Mirco Antenucci

Mirco Antenucci

Antenucci in 2018
Personal information
Full name	Mirco Antenucci [1]
Date of birth	(1984-09-08) 8 September 1984 (age 39)
Place of birth	Termoli, Italy
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	SPAL
Number	7
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2007	Giulianova	92	(12)
2004–2005	→ Ancona (loan)	26	(2)
2007–2011	Catania	18	(1)
2007–2008	→ Venezia (loan)	27	(6)
2009	→ Pisa (loan)	20	(1)
2009–2010	→ Ascoli (loan)	40	(24)
2011–2012	Torino	60	(16)
2012–2014	Catania	1	(0)
2012–2013	→ Spezia (loan)	33	(6)
2013–2014	Ternana	40	(19)
2014–2016	Leeds United	75	(19)
2016–2019	SPAL	105	(34)
2019–2023	Bari	126	(58)
2023–	SPAL	3	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 May 2023

Mirco Antenucci (born 8 September 1984) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Serie C Group B club SPAL.

Club career

Giulianova

Antenucci began his professional career in 2002, with Serie C1 club, Giulianova, where in two seasons with the club, the young striker managed to make 35 appearances, before spending the 2004–05 season on loan at Serie C2 side, Ancona. During his loan spell with the club, Antenucci scored twice in 27 league appearances, before returning to Giulianova in the summer of 2005. In his second tenure with the Teramo-based club, Antenucci scored 12 goals in 57 league matches, over the course of two seasons.

Catania

In July 2007, he was signed by Serie A side, Catania, ^[2] and was loaned to Venezia ahead of the 2007–08 Serie C1 campaign. He made 27 league appearances that season, scoring six goals.

On 1 July 2008, Antenucci returned to Catania and entered into the first team squad. He made four substitute appearances under, then coach, Walter Zenga in the first half of the 2008–09 Serie A season. On 5 January 2009, Mirko Antenucci was sent out on loan to Serie B club Pisa, to gain experience and playing time. During his six-month spell with the Serie B club, Antenucci scored just one goal in 20 league appearances, and the club failed to avoid relegation and also bankrupted. He returned to Catania on 30 June 2009.

On 19 August 2009, Catania opted to send Antenucci on another loan deal to Ascoli, ^[3] where he joined fellow Catania loanees Marcello Gazzola and Vito Falconieri. Following his transfer to Ascoli, he thrived, earning a regular starting role, and going on to make 40 appearances in the league, scoring an impressive 24 goals, finishing the second top scorer in the whole of Serie B. He only missed two league matches: the first round of the season and once due to suspension. ^[4] He returned to Catania ahead of the 2010–11 Serie A season. Antenucci did make 14 league appearances for Catania that season, although most of them were off the substitute's bench with Maxi López, Francesco Lodi, Gonzalo Bergessio and Takayuki Morimoto competing for places up front. After just one goal in Serie A, Antenucci was sent out on a co-ownership agreement during the January transfer window.

Torino

On 23 January 2011, it was announced that he joined Serie B club Torino in a co-ownership deal. In his first 6-month spell with the club, Antenucci scored 6 goals in his first 19 appearances, before turning in an additional 10 goals in 40 league appearances the following season. Forming a strong strike partnership with Rolando Bianchi. His efforts helped guide the club to a second-placed finish in the 2011–12 Serie B standings with promotion to Serie A. ^[5]

Return to Catania

On 21 June 2012, Catania outbid Torino in a blind auction for the players' co-ownership, and so the 28-year-old returned to Sicily ahead of the 2012–13 Serie A season. After making a substitute appearance in matchday one of the season on 26 August 2012, the player was sent out on loan to Spezia of Serie B, on yet another season-long loan deal, and finished the season with six goals in 33 league matches.

Ternana

Antenucci was sold in a co-ownership deal and loaned to Serie B side Ternana on 20 July 2013, where he was also named captain. He scored his first goal in the first round against Carpi, a penalty kick. The following game he scored against Cittadella with a goal in a 2–2 draw. Antenucci also scored on the fifth, sixth and ninth day respectively against Siena, Brescia and Virtus Lanciano. After one win in nine games, Ternana found themselves in the relegation zone. He scored a brace during a resounding 5–0 victory over Novara and the next week, repeated the feat with another brace against Crotone.

In the first half of the season, Antenucci had scored nine goals in 21 games. In the second round, the Terni technical changes, passing the leadership in the hands of Attilio Tesser. Antenucci begins with a bang, the second round, scoring six goals in eleven games, which helped Ternana to remain undefeated for twelve games.

