Matteo Rizzo (footballer)

Not to be confused with the eponymous Italian figure skater, Matteo Rizzo.

Matteo Rizzo

Personal information
Date of birth	(2004-09-10) 10 September 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Verbania, Italy
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Pro Vercelli
Number	12
Youth career
0000–2018	San Francesco
2018–2021	Gozzano
2021	Pro Vercelli
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021	Gozzano	1	(0)
2021–	Pro Vercelli	44	(0)
2024	→ Lumezzane (loan)	0	(0)
International career‡
2022	Italy U18	1	(0)
2022	Italy U19	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 August 2022

Matteo Rizzo (born 10 September 2004) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie C Group A club Pro Vercelli.

Club career

Born in Verbania, but raised in Vignone, ^{[1] [2]} Rizzo started playing football at the local grassroots club San Francesco, before joining Gozzano in 2018. ^[2] After several seasons in the club's youth sector, ^[2] he made his first team debut on June 19, 2021, as he came in as a substitute in the final minutes of the last league match of the season against Folgore Caratese, which ultimately ended in a 3-2 win for his side. ^[3]

In the summer of 2021, Rizzo joined Pro Vercelli, where he was first assigned to the under-19 squad. ^[2] However, the following December, the goalkeeper was called-up to the first team by the head coach Franco Lerda, following a streak of injuries occurred to all of the registered senior goalkeepers. ^[4] He subsequently made his professional debut for the club on December 18, 2021, aged 17, starting and playing the entirety of the Serie C match against Mantova, which ended in a 1-1 draw. ^[4] Throughout the rest of the 2021–22 season, Rizzo established himself as a regular starter of the first team, as Pro Vercelli reached the promotional play-offs before getting eliminated by Juventus U23 in the second round. ^{[2] [5]}

On 26 July 2022, Rizzo signed his first professional contract with Pro Vercelli, penning a two-year deal with an option for a third season. ^{[6] [7]}

On 17 January 2024, Rizzo was loaned out to fellow Serie C club Lumezzane until the end of the season. ^{[8] [9]}

International career

Rizzo has represented Italy at several youth international levels, having played for the under-18 and under-19 national teams. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 19 November 2023 ^[13]

Club	Season	League			Coppa Italia		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gozzano	2020–21	Serie D	1	0	—		0	0	1	0
Pro Vercelli	2021–22	Serie C	15	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	17	0
	2022–23		27	0	—		0	0	27	0
	2023–24		2	0	—		0	0	2	0
Lumezzane (loan)	2023–24	Serie C	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Career total			45	0	0	0	2	0	47	0

1. Two appearances in Serie C promotion play-offs.

References

1. Tomola, Arianna (19 March 2022). "Calcio, il portiere di Vignone Matteo Rizzo convocato nella nazionale Under 18". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2022.
2. Stesina, Marco (3 May 2022). "Fa come Buffon a 17 anni: appare dal nulla e para subito tutto tra i Prof". Sprint e Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2022.
3. Brunner, Nicolò (19 June 2021). "Folgore Caratese-Gozzano, Serie D: i rossoblù vincono in rimonta e "rovinano" l'ultima di Longo". Sprint e Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2022.
4. Cristiano, Simone (22 December 2021). "Pro Vercelli, esordio tra i professionisti per Matteo Rizzo". La Giovane Italia News (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2022.
5. Baridon, Marco (4 May 2022). "Pro Vercelli Juventus U23 0-1: Compagnon decisivo, continua il sogno playoff". Juventus News 24 (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2022.
6. "PRIMO CONTRATTO DA PROFESSIONISTA PER MATTEO RIZZO" (in Italian). Pro Vercelli. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
7. Zarra, Angelo (26 July 2022). "UFFICIALE - Pro Vercelli, primo contratto da pro per Louati e Rizzo". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2022.
8. "UFFICIALE – Matteo Rizzo È Rossoblù" (in Italian). Lumezzane. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
9. Tonesi, Fabio (17 January 2024). "Il Lumezzane prende Rizzo come dodicesimo". Giornale di Brescia (in Italian). Retrieved 17 January 2024.
10. "Per le due amichevoli con Austria e Svizzera Franceschini convoca 23 giocatori" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
11. "L'Italia vince ancora: cinque gol degli Azzurrini alla Svizzera nel secondo test di Novarello" (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
12. Carzaniga, Dennis (11 August 2022). "La prima uscita stagionale fa ben sperare per il futuro: l'Italia Under 19 supera l'Albania". Sprint e Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 31 October 2022.
13. Matteo Rizzo at Soccerway

External links

• Matteo Rizzo at Soccerway
• Matteo Rizzo at WorldFootball.net
• Matteo Rizzo at BeSoccer