 Iaquinta in 2010 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Vincenzo Iaquinta[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1979-11-21)21 November 1979 (age 46) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cutro, Italy | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Striker | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Reggiolo | 33 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Padova | 13 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | Castel di Sangro | 52 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| 2000–2007 | Udinese | 176 | (58) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2013 | Juventus | 86 | (30) | ||||||||||||||
| 2012 | →Cesena (loan) | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 374 | (106) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | Italy | 40 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Vincenzo IaquintaUfficiale OMRI (Italian pronunciation:[vinˈtʃɛntsojaˈkwinta]; born 21 November 1979) is an Italian former professionalfootballer who played as astriker.
Prior to joiningJuventus in 2007, he initially played for several smaller Italian clubs, and subsequently moved toUdinese in 2000, where he spent seven seasons, representing the club in theUEFA Champions League. After failing to make an appearance under new manager Antonio Conte during the first half of the 2011–12 season, in January 2012, he was sent on a half-season loan toCesena; he returned to Juventus the following season, but once again made no appearances due to injury as the club won the league title; he subsequently retired from football in 2013.
Iaquinta played 40 matches for theItaly national football team between 2005 and 2010, scoring six goals. He was included in their squad which won the2006 FIFA World Cup, as well as the team for the2010 edition of the tournament, scoring a goal on each occasion; he also took part at the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup with Italy.
Iaquinta was born inCutro, in theprovince of Crotone. Like many Calabrians in the 1980s, his parents migrated toEmilia-Romagna in Northern Italy for better job opportunities. Iaquinta played with his brother in the lower divisions forReggiolo for the 1996–1997 season, before transferring toSerie B clubPadova in January 1998, after 33 appearances and six goals in his first professional season and a half.
Iaquinta moved toPadova in January 1998, a club where his future Juventus teammate and Italian legendAlessandro Del Piero thrived, but his spell withPadova was short-lived as after only six months, just 13 appearances and three goals, Iaquinta was surprisingly sold toSerie C1 club,Castel di Sangro.
Following his short spell inSerie B, Iaquinta went on to spend two seasons in the ItalianSerie C1, withCastel di Sangro from 1998 and 2000. It was with his new club where Iaquinta established himself, making 52 appearances as he became a key part of the starting line-up, and netting eight goals. Following several impressive performances, Iaquinta was signed byUdinese ofSerie A.
In June 2000,Udinese completed the signing of the young prospect and in his first season with the club, Iaquinta made 16 appearances and scored two goals. The following season, he made 26 appearances with three goals, before breaking into the starting eleven in his third season. He scored eight goals in 28 appearances and the following season (2002–03), in which Udinese finished in sixth and qualified for theUEFA Cup.[2] Iaquinta made 32 appearances and scored eleven goals during the 2003–2004 season, as his team again reached theUEFA Cup, this time in 7th.[3]
During the2004–05 season, he made 39 appearances and scored 15 goals, as Udinese came in fourth in Serie A and therefore qualified for theUEFA Champions League. That following season, Iaquinta made 34 appearances with 17 goals, includinga hat-trick in his first UEFA Champions Leaguegroup stage match againstPanathinaikos. Although he refused to sign a contract extension at the start of the season,[4] on 30 September he agreed terms for a further three years.[5]In his final season,2006–07, he scored 14 goals for his club in 30 appearances, and formed a partnership withAntonio Di Natale. Following a string of impressive seasons with Udinese, he was signed by Juventus.
Juventus signed Iaquinta on a five-year contract on 19 June 2007 for a fee of €11.3 million. (cash plusMichele Paolucci),[6] to become theTurin giant's first signing for the new campaign. Udinese also bought backFabio Quagliarella from Sampdoria on 21 June; Sampdoria then boughtAndrea Caracciolo from Palermo on 22 June and Palermo boughtFabrizio Miccoli from Juventus on 5 July.
During the2007–08 season, Iaquinta made only a handful of starts forJuventus, mostly being used as back-up to the experienced strike partnersAlessandro Del Piero andDavid Trezeguet, who combined to score 41 goals between them in theSerie A alone. He did however still manage 29 appearances with nine often crucial goals, such as his last minute winner versusNapoli in April 2008. It appeared that he might be surplus to requirements after the signing of Brazilian strikerAmauri, leading to rumours about a possible move out ofJuventus. However, nothing materialised, and Iaquinta remained for the 2008–09 season. Iaquinta also signed a new 4-year contract near the end of2008–09 season.[7]
Iaquinta started the season as fourth-choice striker, but enjoyed a particularly impressive string of performances when both Amauri and Trezeguet were injured, gaining a more regular place underClaudio Ranieri. Most notably, he scored the first goal againstChelsea in the second leg of the first knockout stage of theUEFA Champions League, which was also Juventus' 600th goal in European competition. Despite this, Juve could only draw the match 2–2, and were eliminated. After that, Iaquinta also played regularly inSerie A games, his situation helped by a falling-out between Trezeguet and head coachClaudio Ranieri. In his second season in Piedmont, the striker managed 38 appearances with 16 goals. Following the sacking of Ranieri, and the appointment ofCiro Ferrara for the2009–10 season, Iaquinta became an undisputed starter, before a major injury side-lined him for six months between October 2009 and March 2010. In2010–11 Serie A, Juventus renewed its squad by selling Trezeguet but also signing Quagliarella. That season Iaquinta made only eight starts (seven in first half season). Despite the injury of Quagliarella in mid-season, the arrival ofAlessandro Matri made Iaquinta was a substitute in the second half of season.