On 5 April 2013, he missed his second penalty of the season (the first against Latina) and again against Cesena, the defeat saw the end of Ternana's undefeated spell of 12 games. He returned to goal scoring form on the 36th day, in a 3–3 draw against Modena and repeated his goal scoring form in subsequent games against Bari and Padova respectively.

His goal against Spezia in a 2–2 draw on 22 March 2014, where he controlled a ball on his chest before striking a bicycle kick, ^[6] was awarded by The News Strip as Goal of The Year. Sky Sport Italia voted the goal second place for Goal of the Season behind Paul Pogba's strike for Juventus against Napoli.

After scoring 19 goals in 40 Serie B appearances for the rossoverde, he finished the fifth top scorer in Serie B for the 2013–14 season helping Ternana avoid relegation with a 16th-placed finish.

His contract was redeemed by the Umbrian club upon the conclusion of the co-ownership agreement on 20 June 2014, for an undisclosed fee. ^[7]

Leeds United

2014–15 season

Antennucci playing for Leeds United in 2014.

On 19 August 2014, it was reported that Leeds United had agreed a deal with the Ternana first-team captain to join the club. ^[8] It was confirmed on 20 August 2014 via the player's own Twitter account that he had joined Leeds. ^[9] On Saturday 23 August, Antenucci made his Leeds debut against Watford in a 4–1 defeat. ^[10] Antenucci made his home debut at Elland Road on 30 August against Bolton Wanderers. ^[11] On 16 September 2014, he scored his first league goal for Leeds against Bournemouth in a 3–1 win. ^[12] Antenucci finished the 2014–15 season as top scorer for Leeds with 10 league goals. ^[13] On 2 July 2015, Antenucci's agent Silvio Pagliari revealed that Antenucci and Giuseppe Bellusci would be staying at Leeds and that owner Massimo Cellino said both players were going to be important players for the 2015–16 season. ^[14]

2015–16 season

On 31 July 2015, Antenucci was given his favoured squad number 7 for the upcoming 2015–16 season. ^[15] On 8 August 2015, on the opening day of the Championship season, Antenucci started the game on the bench against Burnley but came on a substitute and scored a stunning left footed strike to put Leeds 1–0 up in a match that finished as a 1–1 draw. ^[16] On 12 August 2015, Antenucci scored a penalty in a penalty shootout against Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup, with Leeds losing 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. ^[17]

On 19 April, Antenucci was nominated for the Leeds United player of the year award, alongside Charlie Taylor, Liam Bridcutt, Gaetano Berardi and Lewis Cook. ^[18] The award was won by Taylor on 30 April. ^[19] Antenucci finished the 2015–16 season as Leeds' second top goal scorer with 9 goals behind Chris Wood who scored 13.

On 7 May 2016, Antenucci revealed in a post on his official Instagram account that he would be leaving Leeds. ^[20]

SPAL

On 30 June 2016, Antenucci joined Serie B side SPAL on a free transfer from Leeds. On 15 August 2016, Antenucci scored on his debut for SPAL against Cagliari in a 5–1 defeat in the Coppa Italia Cup.

He scored 18 goals in his first season at the club and finished the third top scorer in Serie B behind top scorer Giampaolo Pazzini (23 goals) and runner up Fabio Ceravolo (21 goals). ^[21] His goals proved to be crucial as SPAL gained promotion to Serie A for the first time in 49 years by winning Serie B despite only being promoted to Serie B for the first time since 1992–93. ^[22]

During the 2017–18 season in Serie A he scored 11 times in 33 games, ^[23] to help the club successfully retain their status in Serie A. ^[24] The following season ended in similar fashion, with SPAL successfully avoiding relegation and Antenucci scoring 5 goals in 35 appearances.

Bari

In July 2019 he moved to Serie C newcomers Bari on a permanent basis. He contributed 15 goals to Bari being promoted to Serie B at the end of the 2021–22 season.

Return to SPAL

On 13 July 2023, Antenucci returned to SPAL, by now relegated to Serie C, on a two-year contract. ^[25]

International career

In 2002, Antenucci represented Italy U-20 C1 before then representing Italy U-21 C1 Italy Lega Pro in 2003.

In 2005, Antenucci won gold representing Italy, in the 2005 Summer Universiade in Turkey. With Italy winning the Gold medal beating Japan in the Summer Universiade Men's Football final.

