2008–09 U.S. Città di Palermo season

U.S. Città di Palermo
2008–09 season
Chairman Maurizio Zamparini
Manager Stefano Colantuono (until Day 1)
Davide Ballardini (from Day 2)
Serie A 8th
Coppa Italia Third Round
Top goalscorer League: Fabrizio Miccoli, Edinson Cavani (14 goals)
All: Edinson Cavani (15 goals)

U.S. Città di Palermo spent the season 2008–09 in the Serie A, the fifth season in a row for the Sicilian club in the Italian top flight since their return to the league in 2004.

Review and events

Stefano Colantuono was originally confirmed as Palermo head coach for the 2008–09 season

For the upcoming season, Palermo are expected to confirm Stefano Colantuono as head coach. A number of signings were completed in mid-season, namely Brazilian striker Túlio de Melo from Le Mans (free transfer),[1] and young Danish defender Simon Kjær from Midtjylland;[2] these are expected to be joined by a number of loan and co-ownership returns, such as Hernan Dellafiore from Torino. On May 28, Palermo announced to have signed Empoli defender Andrea Raggi in a full transfer.[3][4] Two days later, the rosanero also finalized the signing of former Fiorentina midfielder Fabio Liverani.[5] On June 5 Palermo announced on their website to have finalized the signing of Italy national team and Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia.[6]

On June 19, Palermo announced to have re-signed Croatian striker Igor Budan from Parma and Genoa defender Cesare Bovo, the latter in exchange with long-time rosanero Giuseppe Biava.[7] Six days later, the club completed the signing of Atalanta centre-back Moris Carrozzieri.[8] On July 1, the club finalized the signing of Davide Lanzafame from Juventus in a co-ownership bid.[9]

In addition, Palermo-born Giovanni Tedesco and 41-year-old goalkeeper Alberto Fontana have agreed a one-year contract extension.

On the other hand, a number of transfer were completed, with Amauri sold to Juventus (and Antonio Nocerino being signed by Palermo as part of the deal),[10][11] Leandro Rinaudo transferred to Napoli[12] and Italian internationals Cristian Zaccardo and Andrea Barzagli signed by German side VfL Wolfsburg;[13][14]

Palermo's pre-season phase will begin on July 14 to the training camp of Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria. They then moved to another camp in Levico Terme on August 1, then playing a friendly match in Wolfsburg against VfL Wolfsburg.[15]

Palermo started their season with a surprise 1–2 home loss to Ravenna, a Lega Pro Prima Divisione team (two divisions below Serie A). Successively, Zamparini confirmed the intention to sell newly acquired striker Túlio de Melo, citing the impossibility to ensure the player a guaranteed place in the starting lineup as he wanted.[16] In the meantime, on August 30, and just a few hours before the rosanero's kickoff league match, Palermo announced the signing of 18-year-old striker Levan Mchedlidze on loan.[17] The next day, Lille confirmed to have finalized the permanent signing of Melo from Palermo.[18] On 1 September, Palermo completed both the signing of Davide Succi from Ravenna the loaning out of Boško Janković to Genoa.[19][20] Both moves were finalized following several unsuccessful attempts to sign Brazilian international striker Nilmar from Internacional, as confirmed in a club statement.[21]

The very next day saw notable criticism from supporters and local and national media regarding the club's strategy in the transfer market, particularly underlining the lack of an appropriate replacement for Amauri and the controversial sale of Túlio de Melo a mere two months after signing with the rosanero. Zamparini responded to these criticisms by making the whole bid amounts in the seasons available to the public, in a very unusual move in Italy, noting his club was among the ones who spent the most money in order to sign new players.[22]

On September 4, 2008, in what was promptly received as another controversial move,[23] the club surprisingly announced the immediate dismissal of Stefano Colantuono from his position, making him the first head coach to be sacked in the whole Serie A season, contemporaneously announcing the appointment of Davide Ballardini as new rosanero boss.[24] Ballardini made his debut with an impressive 3–1 home win to Roma on September 13.[25]

Ballardini then followed up the next week by beating Genoa 2–1, with centre-back Cesare Bovo scored a winning goal from 26 metres out.