Under new coachAntonio Conte in 2011, Iaquinta,Amauri andLuca Toni did not play a single minute on the pitch and Iaquinta was the third one to leave Turin on 31 January.[8]
On 31 January 2012, Iaquinta joinedCesena on loan until the end of the2011–12 season.[9] He made his debut for them on 9 February away atLazio, and assistedAdrian Mutu for the first goal and scored a penalty to put Cesena 2–0 up at half-time, but they eventually lost 3–2.[10] In total, he made seven appearances for the club, although his time with Cesena was once again characterised by injuries, and he was unable to save the club from relegation.[11][12]
At the end of the season he returned to his home clubJuventus, who had just won the league title, although he continued to struggle with injuries, and once again failed to make a single appearance under Conte during the2012–13 Serie A season, as Juventus won a second consecutive league title.[13] On 22 July 2013, following the end of his contract with the club, he announced his retirement, stating his intention to pursue a coaching career.[8][14][15]
Iaquinta made his international debut forItaly on 30 March 2005, as a half-time substitute forLuca Toni in a 0–0 home friendly draw againstIceland at theStadio Euganeo inPadua.[16][17]
Iaquinta was a member of the Italian squad that won the2006 FIFA World Cup under managerMarcello Lippi.[18][19] His first international goal came in his nation's opening match of the tournament, on 12 June: Iaquinta scored Italy's second goal in the 2–0 victory againstGhana.[20] He played in 5 out of 7 of Italy's matches, including the victorious semi-final against hostsGermany andfinal againstFrance on 9 July, in which he came on after 61 minutes forSimone Perrotta.[21] Iaquinta missed out onRoberto Donadoni's Italy squad forEuro 2008 due to injury.[17][22][23] He later took part at the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup,[17] and he also played for Italy in the2010 FIFA World Cup, in which he scored a penalty in a 1–1 draw againstNew Zealand in the second group match.[24] His 40th and final international appearance came in the last group game on 24 June, in which Italy were defeated 3–2 bySlovakia and eliminated from the tournament.[25][26] In total he only scored six goals for Italy.[17]
In his prime, Iaquinta was a tall, physically strong, opportunistic and extremely fast striker, who excelled in the air and at finishing off chances inside the penalty area.[27][28][29][30][31] Due to his great pace, athleticism, work-rate, tenacity and good movement off the ball, he was also known for his ability to make attacking runs to beat the defensive line and either get on the end of his teammates' passes or provide depth and create space for his team; his speed and timing also made him a dangerous offensive threat on counter-attacks.[32][33] Although his preferred role was that of a striker, he was a versatile forward who was capable of playing in several offensive positions, and was also used as asecond striker, or as awinger.[27][28][29][30][31][34][35][36] Due to his strength, he excelled at playing with his back to goal, and at holding the ball up for teammates.[37][38] Iaquinta was often injury-prone throughout his career, which frequently limited his playing time.[39][40]
Iaquinta has been married to Arianna Cucinotta since 14 June 2003. He and his wife have four children, two sons and two daughters: Giuseppe, born on 17 December 2002, Edoardo, born on 28 June 2004, Carlotta, born on 20 May 2008, and Ginevra, born on 23 April 2015.
During the Aemilia antimafia investigation, on 4 February 2015 illegal weapons were found at Iaquinta'sQuattro Castella home and his father Giuseppe's home.[41] On 21 December 2015, they were both sent to trial for the illegal possession of firearms, aggravated by the aiding of the Calabrian Mafia organization'Ndrangheta expand toNorthern Italy, of which his father was charged with association with the 'Ndrangheta through the'Ndrina of Nicolino Grande Aracri.[42] On 31 October 2018, Iaquinta was found guilty of illegal possession of firearms, and sentenced to two years imprisonment; his father was found guilty of mafia association, and received 19 years imprisonment.[43][44]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Reggiolo | 1996–97 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| 1997–98 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 5 | |
| Total | 33 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 6 | |
| Padova | 1997–98 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| Castel di Sangro | 1998–99 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 |
| 1999–2000 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 5 | |
| Total | 52 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 8 | |
| Udinese | 2000–01 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 |
| 2001–02 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | |
| 2002–03 | 26 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 8 | |
| 2003–04 | 29 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 11 | |
| 2004–05 | 31 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 15 | |
| 2005–06 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 34 | 17 | |
| 2006–07 | 30 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 17 | |
| Total | 176 | 58 | 19 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 207 | 73 | |
| Juventus | 2007–08 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 12 |
| 2008–09 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 38 | 15 | |
| 2009–10 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 7 | |
| 2010–11 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 6 | |
| 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 88 | 30 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 6 | 109 | 40 | |
| Cesena (loan) | 2011–12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Career total | 368 | 105 | 31 | 9 | 25 | 13 | 424 | 131 | |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 2005 | 10 | 0 |
| 2006 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 40 | 6 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 June 2006 | FIFA WM Stadion Hannover,Hanover, Germany |  Ghana | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2006 FIFA World Cup | |
| 2 | 1 April 2009 | Stadio San Nicola,Bari, Italy |  Republic of Ireland | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 3 | 10 June 2009 | Atteridgeville Super Stadium,Pretoria, South Africa |  New Zealand | 3–3 | 4–3 | Friendly | |
| 4 | 4–3 | ||||||
| 5 | 9 September 2009 | Stadio Olimpico,Turin, Italy |  Bulgaria | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 6 | 20 June 2010 | Mbombela Stadium,Nelspruit, South Africa | New Zealand | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup |
Juventus[45]
Italy[45]
Individual
Orders
Italy squad | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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