| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1986-01-28)28 January 1986 (age 39) | ||
| Place of birth | Naples, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Cagliari (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Genoa | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2008 | Genoa | 1 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | →Ravenna (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | →Cremonese loan) | 20 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | →Lanciano (loan) | 23 | (0) |
| 2008 | Chievo | 0 | (0) |
| 2008–2011 | Lumezzane | 56 | (5) |
| 2009–2010 | →Ancona (loan) | 22 | (0) |
| 2011–2013 | Ternana | 39 | (3) |
| 2013–2015 | Avellino | 80 | (1) |
| 2015–2021 | Cagliari | 151 | (4) |
| 2021–2022 | Lecce | 10 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | Italy U20 "C" | 3 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2025– | Cagliari | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 February 2022 | |||
Fabio Pisacane (born 28 January 1986) is an Italianfootball coach and former player, who played as adefender, who is the head coach ofSerie A clubCagliari.
Pisacane started his career atGenoa, where he was initially a member of the team's youth system. At the age of 14, however, he was diagnosed withGuillain-Barré syndrome, which seriously threatened his career, as it caused him to experience temporary paralysis in his limbs.[1] After recovering, he was promoted to the reserve side, where he remained from 2003 to 2005. He made his professional debut during the 2005–06 season, while on loan withRavenna. After several seasons inSerie C, he was signed byChievo on a free transfer in 2008, but joinedLumezzane in aco-ownership deal, along with his Chievo teammatesTommaso Chiecchi andAmedeo Calliari. During the2009–10 season, he left forSerie B sideAncona. During the2010–11 season, he remained at Lumezzane along withFrancesco Checcucci.[2][3]
In June 2011, Lumezzane purchased the remaining 50% registration rights for Pisacane from Chievo, while Chievo bought back Checcucci. In his sole season with Lumezzane, he refused €50,000 to defeat his own team against Ravenna, becoming a hero, along withSimone Farina, of theillegal betting war;[4] the two players were later rewarded by being namedFIFA ambassadors in 2012, while Pisacane was even invited by managerCesare Prandelli to train with theItaly national football team later that year.[2][3]
In August 2011, he terminated his contract with Lumezzane.[5] The next day, he was signed byTernana on a one-year contract, rejoining former teammateDavide Carcuro.[6] He wonLega Pro Prima Divisione and was the losing side ofSupercoppa di Lega di Prima Divisione.
On 14 June 2012, he extended his contract.[7] On 11 July 2013, he was signed byAvellino, where he remained for two seasons.[8]
On 14 July 2015, he was signed byCagliari.[9] He helped the club obtain promotion to Serie A during hisfirst season with the side, and subsequently made hisSerie A debut in a 3–0 win over Atalanta, on 18 September 2016 thefollowing season, at the age of 30; having finally achieved his childhood dream of playing in the top Italian division, he was moved to tears during the post-match interview.[2][3] In 2016, Pisacane was named the inaugural winner ofThe Guardian's Footballer of the Year award, which is given to "a player who has done something truly remarkable, whether by overcoming adversity, helping others or setting a sporting example by acting with exceptional honesty".[10]
On 19 January 2021, Pisacane signed withSerie B clubLecce.[11] He made 10 appearances with thegiallorossi in2020–21 Serie B season, but was left out of the squad for the next season. On 8 February 2022, his contract with the club was terminated by mutual consent.
On 8 June 2022, Pisacane took on his first non-playing role, signing forCagliari as a technical collaborator to new head coachFabio Liverani.[12]
In July 2023, Pisacane was appointed as the new head coach of Cagliari Primavera, the Under-19 youth team of theRossoblu.[13]
On 9 April 2025, Pisacane led Cagliari Primavera to win theCoppa Italia Primavera title after defeatingAC Milan in the final.[14]
On 11 June 2025, Cagliari announced the appointment of Pisacane as the new head coach of theSerie A first team, replacingDavide Nicola.[15]