| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marco Branca | ||
| Date of birth | (1965-01-06)6 January 1965 (age 61) | ||
| Place of birth | Grosseto, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1981–1982 | Grosseto | ||
| 1982–1984 | Cagliari | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1986 | Cagliari | 52 | (4) |
| 1986–1987 | Udinese | 18 | (2) |
| 1987–1988 | Sampdoria | 9 | (1) |
| 1988–1990 | Udinese | 55 | (13) |
| 1990–1991 | Sampdoria | 20 | (5) |
| 1991–1992 | Fiorentina | 23 | (5) |
| 1992–1994 | Udinese | 58 | (22) |
| 1994–1995 | Parma | 25 | (7) |
| 1995–1996 | Roma | 7 | (2) |
| 1996–1998 | Internazionale | 52 | (23) |
| 1998–1999 | Middlesbrough | 12 | (9) |
| 1999–2000 | Luzern | 10 | (2) |
| 2000–2001 | Monza | 17 | (7) |
| Total | 348 | (102) | |
| International career | |||
| 1996 | Italy Olympic (O.P.) | 3 | (4) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Marco Branca (born 6 January 1965) is an Italian former professionalfootballer who played as astriker and was, until February 2014,sporting director ofSerie A clubInternazionale.
Born inGrosseto, Branca started his playing career withGrosseto, the then-amateur local team of his native city, but was soon signed byCagliari, where he made his professional debut. He then moved toUdinese,Sampdoria and then again to Udinese. Following another season with Sampdoria, he signed first forFiorentina and then forParma. In 1995, he transferred toRoma, who sold him in the 1996 winter transfer window toInternazionale in exchange forMarco Delvecchio.
In his first season with the Nerazzuri, Branca scored an impressive 17 goals in 24 matches, but did not repeat in his next campaign and was sold to English second-tier sideMiddlesbrough. Branca scored nine goals in 12 league games for Middlesbrough, including two on his league debut in a 3–1 victory againstSunderland, ahat-trick versusBury and another two in the 6–0 win overSwindon Town. In addition, he played twoLeague Cup games, scoring the second goal againstLiverpool in the semi-final second leg on his debut.[1] His nine goals aided in Boro's promotion to the Premiership, he was then injured and Middlesbrough claimed insurance on his value and he was released from his contract. He chased Middlesbrough through the courts, before signing for Swiss clubFC Luzern. Branca made just one further appearance for Middlesbrough after the end of the 1997-98 season in a Premier League match againstTottenham Hotspur.[2]
Branca saw out his playing days with FC Luzern and Italian lower-league club Monza before retiring in 2001.
Branca took part in the1996 Summer Olympics as overage player.
From 2002 until February 2014,[3] Branca was part ofInternazionale's management, working in their transfer network. He helped organise the transfers ofLúcio,Diego Milito,Thiago Motta,Wesley Sneijder andSamuel Eto'o.
Sampdoria
Parma
Middlesbrough
