Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 21 April 1986 | ||
Place of birth | Russi, Italy | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) | ||
Playing position | Central midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team
|
Empoli | ||
Number | 6 | ||
Youth career | |||
?–2006 | Cesena | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
2005–2008 | Cesena | 3 | (0) |
2006–2007 | → Pavia (loan) | 24 | (0) |
2007–2008 | → Legnano (loan) | 17 | (0) |
2008– | Empoli | 224 | (4) |
National team‡ | |||
2015– | Italy | 1 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 March 2015. † Appearances (Goals). |
Mirko Valdifiori (born 21 April 1986) is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Empoli.
Club career
Cesena
Born in Russi, Romagna, Valdifiori started his professional career at Romagnol club Cesena. His debut for Cesena came on 14 May 2005, in a 3-3 away from home draw with Genoa in 2004–05 Serie B. He made one further appearance that season, in the last round. The following season, the 2005-06 season, the youngster made just one appearance off the bench. To find more regular playing time, the player went out on loan to Pavia for the 2006-07 season where he made 24 Serie C1 appearances that season. The following season he went out on loan once more, this time to Legnano, who were then in Serie C1 and made 17 appearances for the side that season. In 2007–08 Serie B season also saw the relegation of Cesena to Lega Pro Prima Divisione (ex–Serie C1).
Empoli
In June 2008, Cesena sold Valdifiori to Serie B team Empoli in co-ownership deal for €520,000.[1][2] The defensive midfielder immediately became an important part of the first team at Empoli, playing 32 games in the 2008-09 season, as Empoli achieved a Serie B playoff spot for promotion, but unfortunately lost out to Brescia over two legs. In June 2009 Empoli signed Valdifiori outright for another €800,000.[3][4]
The 2009–10 Serie B season was similarly strong for Valdifiori, who made 36 appearances and even managed his first professional goal - the 2nd in a 2-0 win over former side Cesena.
In the 2010–11 Serie B season, Valdifiori remained a vital part of the Empoli set up, appearing in 38 matches, including his 100th for Empoli which came against Novara on the 8 April 2011. He also scored a career high two goals that season, with both of his strikes earning draws for his side.
In the 2011–12 Serie B season, the midfield maestro sat out for a long period of time, missing rounds 21-36 of the Serie B season due to injury. Empoli finished in the relegation playoff zone this season, but fortunately managed an aggregate 3-2 win over Vicenza.
Empoli had a great 2012–13 Serie B season, surprising everyone by managing to turn around their form from last season and having a healthy Valdifiori throughout was vital, as the holding midfielder made 42 appearances, including 1 goal and 6 assists. Empoli finished in the playoff spots and beat Novara in the first playoff but lost to Livorno in the following playoff, falling one step short of promotion to Serie A.
Promotion was finally achieved for Empoli in 2013–14 Serie B and Valdifiori was a key part of the success, managing 8 assists in 40 appearances that season.
In the 2014–15 Serie A season, Valdifiori finally made his Serie A debut in a 2-0 Round 1 loss to Udinese. In Round 4, he was sent off against A.C. Milan after receiving two yellow cards one after the other in the 85th and 86th minute. In his Round 6 return against Palermo, he assisted twice to help his side to a 3-0 win over Palermo, their first Serie A win that season. He captained Empoli for the first time in Round 19, in a 0-0 draw against Internazionale.
International career
In March 2015, he was called up by Antonio Conte to the Italy squad for the first time, for a Euro 2016 qualifier against Bulgaria and a friendly against England.[5] On 31 March 2015 he made his debut in the latter match against England, starting the 1–1 draw at Juventus Stadium in Turin and making way for Marco Verratti after 67 minutes.[6]
References
- ^ AC Cesena SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2008, PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA (Italian)
- ^ Empoli FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2008, PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA (Italian)
- ^ AC Cesena SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2009, PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA (Italian)
- ^ Empoli FC SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2009, PDF purchased from Italian CCIAA (Italian)
- ^ "Nazionale, Conte chiama Eder, Vazquez e Valdifiori per Bulgaria e Inghilterra" [National team, Conte calls up Éder, Vázquez and Valdifiori for Bulgaria and England]. La Gazetta dello Sport. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ "Italy 1-1 England". BBC Sport. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
External links
- Football.it Profile (Italian)
- Soccernet Profile
- Mirko Valdifiori profile at Soccerway
- La Gazzetta dello Sport Profile (Italian)
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