Simone Zaza

Simone Zaza

Zaza in 2014
Personal information
Full name Simone Zaza[1]
Date of birth (1991-06-25) 25 June 1991
Place of birth Policoro, Italy
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 West Ham United
(on loan from Juventus)
Number 11
Youth career
1997–2002 Stella Azzurra Bernalda
2002–2006 Valdera
2006–2008 Atalanta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Atalanta 3 (0)
2010–2013 Sampdoria 2 (0)
2011–2012 → Juve Stabia (loan) 4 (0)
2012 → Viareggio (loan) 18 (11)
2012–2013 → Ascoli (loan) 35 (18)
2013–2015 Sassuolo 64 (20)
2015– Juventus 19 (5)
2016– → West Ham United (loan) 8 (0)
National team‡
2007 Italy U16 3 (0)
2007 Italy U17 2 (0)
2009–2010 Italy U19 1 (0)
2014– Italy 16 (1)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 November 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 04:18, 20 November 2016 (UTC)

Simone Zaza (Italian pronunciation: [siˈmoːne ˈdzaddza]; born 25 June 1991) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a striker for English club West Ham United (on loan from Juventus) and the Italian national team.

Zaza began his professional club career with Atalanta in 2008, where he remained for two seasons. In 2010, he moved to Sampdoria, where he was sent on loan spells to Juve Stabia, Viareggio and Ascoli. In 2013, he joined Sassuolo, where his performances earned him a transfer to defending Serie A champions Juventus in 2015. In his first season with the club, he immediately won a domestic double. At international level, Zaza made his senior debut for Italy in 2014, and went on to represent his nation at UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Early career

Born in Policoro in the province of Matera, Zaza grew up in Metaponto and began his youth career with Stella Azzurra team from Bernalda in 1997. He remained with the organization until 2002, when he moved to the youth academy of Valdera at the age of 11. He remained until 2006, when he was scouted by Serie A side Atalanta, whom he joined shortly after. He remained within the club's youth team for four years and even began to earn senior call-ups towards the end of the 2008–09 Serie A campaign.[3] He made his Serie A debut on 19 April 2009 in a 0–1 home defeat to Reggina Calcio as a 76th-minute substitute for György Garics.[4] He made two further substitute appearances for Atalanta that season, though he remained within the club's youth setup for the entire 2009–10 Serie A campaign.

Sampdoria

In July 2010, Zaza officially transferred from Atalanta to fellow Serie A side Sampdoria on a four-year contract. With the Genoa-based club, he was enlisted in the club's Primavera (under-20) youth team for the 2010–11 season, though he also earned several first team callups, including two substitute appearances against Genoa and Fiorentina during the 2010–11 Serie A campaign. He was promoted to the first team at the conclusion of that season.

Juve Stabia and Viareggio (loans)

On 14 July 2011, Zaza was officially sent out on loan to Juve Stabia in the Serie B on what was set to be a season-long deal. After just four appearances and no goals for the club, Sampdoria opted to recall the player during the 2012 January transfer window. On 7 January 2012, the club loaned the player to Lega Pro Prima Divisione side, Viareggio on a six-month deal to provide the youngster with regular first team experience. His stint with the third-division club turned out to be very successful; he managed 11 goals in 18 league appearances, 17 as a starter.

Ascoli (loan)

After returning to Sampdoria on 30 June 2012, Zaza joined Ascoli on another season-long loan deal ahead of the 2012–13 Serie B campaign. He officially joined the club on 16 July and made his debut in a 1–3 home loss to Bari on 1 September. Zaza went on to score 18 league goals in 35 Serie B appearances (30 as a starter) en route to becoming the sixth top goalscorer for the season. His goals were unable to prevent Ascoli's relegation as they finished the season 20th in the league table. He returned to Sampdoria on 30 June 2013.

Sassuolo

On 9 July 2013, Juventus purchased him outright from Sampdoria for €3.5 million. Simultaneously, he transferred to Sassuolo in a co-ownership deal for €2.5 million.[5] He returned to play in Serie A in the first round of the league, with Sassuolo losing to Torino 2–0. On 1 September 2013, during the second round of the league, he scored his first goal in Serie A as the team lost 4–1 to Livorno.[6] Thanks to his effort, Sassuolo secured their first point in the Italian top flight, with the goal scored in the fifth day against Napoli, 1–1.[7]

On 20 June 2014, Sassuolo bought Zaza outright from Juventus for another €7.5 million.[8] Juventus, however, retained the right to re-purchase Zaza for a reported €15 million by 30 June 2015 and €18 million by 30 June 2016.[9]

Juventus

On 7 July 2015, Juventus announced that they had exercised their option to sign Zaza for €18 million from Sassuolo.[10] It was reported that the return of Domenico Berardi to Sassuolo for €10 million fee was part of the deal.[11] On 23 September 2015, Zaza opened the scoring in the 50th minute on his debut, a 1–1 draw against Frosinone.[12] On 30 September 2015, he scored the final goal against Sevilla in the UEFA Champions League group stage to secure a 2–0 win;[13] this was his first Champions League goal.[14] He scored the opening two goals of a 4–0 win over cross-city rivals Torino in the Coppa Italia on 16 December.[15]

West Ham United (loan)

On 28 August 2016, West Ham United announced that they had loaned Zaza for a €5 million loan fee, with a €20 million permanent obligation to buy fee after a certain number of Premier League appearances, plus €3 million in bonus.[16] He made his debut with the club on 10 September, in a 4–2 home defeat to Watford in the Premier League.[17]

International career

Zaza has represented Italy at under-16, under-17, and under-19 levels.

