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 Nocerino withAC Milan in 2012 | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antonio Nocerino[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1985-04-09)9 April 1985 (age 40) | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Naples, Italy | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2003 | Juventus | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Juventus | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | →Avellino (loan) | 34 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Genoa | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005 | →Catanzaro (loan) | 21 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | →Crotone (loan) | 15 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006 | →Messina (loan) | 11 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Piacenza | 37 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Juventus | 32 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008–2011 | Palermo | 106 | (6) | ||||||||||||||
| 2011–2016 | AC Milan | 74 | (12) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014 | →West Ham United (loan) | 10 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2014 | →Torino (loan) | 5 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2015 | →Parma (loan) | 20 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Orlando City | 52 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Benevento | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 428 | (29) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | Italy U19 | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | Italy U20 | 16 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Italy U21 | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Italy U23 | 6 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | Italy Olympic | 3 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2007–2012 | Italy | 15 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Miami FC | ||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Las Vegas Lights | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Antonio Nocerino (Italian pronunciation:[anˈtɔːnjonotʃeˈriːno]; born 9 April 1985) is an Italianfootball manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He was formerly the head coach ofUSL Championship clubLas Vegas Lights FC.[2]
During his playing career, Nocerino played predominantly in Italy for namelyAC Milan,Juventus,Palermo, and in the United States forOrlando City. At international level, he represented theItaly national team, winning a runners-up medal atEuro 2012, and was also a member of the Italy national team that took part at the2008 Olympics. He used to serve as an academy coach atOrlando City.
Nocerino started playing at the age of five years at a small club in his neighbourhood, coached by his father.[citation needed] When he was 13, he joined theJuventusyouth academy.[citation needed] He made his professional debut with Avellino inSerie B on 11 September 2003, drawing 0–0 withParma.
In August 2004 Nocerino was sold toGenoa in aco-ownership deal for €450,000; in a separate dealDomenico Criscito andFrancesco Volpe joined Turin also in co-ownership deals for a total fee of €1.9 million in June 2004.[3][4]
His first match inSerie A came on 12 February 2006 for Messina, beatingSampdoria 4–2. His first goal in Serie A for Messina was scored on 7 May 2006 againstEmpoli; it was then stricken off when the game was forfeited.[citation needed] In summer 2006 half of the registration rights of Nocerino was sold toPiacenza from Genoa.
In the2006–07 Serie B season, atPiacenza, Nocerino started regularly, playing 37 games and scoring six goals. In June 2007, Juventus bought back 50% registration rights of Nocerino, from Piacenza for €3.7 million.
He made his official debut with Juventus playing in the starting XI on the opening day of Serie A againstLivorno, which Juventus won 5–1. His performances saw coachClaudio Ranieri play him in the first half of the season. In the second half, with the arrival ofMohamed Sissoko, his opportunity to play diminished. He made 32 league appearances and four in theCoppa Italia.
On 30 May 2008, Nocerino moved permanently toPalermo as part of the transfer that tookAmauri to Juventus. Nocerino was priced at €7.5 million. He made his debut in theRosanero shirt in a 3–1 victory againstRoma on 13 September.[5]In the2009–10 season, withWalter Zenga as coach, he started again regularly in the first XI. On 23 September 2009, in the home game against Roma, he scored his first goal in Serie A for Palermo. His only other goal that season was scored againstLazio on 21 February 2010.
With the arrival of managerDelio Rossi, he was assigned the task of offensive midfielder, leaving the defensive midfield work toGiulio Migliaccio. He was also used as coverage of the left wing when full-backFederico Balzaretti pushed forward. He closed his second season with Palermo with 35 appearances and two goals in the league, plus three appearances in Coppa Italia.Playing the quarter-finals in the Coppa Italia, which Palermo won on penalties againstParma, marked his 100th appearance for Palermo. He finished this season with 49 appearances in all competitions, being the most used player in the team and scoring four goals, all in the league.
In the beginning of the2011–12 season, after playing two matches in theEuropa League's third qualifying round against Swiss sideFC Thun, he left Palermo, making a total of 122 appearances and scoring six goals during his tenure.