Palermo's wonderful form continued as they stopped Italian giants Juventus 2–1, ending their unbeaten season. Fabrizio Miccoli scored a tap-in after Buffon deflected a volley from Uruguayan striker Edison Cavani. Newly acquired youngster Levan Mchedlidze scored in only his second-ever game in the Italian Serie A, grabbing Palermo a surprise win. Palermo then went on to achieve impressive wins to less exciting games, not performing particularly well in away matches. Namely, striking duo of Fabrizio Miccoli and Edinson Cavani proved to be instrumental to the rosanero's successes, with the former Benfica star establishing himself as team topscorer despite being limited by injuries.

Another fan favourite win came in a league match against A.C. Milan, with the rosanero showing probably one of their finest seasonal performances and defeating 3–1 the rossoneri, with goals by Miccoli, Cavani and Simplicio, and Sicilian goalkeeper Marco Amelia being instrumental in the team win by saving a penalty shot by FIFA World Player winner Ronaldinho.

In the January 2009 transfer window, Palermo opted to loan out all of their players who did not play regularly in the first half, namely Hernán Paolo Dellafiore, Andrea Raggi, Davide Lanzafame and Maurizio Ciaramitaro. The club, with Igor Budan being unavailable for the whole season so far, was also linked with being interested to the likes of ACF Fiorentina striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who was ultimately acquired by Sampdoria. Later in the market window, Palermo also announced the loan of Ciro Capuano to Sicilian rivals Catania, and the signing for free of Mirko Savini from Napoli, then completing the transfer session with two international youngsters, Swiss full-back Michel Morganella and Uruguayan striker Abel Hernández.

The club went on performing relatively well with several ups and downs, the bottom point being a shock 0–4 home loss to Catania in the Sicilian derby, which was promptly followed by a 2–0 win at ACF Fiorentina's home. Palermo also managed to come back from two goals down to achieve a 2–2 draw at San Siro against José Mourinho's league leaders Internazionale thanks to efforts from Edinson Cavani and backup striker Davide Succi. In the second part of the season, Palermo declared interest in fighting to take a UEFA Europa League 2009–10 spot, with Roma, league surprise Cagliari and Lazio as main challengers.

On April 23, the Italian National Olympic Committee announced that Moris Carrozzieri was found positive for cocaine as he failed a doping test made immediately after a home game against Torino on April 5. The physical centre-back was immediately suspended from football activities and is likely to face a long ban that could keep him off from the game for up to two years.[26] According to Palermo chairman Maurizio Zamparini and sports director Walter Sabatini, the player might likely have assumed cocaine during a night out in a club in Milan. Such events, which prived Palermo of one of the main defenders in the squad, were followed by a 0–3 loss to AC Milan, with two of the rossoneri goals being scored from controversial penalty kicks and Palermo reduced to 10 men after Cesare Bovo was sent off minutes after the beginning of the second half; this brought to bitter criticism against the referee from Maurizio Zamparini, who also announced a one-day news blackout as a form of protest.

