaghan, Martin (11 August 2007). "Falkirk 1–4 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  9. McGuigan, Thomas (19 August 2007). "Aberdeen 1–3 Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 19 August 2007.
  10. Lindsay, Clive (28 November 2007). "Celtic 2–1 Shakhtar Donetsk". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
  11. Moffat, Colin (4 December 2007). "AC Milan 1–0 Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC.
  12. "Massimo Donati wants talks over Celtic future after Italian interest claims". The Daily Record. 28 May 2008.
  13. Murray, Keir (12 November 2008). "Celtic 3–0 Kilmarnock". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  14. McNulty, Phil (26 August 2009). "Arsenal 3 – 1 Celtic (agg 5 – 1)". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  15. "Donati al Bari: è fatta". asbari.it (in Italian). AS Bari. 27 August 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  16. "Bari secure Donati transfer deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 August 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  17. Goal.com (19 January 2012). "Official: Palermo sign Massimo Donati from Bari". Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  18. "Ufficiale: Massimo Donati in gialloblù" (in Italian). Hellas Verona FC. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  19. "Massimo Donati torna a Bari, a titolo definitovo dal Verona". F.C. Bari 1908 (in Italian). 26 August 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  20. "Serie B: Perugia da favola, incubo Catania. Bari, pari con il Frosinone". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 13 September 2014. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  21. "Massimo Donati: Hamilton Accies sign former Celtic midfielder". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  22. Berry, Gavin (23 July 2016). "Hamilton 3 St Mirren 0: Former Celtic ace Massimo Donati grabs debut goal in comfortable Accies win". Daily Record. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  23. "Massimo Donati signs contract extension with Hamilton". Sky Sports. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  24. Mackenzie, Alasdair (29 January 2018). "Former Celtic and AC Milan midfielder Massimo Donati hangs up his boots to take up Hamilton Accies coaching role". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  25. "Massimo Donati: Hamilton Academical midfielder has contract cancelled". BBC Sport. BBC. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  26. Coyle, Andy (20 February 2018). "St Mirren complete signing of midfielder Massimo Donati". STV Sport. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  27. "Players Depart Club". St Mirren FC. 30 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  28. "Massimo Donati joins Angelo's coaching team". Kilmarnock FC. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  29. "M. Donati". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
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