Federico Marchetti

For the Italian businessman, see Federico Marchetti (businessman).

Federico Marchetti (Italian pronunciation: [fedeˈriːko marˈketti]; born 7 February 1983) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Maltese Premier League club Ħamrun Spartans.^[3][4][5]

Federico Marchetti

Marchetti with Italy in 2013
Personal information
Full name	Federico Marchetti[1]
Date of birth	(1983-02-07) 7 February 1983 (age 41)
Place of birth	Bassano del Grappa, Italy
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Ħamrun Spartans
Number	22
Youth career
	Bessica
	Torino
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2005	Torino	1	(0)
2002–2003	→ Pro Vercelli (loan)	34	(0)
2003–2004	→ Crotone (loan)	0	(0)
2004	→ Treviso (loan)	0	(0)
2004–2005	→ Pro Vercelli (loan)	14	(0)
2005–2006	Biellese	28	(0)
2006–2008	AlbinoLeffe	45	(0)
2008–2011	Cagliari	68	(0)
2011–2018	Lazio	161	(0)
2018–2022	Genoa	8	(0)
2023	Spezia	1	(0)
2023–	Ħamrun Spartans	14	(0)
International career‡
2009–2016	Italy	11	(0)
Medal record Men's Football Representing  Italy FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 Brazil
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 December 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2013

Marchetti began his professional club career with Torino in 2002, and was subsequently loaned out to Pro Vercelli, Crotone, and Treviso. In 2005, he spent a season with Biellese, and later played for AlbinoLeffe and Cagliari, before moving to Lazio in 2011, where he won the Coppa Italia in 2013. At international level, he has represented Italy at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (winning a bronze medal), and at UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Early career

A Torino youth system trainee, Marchetti made his professional debut on loan to Pro Vercelli, being then loaned to a number of other Serie C1 and Serie C2 teams in the following years: he spent the 2003–04 season as second choice keeper with Crotone and later Treviso, without making a single appearance with any of these teams. He started the 2004–05 season as third-choice keeper at Torino, making a single appearance in his time with the granata as a substitute;^{[citation needed]} he then asked to be transferred in January 2005, after Torino signed another keeper, Gianluca Berti, and he was subsequently loaned to Pro Vercelli for the remainder of the season.

AlbinoLeffe

In mid-2005, Torino which originally promoted to Serie A, went bankrupt and a new team started again in Serie B as successor, and all of the old Torino players were allowed to leave for free. He was signed by AlbinoLeffe and left for Biellese in co-ownership deal.^[6]

In June 2006, he was bought back by Serie B club AlbinoLeffe, initially as reserve to Paolo Acerbis. In his first season with the celeste, he made 13 appearances,^[7] being successively promoted as first choice keeper the following season.

During the 2007–08 season, his performances proved to be instrumental in AlbinoLeffe's historic first qualification to the promotion playoffs, where his club narrowly missed promotion to Lecce. He subsequently won the Serie B best goalkeeper award, thus raising significant interest from top-flight teams.^[8]

Cagliari

In July 2008, Cagliari agreed a loan bid with AlbinoLeffe for the goalkeeper, with Cagliari having an option to buy 50% of players' rights to an agreed price.^[9]

In his first season in Serie A, Marchetti confirmed his performances, firmly ensuring a place in the starting lineup, his performances being praised by several football pundits, being also defined by Gianluigi Buffon as his favourite young Italian goalkeeper.^[10] On 1 February 2010, Cagliari bought the remaining rights from AlbinoLeffe.^[11]

However, he was frozen out by the club in the 2010–11 season, as his transfer request denied.^[12] He became the third keeper, behind Michael Agazzi and Ivan Pelizzoli. He was unfrozen on 3 April 2011, winning Genoa as unused bench.

Lazio

Following the departure of their Uruguay international Fernando Muslera at the end of the 2010–11 season, Marchetti joined Lazio. President Claudio Lotito activated Marchetti's €5.2 million release clause.^[13] Marchetti arrived in Rome on 5 July to undertake a medical and sign a five-year contract. He described his move to Lazio as "the end of a nightmare".^[14] Marchetti played a terrific season for Lazio and his presence and command over the defence together with his numerous saves helped Lazio achieve two consecutive Europa League qualifications with 5th and 4th-place finishes in the 2010–11 and 2011–12 Serie A campaigns respectively.

Federico Marchetti's continued period of good form during the 2012–13 season saw become one of the club's protagonists; on 26 May 2013, he won the Coppa Italia with Lazio, keeping a clean sheet in a historic 1–0 Rome derby final victory against cross-city rivals Roma.^[15] His performances led him to be called up once again to the Italy national team.

