Paolo Castellini

Paolo Castellini (born 25 March 1979) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a left back.

Paolo Castellini
Castellini in 2011
Personal information
Full name Paolo Castellini
Date of birth (1979-03-25) 25 March 1979
Place of birth Brescia, Italy
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Cremonese
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 Cremonese 64 (0)
2000–2004 Torino 114 (1)
2004 → Brescia (loan) 16 (0)
2004–2006 Betis 13 (0)
2006–2012 Parma 136 (1)
2010–2011 → Roma (loan) 8 (0)
2011–2012 → Sampdoria (loan) 20 (0)
2012–2014 Sampdoria 8 (0)
2014 Livorno 15 (0)
2014–2015 Cremonese 23 (0)
2015–2016 Brescia 20 (0)
Total 437 (2)
National team
1998–2000 Italy U20 8 (0)
2001–2002 Italy U21 9 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Brescia, Lombardy, Castellini made his professional debut at U.S. Cremonese at only 17, going on to appear for the club in both the Serie B and Serie C1. In summer 2000 he signed with Torino FC, achieving promotion to Serie A in his first season whilst appearing in 33 games.

From January 2004, Castellini served a loan at his hometown side, Brescia Calcio of the top division, after which he was released by Toro. In the ensuing summer he moved to Spain, joining La Liga's Real Betis on a five-year contract.[1] His spell in Andalusia was disastrous, as he never dislodged veteran Luis Fernández from his starting position, also suffering with injuries (torn ligaments and cartilage in his right knee).[2]

After cutting ties with Betis, Castellini returned to his country in the summer of 2006, joining Parma F.C. and being first choice from the beginning. In his third season he played 41 out of 42 matches, helping the team return to the top level after only one year.

In the 2009–10 campaign, Castellini often played as wingback in a 3–5–2 or 5–3–2 formation, with Cristian Zaccardo in the other flank.[3] He helped Parma to a final eighth position, narrowly missing out on qualification for the UEFA Europa League.

On 26 August 2010, Castellini was loaned to A.S. Roma as cover for John Arne Riise.[4] On 24 June 2011, also on loan, he signed for U.C. Sampdoria of the second tier; he agreed to a permanent deal at the latter on 9 July 2012, with Jonathan Biabiany heading in the opposite direction.[5]

Castellini played in all three major levels until his retirement in 2016, representing A.S. Livorno Calcio,[6] Cremonese and Brescia.[7]

International career

Castellini never won one full cap for Italy, but appeared with the under-21s at the 2002 UEFA European Championship, helping the national side to the semi-finals.[8]

Honours

Torino

References
  1. Vitesse agree Yakubu loan; UEFA, 13 July 2004
  2. El italiano del Betis, Castellini, baja para seis meses por lesión (Betis' Italian, Castellini, six months out due to injury); Cadena SER, 14 October 2004 (in Spanish)
  3. Contro l'Atalanta potrebbe cambiare lo schema di gioco del Parma (Parma's display may change against Atalanta); Gazzetta di Parma, 23 October 2009 (in Italian)
  4. Acquisto a titolo temporaneo, con diritto di opzione per l'acquisizione a titolo definitivo, dei diritti alle prestazioni sportive del calciatore Paolo Castellini (Temporary acquisition, with option for permanent transfer of footballer Paolo Castellini); A.S. Roma, 26 August 2010 (in Italian)
  5. Castellini resta alla Sampdoria, Biabiany al Parma (Castellini stays with Sampdoria, Biabiany to Parma) Archived 30 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine; UC Sampdoria, 9 July 2012 (in Italian)
  6. Castellini dalla Samp al Livorno: «Mihajlovic mi disse una cosa» (Castellini from Samp to Livorno: "Mihajlovic told me something"); Samp News 24, 29 April 2020 (in Italian)
  7. Castellini dà l'ok: sarà un giocatore del Brescia (Thumbs up from Castellini: he will be a Brescia player); Giornale di Brescia, 18 August 2015 (in Italian)
  8. Notizie pubblicate dal sito nel mese di Maggio 2002 (News published by site in the month of May 2002); at Parcar Sport (in Italian)
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