On 31 August 2011, the last day of the Italian transfer window and only an hour before the window ended, Nocerino joinedMilan on a five-year contract,[6] for €500,000.[7]
Nocerino made his Milan debut in the first 2011–12 game of the season on 9 September 2011 coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for fellow debutanteAlberto Aquilani in a 2–2 home draw againstLazio.[8] He made hisUEFA Champions League debut in the next game on 13 September, when Milan drew 2–2 againstFC Barcelona.[9]
On 15 October, he scored his first goal in the 3–0 home victory against former club Palermo, completing a great team move led byAntonio Cassano andRobinho. Due to the injury crisis, he played regularly until picking up his fourth caution of the season on 6 November, resulting in a suspension. On 26 October, Nocerino notched ahat-trick for Milan in a 4–1 win againstParma.[10] On 25 February 2012, Nocerino scored against title chaserJuventus in the 1–1 draw, putting his goal tally to eight for the season.[11]
Nocerino scored in Milan's Second-LegChampions League Quarter-final tie againstBarcelona just after the half-hour mark to level the match at 1–1 afterLionel Messi opened the scoring with a penalty. The game ended 3–1 on the night and also on aggregate toBarcelona.[12] After A.C. Milan's elimination from the Champions League and failure to defend their league title, managerMassimiliano Allegri rejected speculation that Nocerino would be sold.[13] Forza Italian Football named Nocerino as the signing of the season, due to his goalscoring attributes.[14] Nocerino finished the season with 10 goals in Serie A, finishing the 2011–12 campaign as the highest-scoring central midfielder, and breakingRomeo Benetti's 1973 club record of 7 goals from midfield in a single season, as Milan finished in second place in the League.[15][16]
In the summer of 2012, Nocerino took the A.C. Milansquad number 8 following the departure ofGennaro Gattuso to join Swiss clubSion.[17] He said it was 'an honour' to receive the number 8 shirt as a worthy successor to Gattuso.[17] On 16 December 2012, Nocerino scored a goal 35 seconds into the game in which Milan defeatedPescara. After the game, Nocerino told the press that he would like to dedicate his goal to the victims of theSandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Nocerino said, "... everything I did today was only for them."[18]However, as the season progressed, Nocerino considered leaving the club in the summer if he was not guaranteed a regular starting place.[19]
In the summer of 2013, Nocerino changed hissquad number to 23 following the departure of the former captainMassimo Ambrosini.[17] Following the sack of Manager Allegri, Nocerino made 11 appearances in 2013–14 season and reacted with shock when he left A.C. Milan on loan.[20] At the time of his transfer, he was linked with a move toTorino.[21]
On 25 January 2014, Nocerino signed forPremier League clubWest Ham United on loan for the remainder of the season.[22] Nocerino made his first appearance for West Ham againstChelsea on 29 January coming on as a substitute forKevin Nolan in the 80th minute in a 0–0 draw atStamford Bridge.[23] Having made ten appearances for the club, Nocernino's loan spell with West Ham United came to an end despite his wish to stay.[20][24]
On 2 July 2014, Nocerino was loaned toTorino. He made his debut during thethird round of the2014–15 Europa League in a 3–0 win against Sweden'sBrommapojkarna.[25][26]
On 15 January 2015, Torino decided to terminate the loan and Nocerino moved toParma until the end of the season. On 1 February 2015, he scored his first goal for Parma in a 1–3 away loss toMilan.