Genoa

Marchetti was acquired by Genoa on 2 July 2018 on a free transfer after his contract expired with Lazio.^[16]

Spezia

On 21 January 2023, signed a six-month contract for Spezia until the end of the season.

Ħamrun Spartans

On 4 July 2023, Marchetti signed a one-year deal with Maltese Premier League champions Ħamrun Spartans.^[17] He made his debut in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League during the controversial match against Maccabi Haifa. He debuted in the Maltese Premier League during Ħamrun Spartans' match against Balzan FC. Marchetti also made three appearances in the Maltese FA Trophy and contributed to Ħamrun's victory against Birkirkara FC in the Maltese Super Cup final. Marchetti also played in the decisive match against Floriana FC which ended in a 5–0 victory for Ħamrun Spartans, a win which saw them mathematically crowned as champions.

International career

In May 2009, following his impressive performances with Cagliari, Marchetti received his first call up to Marcello Lippi's Italy national team for a friendly match against Northern Ireland.^[18] He debuted as a starter in said match and played the whole match whilst keeping a clean sheet, ending in a 3–0 victory for the Italians.^[19]

Marchetti made his competitive debut at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, replacing the injured starter Gianluigi Buffon at half time during Italy's opening Group F clash with Paraguay, which ended in a 1–1 draw. Marchetti kept a clean sheet, as Italy were already 1–0 down at the time of his introduction.^[20] In Marchetti's next two matches, he allowed four goals from five shots on goal, as Italy suffered a 1–1 draw against New Zealand,^[21] and a 3–2 defeat to Slovakia, and were ultimately eliminated from the tournament in the first round, failing to win a match, and finishing last in their group with only two points.^[22]

Marchetti played only one game for the Italy national team under new coach Cesare Prandelli between 2010 and 2012. However, in 2013, was recalled by Prandelli to represent Italy in a friendly match against Netherlands. Marchetti was also selected for Prandelli's 23-man Italy squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, as a back-up behind Buffon and Salvatore Sirigu;^[23] the Confederations Cup 2013 was Marchetti's second major international tournament with Italy, after previously featuring in the 2010 World Cup, and the Italians went on to earn a third-place finish.^[24] On 14 August 2013, Marchetti was brought on for the second half of an international friendly match, in honour of Pope Francis, between Italy and Argentina, played in Rome.^[25]

On 31 May 2016, Marchetti was included in Antonio Conte's 23-man Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2016, but remained as the only member of the squad not to play in the tournament.^[26]

Style of play

A strong, agile and reliable shot-stopper, Marchetti is considered to be one of the best Italian goalkeepers of his generation; due to his promising performances in his youth, he was considered a possible heir to Gianluigi Buffon as Italy's starting goalkeeper, who himself praised the youngster.^{[10][27][28][29]} He is known in particular for his composure, concentration, and his explosive reactions in goal, as well as his speed and bravery when rushing off his line.^[27][28][30] In his youth, he played as a forward before switching to the role of goalkeeper.^[27] Due to his long hair, he earned the nickname Tarzan from the Lazio fans.^[31]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 March 2024^[32]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Coppa Italia		Europe		Maltese FA Trophy		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Pro Vercelli	2002–03	Serie C2	34	0	—		—				2[lower-alpha 1]	0	36	0
	2004–05		14	0	—		—				—		14	0
	Total		48	0	—		—				2	0	50	0
Torino	2004–05	Serie B	1	0	0	0	—				—		1	0
Biellese	2005–06	Serie C2	28	0	—		—				2[lower-alpha 1]	0	30	0
AlbinoLeffe	2006–07	Serie B	13	0	0	0	—				—		13	0
	2007–08		32	0	1	0	—				4[lower-alpha 2]	0	37	0
	Total		45	0	1	0	—				4	0	50	0
Cagliari	2008–09	Serie A	35	0	1	0	—				—		36	0
	2009–10		33	0	1	0	—				—		34	0
	2010–11		0	0	0	0	—				—		0	0
	Total		68	0	2	0	—				—		70	0
Lazio	2011–12	Serie A	31	0	1	0	7[lower-alpha 3]	0			—		39	0
	2012–13		33	0	3	0	10[lower-alpha 3]	0			—		46	0
	2013–14		21	0	1	0	4[lower-alpha 3]	0			—		26	0
	2014–15		30	0	0	0	—				—		30	0
	2015–16		29	0	0	0	5[lower-alpha 3]	0			1[lower-alpha 4]	0	35	0
	2016–17		17	0	1	0	0	0			—		18	0
	2017–18		0	0	0	0	0	0			0	0	0	0
	Total		161	0	6	0	26	0			1	0	194	0
Genoa	2018–19	Serie A	4	0	2	0	—				—		6	0
	2019–20		0	0	0	0	—				—		0	0
	2020–21		4	0	2	0	—				—		6	0
	2021–22		0	0	1	0	—				—		1	0
	Total		8	0	5	0	0	0			0	0	13	0
Spezia	2022–23	Serie A	1	0	0	0	—				0	0	1	0
Ħamrun Spartans	2023–24	Maltese Premier League	4	0	0	0	6[lower-alpha 5]	0	3	0	1[lower-alpha 6]	0	15	0
Career total			364	0	14	0	32	0	3		8	0	424	0