Confirmed summer transfer market bids

In
Italy GK Marco Amelia (from Livorno, €6m)
Italy DF Cesare Bovo (from Genoa, co-ownership resolution, €5m)
Croatia FW Igor Budan (from Parma, co-ownership resolution, €4.5m)
Italy DF Moris Carrozzieri (from Atalanta, €3.4m)
Italy DF Paolo Dellafiore (loan return from Torino, €400k)
Denmark DF Simon Kjær (from FC Midtjylland, €4m)
Italy FW Davide Lanzafame (from Juventus, co-ownership, €2.5m)
Italy MF Fabio Liverani (from Fiorentina, free transfer)
Brazil FW Túlio de Melo (from Le Mans UC72, €4.2m)
Georgia (country) FW Levan Mchedlidze (from Empoli, loan, €6.2m)
Italy MF Antonio Nocerino (from Juventus, €7.5m)
Italy DF Andrea Raggi (from Empoli, €7m)
Italy FW Davide Succi (from Ravenna, co-ownership, €1.75m)
Out
Brazil FW Amauri (to Juventus, €22.8m)
Italy DF Andrea Barzagli (to VfL Wolfsburg, €12.95m)
Italy DF Giuseppe Biava (to Genoa, €500k)
Italy MF Andrea Bovo (to Padova, co-ownership resolution, €426k)
Italy FW Franco Brienza (to Reggina, €2.2m)
Italy MF Fabio Caserta (to Lecce, €1.6m)
Argentina MF Mariano González (to Porto, €3.2m)
Brazil FW Túlio de Melo (to Lille OSC, €4m)
Ghana MF Daniel Mensah Boampong (to Bellinzona, free)
Italy DF Marco Pisano (to Torino, €1.5m)
Italy DF Leandro Rinaudo (to Napoli, €5.5m)
Italy DF Cristian Zaccardo (to Wolfsburg, €7m)
Out on loan
Italy GK Federico Agliardi (to Rimini)
Albania FW Edgar Çani (to Ascoli)
Italy FW Paolo Carbonaro (to Monopoli)
Italy DF Alberto Cossentino (to Triestina)
Italy FW Davis Curiale (to Vicenza)
Serbia MF Boško Janković (to Genoa)
Sri Lanka FW Panushanth Kulenthiran (to Vibonese)
Italy GK Salvatore Sirigu (to Ancona)
Italy DF Emanuele Terranova (to Livorno)

Confirmed winter transfer market bids

In
Italy MF Daniel Cappelletti (from Cantù San Paolo (Eccellenza Lombardy))
Italy DF Alberto Cossentino (loan return from Triestina)
Switzerland DF Michel Morganella (from FC Basel)
Uruguay FW Abel Hernández (from Peñarol)
Italy DF Mirko Savini (from Napoli, free transfer)
Out on loan
Italy MF Maurizio Ciaramitaro (to Salernitana)
Italy FW Davis Curiale (loan return from Vicenza, to Ravenna)
Italy DF Paolo Dellafiore (to Torino)
Italy MF Luca Di Matteo (to Cittadella)
Italy FW Davide Lanzafame (to Bari)
Italy DF Andrea Raggi (to Sampdoria)
Italy DF Ciro Capuano (to Catania)

Player details

Season statistics[27][28]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalSerie A Coppa Italia
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Albania Samir Ujkani 1 0 1 0 0 0
12 GK Italy Alberto Fontana 5 -4 5 -4 0 0
32 GK Italy Marco Amelia 35 -48 34 -46 1 -2
5 DF Italy Cesare Bovo 29 1 28 1 1 0
6 DF Italy Samuele Romeo 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 DF Italy Mattia Cassani 36 1 36 1 0 0
21 DF Italy Alberto Cossentino 0 0 0 0 0 0
24 DF Denmark Simon Kjær 27 3 27 3 0 0
25 DF Italy Mirko Savini 11 0 11 0 0 0
26 DF Switzerland Michel Morganella 2 0 2 0 0 0
42 DF Italy Federico Balzaretti 34 0 33 0 1 0
80 DF Italy Moris Carrozzieri 24 0 23 0 1 0
4 MF Italy Giovanni Tedesco 17 1 17 1 0 0
8 MF Italy Giulio Migliaccio 31 3 31 3 0 0
11 MF Italy Fabio Liverani (captain) 34 0 33 0 1 0
14 MF Italy Roberto Guana 19 0 18 0 1 0
23 MF Australia Mark Bresciano 27 4 26 4 1 0
30 MF Brazil Fábio Simplício 37 8 36 8 1 0
33 MF Italy Antonio Nocerino 33 0 33 0 0 0
7 FW Uruguay Edinson Cavani 36 15 35 14 1 1
10 FW Italy Fabrizio Miccoli 33 14 32 14 1 0
19 FW Italy Davide Succi 24 6 24 6 0 0
20 FW Croatia Igor Budan 5 0 5 0 0 0
90 FW Uruguay Abel Hernández 6 0 6 0 0 0
99 FW Georgia (country) Levan Mchedlidze 9 1 9 1 0 0
Players sold or loaned out during the summer transfer market:
17 MF Serbia Boško Janković 1 0 1 0 0 0
9 FW Brazil Túlio de Melo 1 0 0 0 1 0
72 FW Italy Paolo Carbonaro 0 0 0 0 0 0
Players sold or loaned out during the winter transfer market:
3 DF Italy Ciro Capuano 2 0 2 0 0 0
15 DF Italy Paolo Dellafiore 5 0 4 0 1 0
46 DF Italy Andrea Raggi 3 0 2 0 1 0
18 MF Italy Maurizio Ciaramitaro 3 0 3 0 0 0
22 MF Italy Luca Di Matteo 0 0 0 0 0 0
77 FW Italy Davide Lanzafame 10 0 9 0 1 0