On 14 February 2016, Milan announced that Nocerino would move to MLS clubOrlando City after mutually terminating his contract, a signing he completed on 18 February.[27]
On 8 November 2017, Nocerino stated that he would not extend his contract with Orlando and left the club at the end of the 2017 season.[28]
On 6 July 2018, Nocerino signed withSerie B clubBenevento.[29] He was released from his Benevento contract by mutual consent on 19 December 2018.[30]
Nocerino announced his retirement from professional football on 23 January 2020, and was hired to coach inOrlando City's academy[31]
Nocerino played forItaly's under-20 in the2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and with their under-21 in the2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Hecaptained theItaly under-23 side in their triumph overChile to win theToulon Tournament for the first time in the team's history.[32] He also competed in the2008 Beijing Olympics as captain of Italy's Olympic squad. He received his first call up toItaly's national team byRoberto Donadoni on 17 October 2007 in a friendly againstSouth Africa. UnderCesare Prandelli, Nocerino was selected to Italy's final 23-man squad at the2012 European Championships.[33] He played in the quarter-finals againstEngland, where he had a goal disallowed for offside in extra-time, and subsequently scored in the penalty shootout which Italy won 4–2.[34] Italy went on to reach thefinal of the tournament, were they beaten 4–0 bySpain, who claimed a record third consecutive major trophy, and their second consecutive European Championship title.[35]
Compared toGennaro Gattuso during his time at Milan,[36] Nocerino was a quick, energetic, and hard-working player who was primarily deployed as a ball-winningdefensive midfielder, or as abox-to-box midfielder, although he could be deployed anywhere inmidfield. During his time at Juventus, he was played as adeep-lyingplaymaker on occasion, and even as awinger, although his preferred role was that of anattackingcentral midfielder, known as the "mezzala" role, in Italy.[37] With the Italy national team, under Cesare Prandelli, he has also been used in a new role on occasion, as afalse-attacking midfielder.[38] Nocerino was primarily known for his pace, stamina, strength, and his tenacious tackling ability, as well his adeptness at reading the game and pressing opponents. He was also capable of being an offensive threat due to his tendency to make attacking runs into the box, as well as his eye for goal and powerful and accurate shot from distance. Throughout his career, he was able to improve his distribution, as well as his technical and creative skills, which made him capable of providingassists for teammates.[39][40]
Nocerino was appointed to his first head coaching position in November 2023, taking overMiami FC in theUSL Championship.[41] Nocerino departed Miami FC late in the season, on 16 October 2024. He compiled a league record of three wins, 27 losses, and two draws.[42]
Nocerino was named head coach ofLas Vegas Lights in theUSL Championship in January 2025.[43] He was fired in June after only 12 games into the regular season, as the team was 3–6–3 and one point away from playoff qualification at the time.[2]
On 18 September 2007, it was reported that Nocerino was hit by a car after leaving a restaurant in Turin and was hospitalised for scans when he suffered minor concussion and bruising. The following day, Nocerino was discharged from the hospital and monitored for a few days.[44] In response of asking question toTwitter, Nocerino has two children that he cited "change his life and that his father is his role model."[45]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Avellino (loan) | 2003–04 | Serie B | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 0 | ||
| Genoa | 2004–05 | Serie B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Catanzaro (loan) | 2004–05 | Serie B | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||
| Crotone (loan) | 2005–06 | Serie B | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| Messina (loan) | 2005–06 | Serie A | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||
| Piacenza | 2006–07 | Serie B | 37 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 6 | ||
| Juventus | 2007–08 | Serie A | 32 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 0 | ||
| Palermo | 2008–09 | Serie A | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Serie A | 35 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 2 | |||
| 2010–11 | Serie A | 38 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 49 | 4 | ||
| 2011–12 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 106 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 6 | ||
| AC Milan | 2011–12 | Serie A | 35 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | — | 48 | 11 | |
| 2012–13 | Serie A | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14 | Serie A | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | Serie A | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Total | 74 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 13 | ||
| West Ham (loan) | 2013–14 | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||
| Torino (loan) | 2014–15 | Serie A | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | 11 | 0 | |
| Parma (loan) | 2014–15 | Serie A | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 3 | ||
| Orlando City | 2016 | MLS | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | MLS | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 | |||
| Total | 52 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 1 | ||
| Benevento | 2018–19 | Serie B | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 427 | 28 | 26 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 484 | 29 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 2007 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 15 | 0 | |
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Miami FC | 14 November 2023 | 16 October 2024 | 33 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 27 | 82 | −55 | 009.09 | |
| Total | 33 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 27 | 82 | −55 | 009.09 | |||
Italy U21[46]
Italy[47]
Individual
Italy squads | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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