Francesco Benussi (born 15 October 1981) is a retired Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 October 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Mestre, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–1999 | Venezia | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2005 | Venezia | 55 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | → Lumezzane (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | → Ascoli (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2003 | → Arezzo (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2005–2010 | Lecce | 93 | (0) |
| 2007 | → Siena (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | → Livorno (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2010–2013 | Palermo | 13 | (0) |
| 2012 | → Torino (loan) | 18 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Udinese | 0 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Verona | 16 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Carpi | 4 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Vicenza | 37 | (0) |
| Total | 275 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1999–2000 | Italy U18 | 6 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | Italy U20 | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editVenezia
editBenussi started his career at Venezia, After he made his team debut in 1999–2000 season. He was loaned to Serie C1 clubs likes Lumezzane and Ascoli. After played as a backup of Giovanni Indiveri, he returned to Venice and played as a backup of Salvatore Soviero before left on loan again for Arezzo of Serie C1. Benussi became first choice after Soviero departed for Reggina.
Lecce
editAfter Venezia bankruptcy and relegated, Benussi was signed by Lecce, as first a backup to Vincenzo Sicignano in August 2005. But due to injury of Sicignano, he played 15 Serie A games. Lecce failed to protect her place in Serie A, and saw Sicignano left the club. Benussi became the first choice at the start of 2004–05 season, before left on loan to A.C. Siena as player exchange with Nicola Pavarini. At Siena, he failed to challenge Alex Manninger for the first choice, and Siena has not decided to bought Benussi outright.
Returned to Lecce for another Serie B season, his first choice place was challenged by Antonio Rosati but Benussi played 23 Serie B games and all 4 promotion playoffs, to win promotion for the Apulia club in June 2008.
Livorno
editOn 12 August 2009 Livorno have signed the goalkeeper on loan from U.S. Lecce. He played as an unused substitute on 9 August, in the Coppa Italia match that Lecce won 4–0 over Vico Equense.[1]
On 25 October 2009, he played his first match for Livorno, substituted Nico Pulzetti after goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia was sent off. He played as starter in the subsequent 3 league matches and 2 Coppa Italia games.
Palermo and loan to Torino
editOn 1 February 2010 Benussi agreed for a loan transfer to Palermo, with Rubinho making the opposite move, reunited with former Venezia owner Maurizio Zamparini.[2] After Palermo signed Giacomo Brichetto permanently, Benussi also signed permanently from Lecce a week later, on 22 July 2010. He signed a 3-year contract.[3]
Constantly a second choice behind Italian international Salvatore Sirigu, Benussi has since played only at UEFA Europa League level during his period while at Palermo. Initially confirmed as second goalkeeper following the departure of Sirigu to Paris Saint-Germain F.C. and the signing of Greek international Alexandros Tzorvas as a replacement, he successively became the first choice under new head coaches Devis Mangia and Bortolo Mutti. Following the acquisition of Italy international Emiliano Viviano, Palermo opted to send Benussi on loan to Torino in the Serie B league.[4]
Udinese
editOn 24 July 2013, his contract with Palermo was cancelled[5] and he moved to Udinese.
Verona
editOn 30 August 2014 Benussi was signed by Hellas Verona F.C.[6]
Carpi
editOn 9 July 2015 Benussi was signed by Serie A newcomer Carpi F.C. 1909.[7] On 27 January 2016 Benussi was released.[8]
Vicenza
editBenussi joined Vicenza Calcio in a 1+1⁄2-year contract on 27 January 2016 on a free transfer.[9] He received no.1 shirt from departing Richard Marcone.
International career
editBenussi has been capped for the Italy U20 side in 2000 at the Toulon Tournament, behind Generoso Rossi as 2nd choice goalkeeper. He played once at the tournament.
Honours
edit- Lecce
- Ascoli
- Serie C1 Champions: 2001–02
References
edit- ^ "Lecce 4 – Vico Equense 0" (in Italian). US Lecce. 9 August 2009. Archived from the original on 13 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
- ^ "Scambio di portieri con il Livorno Rubinho-Benussi" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 1 February 2010. Archived from the original on 24 February 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
- ^ "BENUSSI PRESO A TITOLO DEFINITIVO" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "BENUSSI IN PRESTITO AL TORINO" [BENUSSI ON LOAN TO TORINO]. U.S. Città di Palermo. 23 January 2012. Archived from the original on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ "RISOLUZIONE CONSENSUALE PER BENUSSI" (in Italian). U.S. Città di Palermo. 24 July 2013. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "Ufficiale: Francesco Benussi in gialloblù" (in Italian). Hellas Verona F.C. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "LE PRIME PAROLE IN BIANCOROSSO DI BENUSSI E WILCZEK" (in Italian). Carpi F.C. 1909. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "Risoluzione contrattuale per Benussi" (in Italian). Carpi F.C. 1909. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
- ^ "Francesco Benussi in biancorosso" (in Italian). Vicenza Calcio. 27 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