Match results

Legend

Win Draw Loss

Serie A

DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendancePositionReport
August 30, 2008 – 18:00 Udinese Away Lost 1–3 Bresciano 18
September 13, 2008 – 18:00 Roma Home Won 3–1 Miccoli (2), Cavani
September 21, 2008 – 15:00 Genoa Home Won 2–1 Bovo, Cavani 4
September 24, 2008 – 15:00 Napoli Away Lost 2–1 Miccoli
September 28, 2008 – 15:00 Reggina Home Won 1–0 Miccoli
October 5, 2008 – 15:00 Juventus Away Won 2–1 Miccoli, Mchedlidze
October 19, 2008 - 15:00 Catania Away Lost 0–2 Report
October 26, 2008 - 20:30 Fiorentina Home Lost 1–3 Simplício Report
October 29, 2008 – 20:30 Lecce Away Drew 1–1 Cavani Report
November 2, 2008 - 15:00 Chievo Home Won 3–0 Miccoli, Kjær, Cavani
November 8, 2008 - 18:00 Torino Away Lost 0–1 Report
November 15, 2008 - 20:30 Internazionale Home Lost 0–2 Report
November 23, 2008 - 15:00 Bologna Away Drew 1–1 Succi Report
November 30, 2008 - 20:30 AC Milan Home Won 3–1 Miccoli, Cavani, Simplício Report
December 7, 2008 - 15:00 Cagliari Away Lost 0–1 Report
December 14, 2008 - 15:00 Siena Home Won 2–0 Cassani, Simplício Report
December 20, 2008 - 18:00 Lazio Away Lost 0–1 Report
January 11, 2009 - 15:00 Atalanta Home Won 3–2 Miccoli, Bresciano, Cavani Report
January 18, 2009 - 15:00 Sampdoria Home Won 2–0 Bresciano (2) Report
January 25, 2009 - 15:00 Udinese Home Won 3–2 Simplício (2), Cavani Report
January 28, 2009 - 20:30 AS Roma Away Lost 1–2 Cavani Report
February 1, 2009 - 15:15 Genoa Away Lost 0–1 Report
February 8, 2009 - 20:30 Napoli Home Won 2–1 Migliaccio, Simplício Report
February 15, 2009 - 15:00 Reggina Away Drew 0–0 Report
February 21, 2009 - 20:30 Juventus Home Lost 0–2 Report
March 1, 2009 - 15:00 Catania Home Lost 0–4 Report
March 8, 2009 - 15:00 Fiorentina Away Won 2–0 Simplício, Miccoli Report
March 15, 2009 - 15:00 Lecce Home Won 5–2 Cavani (2), Simplício, Miccoli, Kjær Report
March 22, 2009 - 15:00 Chievo Away Lost 0–1 Report
April 5, 2009 - 15:00 Torino Home Won 1–0 Cavani Report
April 19, 2009 - 15:00 Internazionale Away Drew 2–2 Cavani, Succi Report
April 19, 2009 - 15:00 Bologna Home Won 4–1 Belleri (own goal), Kjær, Succi, Cavani Report
April 26, 2009 - 15:00 AC Milan Away Lost 0–3 Report
May 3, 2009 - 15:00 Cagliari Home Won 5–1 Migliaccio, Miccoli, Tedesco, Cavani, Succi Report
May 10, 2009 - 15:00 Siena Away Lost 0–1 Report
May 17, 2009 - 15:00 Lazio Home Won 2–0 Miccoli, Migliaccio Report
May 24, 2009 - 15:00 Atalanta Away Drew 2–2 Succi, Miccoli Report
May 31, 2009 - 15:00 Sampdoria Home Drew 2–2 Miccoli, Succi Report