Career statistics

As of match played 16 April 2022 ^[26]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Giulianova	2002–03	Serie C1	21	1	0	0	—	—	21	1
	2003–04		14	0	0	0	—	—	14	0
	2005–06		25	1	0	0	—	—	25	1
	2006–07		32	11	0	0	—	—	32	11
	Total		92	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	92	13
Ancona (loan)	2004–05	Serie C2	26	2	0	0	—	—	26	2
Catania	2008–09	Serie A	4	0	2	0	—	—	6	0
	2010–11	Serie A	14	1	3	2	—	—	17	3
	Total		18	1	5	2	0	0	0	0	23	3
Venezia (loan)	2007–08	Serie C1	27	6	0	0	—	—	27	6
Pisa (loan)	2008–09	Serie B	20	1	0	0	—	—	20	1
Ascoli (loan)	2009–10		40	24	1	0	—	—	41	24
Torino	2010–11	Serie B	19	6	0	0	—	—	19	6
	2011–12		41	10	2	1	—	—	43	11
	Total		60	16	2	1	0	0	0	0	62	17
Catania	2012–13	Serie A	1	0	0	0	—	—	1	0
Spezia (loan)	2012–13	Serie B	33	6	0	0	—	—	33	6
Ternana	2013–14		40	19	1	0	—	—	41	19
	2014–15		0	0	1	0	—	—	1	0
	Total		40	19	2	0	0	0	0	0	42	19
Leeds	2014–15	Championship	36	10	1	0	—	—	37	10
	2015–16		39	9	3	0	1	0	—	43	9
	Total		75	19	4	0	1	0	0	0	80	19
SPAL	2016–17	Serie B	37	18	2	2	—	—	39	20
	2017–18	Serie A	33	11	1	0	—	—	34	11
	2018–19		35	5	1	0	—	—	36	5
	Total		105	34	4	2	0	0	0	0	109	36
Bari	2019–20	Serie C	29	20	0	0	—	3 [lower-alpha 1]	1	34	23
	2020–21		31	14	2	1	—	3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	21	13
	2021–22		34	17	—		—	—	21	13
	Total		94	51	2	1	0	0	6	1	102	53
Career total			631	192	20	6	1	0	6	1	658	199

1. Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs

Honours

SPAL

• Serie B  : 2016–17

Bari

• Serie C: 2021–22 (Group C)

References

1. "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 180" [Official Press Release No. 180](PDF). Lega Serie A. 5 March 2018. p. 3. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
2. "UFFICIALE: Antenucci va al Catania, ma su di lui l'asta continua". Tutto Mercato Web (in Italian). 22 July 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
3. "Mirko Antenucci all'Ascoli. Domani la presentazione". Ascoli Calcio 1898 (in Italian). 19 August 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
4. "Giudice Sportivo: 7.000 € di multa. Un turno a Giallombardo e Antenucci". Ascoli Calcio 1898 (in Italian). 11 May 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
5. "Antenucci al Toro" [Antenucci at the bull]. Torino FC (in Italian). 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
6. "Antenucci al Toro" [Gol masterpiece: Mirko Antenucci in Spezia-Ternana 2–2]. Mondo Allone (in Italian). 23 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
7. "Ternana Calcio | Official Website".
8. Phil Hay (19 August 2014). "Leeds United: Antenucci set to join Whites in next 24 hours". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
9. Phil Hay (20 August 2014). "Leeds United: Whites seal Antenucci capture". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
10. "TWO OFF IN WATFORD DEFEAT". Leeds United Official Site. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
11. "Leeds Vs Bolton Wanderers". Leeds United official website. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
12. "Bournemouth 1 – 3 Leeds". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
13. "MIRCO REFLECTS ON DEBUT SEASON". Leeds United. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
14. "EXCLUSIVE TMW – Agent Bellusci: "He wants to get to rescue the Leeds"". Tutto Mercato. 2 July 2015.
15. "2015/16 SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED". Leeds United Official site. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
16. "UNITED IN OPENING DAY DRAW". Leeds United Official site. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
17. "DONCASTER: UNITED EXIT CUP ON PENALTIES". Leeds United Official site. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
18. "PLAYER OF THE YEAR: TOP 5 VOTE!". Leeds United Official site. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
19. "TAYLOR CROWNED PLAYER OF THE YEAR". Leeds United Official site. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
20. "This video is to greet the city of Leeds and the big fans with love". Instagram. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
21. "Top Scorers In Serie B". Eurosport. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
22. "Serie B: Spal promoted to Serie A | Football Italia". Archived from the original on 17 May 2017.
23. "Mirco Antenucci | Football Stats | Spal | Season 2017/2018 | Soccer Base".
24. "Official: SPAL sign Verona pair". Football Italia. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
25. "Welcome back to biancazzurro Mirco!". SPAL. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
26. Mirco Antenucci at Soccerway

External links

• Football.it Profile (in Italian)
• Catania Profile (in Italian)