On 31 August 2014, he was called up by head coach Antonio Conte as part of the senior team squad for a friendly match against the Netherlands and the first UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying game against Norway. On 4 September, Zaza made his debut with the Italian national team, playing as a starter in a 2–0 win against the Netherlands. He was fouled by Bruno Martins Indi in the ninth minute to win the penalty kick from which Daniele De Rossi scored Italy's second goal in the 2–0 victory.[18] On 9 September, Zaza scored his first goal for the Italian national team in the 16th minute of their opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Norway, of a 2–0 victory.[19] On 31 May 2016, he was named to Conte's 23-man Italy squad for Euro 2016.[20] On 17 June, he came off the bench to set-up Éder's match-winning goal against Sweden in the 88th minute of his nation's second group match, which qualified Italy to the Round of 16.[21] On 2 July, he was brought on in the last few seconds of extra-time to take a penalty in the resulting penalty shoot-out against Germany in the quarter-final match up, which he subsequently missed after a bizarre run up to the ball, as Italy were defeated in the shoot-out 6–5 and eliminated from the tournament.[22][23] In the events after the match, Zaza issued an apology to the fans of the national team stating, "I am sorry to have let the Italian people down. I missed the most important penalty of my life and I will carry this burden with me forever ... I have always taken penalties like that and I was convinced I would score, I had sent him the wrong way but the ball set off and it went like that."[24]

Style of play

Zaza is a quick, strong and well-rounded left-footed forward, with solid technique and an eye for goal. A powerful, versatile and hard-working player, he is capable of playing both as a centre-forward and off another player as a second striker. Due to his physical attributes, offensive movement, and his positional sense, he also excels in the air.[25]

Career statistics

Club

As of 30 November 2016[26]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Atalanta 2008–09 3000–––30
Total 3000–––30
Sampdoria 2010–11 2000–––20
Total 2000–––20
Juve Stabia (loan) 2011–12 4000–––40
Total 4000–––40
Viareggio (loan) 2011–12 1811––––1811
Total 181100–––1811
Ascoli (loan) 2012–13 351810–––3618
Total 351810–––3618
Sassuolo 2013–14 33920–––359
2014–15 311131–––3412
Total 642051–––6921
Juventus 2015–16 19532–2100248
Total 19532–2100248
West Ham United (loan) 2016–17 8000300000110
Total 8000300000110
Career total 153549330210016758

    International

    As of match played on 15 November 2016. [27]
    Italy national team
    YearAppsGoals
    201441
    201530
    201690
    Total161

    International goals

    Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first.
    No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
    1. 9 September 2014 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway  Norway 2–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

    Honours

    Club

    Juventus[26]

    References

    1. ↑ "Squads for 2016/17 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
    2. ↑ "Simone Zaza". juventus.com.
    3. ↑
    4. ↑ Game report by ESPN
    5. ↑ "Operazioni di mercato". juventus.com. 9 July 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
    6. ↑ http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/299347/report
    7. ↑ "Testacoda amaro: al San Paolo finisce 1–1 tra Napoli e Sassuolo". soccermagazine.it. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
    8. ↑ "Agreements with Sassuolo Calcio" (PDF). Juventus FC. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
    9. ↑ "Zaza, dalla Samp alla Nazionale nel segno di Paratici. Con quella doppia opzione di riscatto per la Juve...". Di Marzio. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
    10. ↑ "Zaza è bianconero". Juventus FC. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
    11. ↑ "Il Sassuolo "lascia" Zaza e "fa suo" Berardi. La Juve può ricomprarlo nel 2016". Tuttosport (in Italian). 23 June 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
    12. ↑ "Juventus 1 - 1 Frosinone". Football Italia. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
    13. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3255331/Juventus-2-0-Sevilla-Alvaro-Morata-Simone-Zaza-s-goals-prove-difference-Old-Lady-defeat-Europa-League-holders.html
    14. ↑ "Zaza shares credit for goal glory". Juventus.com. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
    15. ↑ "Coppa: Four-star Juve crush Toro". Football Italia. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
    16. ↑ "Hammers land Italy star Zaza". West Ham United F.C. 28 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
    17. ↑ Vinny Ryan (11 September 2016). "West Ham's collapse vs. Watford leaves Bilic with plenty of problems". ESPN FC. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
    18. ↑ "Italy 2–0 Netherlands". BBC Sport. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
    19. ↑ Alex Sharp (9 September 2014). "Norway 0–2 Italy: Simone Zaza and Leonardo Bonucci fire Antonio Conte to opening win". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
    20. ↑ "OFFICIAL: Italy squad for Euro 2016". Football Italia. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
    21. ↑ "Eder takes Sweden down". Football Italia. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
    22. ↑ Adams, Sam (2 July 2016). "Hector the shoot-out hero as Germany finally defeat Italy". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
    23. ↑ "Italy out to sudden death Germany". Football Italia. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
    24. ↑ "Simone Zaza apologised to Italy fans after bizarre penalty miss in their Euro 2016 quarter-final defeat to Germany". thesun.co.uk. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
    25. ↑ "Scheda tecnica di Simone Zaza" (in Italian). JuveNewsRadio.it. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
    26. 1 2 Simone Zaza profile at Soccerway
    27. ↑ Simone Zaza at National-Football-Teams.com

    External links

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