Coppa Italia

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendanceReport
August 23, 2008 – 20:30 Third Round Ravenna Home Lost 1–2 Cavani 16,000 (Report)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "De Melo heads to Palermo". Football.co.uk. 2008-01-30. Archived from the original on 1 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  2. ↑ "Blitz di Foschi in Danimarca, preso Kjær" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  3. ↑ "Ceduto Andrea Raggi". Empoli FC. 2008-05-28. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  4. ↑ "Acquistato Raggi dall'Empoli". US Città di Palermo. 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  5. ↑ "Preso Liverani". US Città di Palermo. 2008-05-30. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  6. ↑ "Preso Amelia". US Città di Palermo. 2008-06-05. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
  7. ↑ "Riscattati Bovo, Budan, Çani e Di Matteo. Biava al Genoa, rinnovata la comproprietà di Matteini" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-06-19. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  8. ↑ "Acquistato Carrozzieri dall'Atalanta" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
  9. ↑ "Definito l'acquisto in compartecipazione di Lanzafame dalla Juve" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-07-01. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  10. ↑ "Amauri alla Juventus, Nocerino al Palermo" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 2008-05-30. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  11. ↑ "Amauri è bianconero" (in Italian). Juventus FC. 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  12. ↑ "Ufficiale: Rinaudo al Napoli" (in Italian). SSC Napoli. 2008-06-04. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  13. ↑ "Weltmeister Zaccardo wird ein "Wolf"" (in German). VfL Wolfsburg. 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
  14. ↑ "Barzagli e Zaccardo al Wolfsburg" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-06-12.
  15. ↑ "Palermo in ritiro da lunedi 14 luglio" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-06-13. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
  16. ↑ "Tulio ponders Palermo exit". SportBox. 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  17. ↑ "Levan Mchedlidze al Palermo" (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 2008-08-30. Archived from the original on 1 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  18. ↑ "Tulio de Melo accepte la proposition du LOSC !" (in French). LOSC Lille Métropole. 2008-08-31. Archived from the original on 2 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
  19. ↑ "Ceduto Bosko Jankovic al Genoa" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-09-01. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  20. ↑ "Preso l'attaccante Succi dal Ravenna" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-09-01. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
  21. ↑ "Globoesporte.com rivela i retroscena della trattiva fallita di Nilmar. Il giocatore: "Sono arrabbiato, offerta irrifiutabile"" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-09-01. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  22. ↑ "DICHIARAZIONE DI ZAMPARINI" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-09-02. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
  23. ↑ "Palermo, via Colantuono Ballardini nuovo allenatore" (in Italian). Gazzetta.it. 2008-09-04. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  24. ↑ "ESONERATO COLANTUONO. SQUADRA AFFIDATA A BALLARDINI" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 2008-09-04. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
  25. ↑ "Ballardini celebrates winning start at Palermo" (in Italian). The Sports Network. 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  26. ↑ "Palermo defender Carrozzieri tests positive for cocaine". Guardian. 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-04-23.
  27. ↑ US Città di Palermo. "PRIMA SQUADRA 2008/2009" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  28. ↑ La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Palermo - Campionato di Serie A" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
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