1. Appearances in Serie C2 relegation play-offs
2. Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
5. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
6. Appearance in Maltese Super Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year^[33]

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Italy	2009	3	0
	2010	5	0
	2011	—
	2012	—
	2013	3	0
Total		11	0

Honours

Lazio^[32]

• Coppa Italia: 2012–13

Ħamrun Spartans

• Maltese Super Cup: 2023
• BOV Premier League: 2024

References

1. "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of Players: Italy" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2020.
2. "Player Profile: Federico Marchetti". ESPN. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
3. "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Players - Federico MARCHETTI". Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
4. "Federico Marchetti - UEFA.com". Retrieved 16 December 2018.
5. "Federico Marchetti". Retrieved 16 December 2018.
6. "Marchetti, l'eterna preghiera" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 3 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
7. "Marchetti Federico" (in Italian). Lega Calcio. Archived from the original on 28 June 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
8. "I protagonisti – Marchetti, la stagione della maturità" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb. 17 November 2008. Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
9. "Calciomercato – "Marchetti è dell'Albinoleffe" parola di Andreoletti" (in Italian). RealSports.it. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
10. "Buffon: "Juve seconda pelle Ma ero quasi del Milan"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
11. "Marchetti è tutto del Cagliari". Cagliari Calcio (in Italian). 1 February 2010. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
12. "Cagliari deny Marchetti talk". Sky Sports. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
13. "relazione_finanziaria al 31–12–11" (PDF) (in Italian). SS Lazio. 29 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
14. "Marchetti: "Grazie Lazio. È la fine di un incubo"". Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
15. "Lazio beat rivals Roma in Coppa Italia final". BBC Sport. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
16. "Official: Genoa pick up Marchetti". Football Italia. 2 July 2018.
17. Camilleri, Valhmor (4 July 2023). "Watch: Ħamrun Spartans complete the signing of former Italy goalkeeper Federico Marchetti". SportsDesk. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
18. "Italy squad for Northern Ireland friendly". FourFourTwo. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
19. Di Dio, Marcello (16 June 2010). "Sogno italiano: dall'Albinoleffe ai mondiali". Il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 23 July 2024.
20. "World Cup 2010: Gianluigi Buffon's World Cup in doubt". BBC Sport. BBC. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
21. Whyatt, Chris (20 June 2010). "Italy 1–1 New Zealand". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
22. Wilson, Paul (24 June 2010). "World Cup 2010: Italy exit as Slovakia turf out reigning champions". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
23. "Inviata alla FIFA la lista per la Confederations Cup: c'è anche Barzagli" [Confederations Cup list submitted to FIFA: Barzagli is also included]. Italian Football Federation (in Italian). 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
24. "Buffon stars as Italy win shootout & bronze". FIFA. 30 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
25. "International friendly: Argentina claim 2–1 win over Italy". Sky Sports News. Sky Group. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
26. "Official: Italy squad for Euro 2016". Football Italia. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
27. "Marchetti racconta la sua storia: "Un incidente mi ha cambiato la vita"" (in Italian). FIGC. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
28. Marco Valerio Bava (25 January 2013). "Lazio, Terraneo: "Marchetti è il top, sarà il dopo-Buffon in Nazionale"" (in Italian). TuttoMercatoWeb.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
29. "Penpix of Italy squad". Reuters.com. 5 June 2010. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
30. "Mondonico e la favola Marchetti "Un grande, Buffon si preoccupi"" (in Italian). L'Eco di Bergamo. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
31. "Il vocabolario dei telecronisti faziosi" (in Italian). Mediaset. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
32. Federico Marchetti at Soccerway
33. Federico Marchetti at National-Football-Teams.com

External links

• Profile at AIC (in Italian)
• Profile at FIGC^{[permanent dead link]} (in Italian)