Andrea Poli (Italian pronunciation: [anˈdrɛːa ˈpɔːli]; born 29 September 1989) is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie D club Pro Sesto.[2]

Andrea Poli
Poli with Antalyaspor in 2022
Personal information
Full name Andrea Poli[1]
Date of birth (1989-09-29) 29 September 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Vittorio Veneto, Italy
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Pro Sesto
Number 16
Youth career
0000–2006 Treviso
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Treviso 4 (0)
2007–2013 Sampdoria 84 (3)
2008–2009Sassuolo (loan) 32 (5)
2011–2012Internazionale (loan) 18 (0)
2013–2017 AC Milan 90 (3)
2017–2021 Bologna 108 (9)
2021–2022 Antalyaspor 28 (0)
2022–2023 Modena 11 (0)
2024– Pro Sesto 10 (0)
International career
2006 Italy U17 7 (0)
2006 Italy U18 4 (0)
2006–2008 Italy U19 11 (2)
2008 Italy U20 1 (0)
2009–2010 Italy U21 12 (1)
2012–2014 Italy 5 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 September 2014

Club career

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Treviso

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He started his career in Serie B with his native club Treviso. He made his professional debut aged just 17 years, 2 months and 10 days under manager Ezio Rossi, in a 3–2 loss against Genoa C.F.C. on 9 December 2006. On 31 January 2007, he was signed by Serie A club Sampdoria in a joint ownership deal, but immediately loaned back to Treviso until officially becoming a member of Sampdoria at the end of the season. He made three further appearances for Treviso during the 2006–07 season.

Sampdoria

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Poli with Sampdoria in 2012

On 4 November 2007, he made his Serie A debut for Sampdoria in a 0–3 away win against Cagliari, under manager Walter Mazzarri, aged 18 years, 1 month and 6 days. Andrea also made the bench on six other occasions in the 2007–08 season. He was also part of the Primaverasquad that won the Campionato Nazionale Primavera.

In the 2008–09 season he was loaned out to the Serie B club Sassuolo in order to gain experience. At Sassuolo he had a breakout season, making 33 appearances between the Coppa Italia and Serie B and managed five goals and three assists. A season highlight was scoring both of Sassuolo's goals against U.S. Grosseto F.C. in a 2–1 away win. During the season Andrea was also part of Italy's u19, u20 and u21 youth sides.

Upon his return to Sampdoria in the summer of 2009 he became a key player of the side that ended 4th in the league. He made 32 appearances playing as a central midfield playmaker and managed three assists. The next season Poli played less due to injuries and lack of form in Sampdoria side that endured a disastrous season. The side were knocked out of UEFA Champions League qualifying by SV Werder Bremen, were knocked out of the Europa League at the group stage and were eventually relegated from Serie A, finishing fourteen places lower than they did the last season.

Inter Milan

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On 29 August 2011, Poli joined Internazionale on a season-long loan, with Inter having the option to buy him permanently in 2012. After missing most of the first half of the season through injury, Andrea had a very strong second half to the season and made 21 appearances for the Italian giants. Poli scored his first Inter goal in the Coppa Italia match against Genoa in a 2–1 win on 19 January 2012. He also made his UEFA Champions League proper debut against Olympique de Marseille. Despite his good performances for the Nerazzuri, Internazionale did not take up their buy option on the player and so he returned to Sampdoria.

Andrea returned to Sampdoria who were back in Serie A after just one season in Serie B. He made 32 appearances in the 2012–13 season scoring a career high three goals.

AC Milan

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On 8 July 2013, Poli joined AC Milan becoming their third signing of summer 2013 for €3 million[3] (€1.4 million plus 50% rights of Bartosz Salamon[3]) in a co-ownership deal.[4] Andrea made 37 appearances in all competitions in his first season with the Rossoneri. He managed two goals and four assists in what was a promising start to his Milan career. He was purchased outright by Milan on 9 June 2014.[5]

Bologna

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On 1 July 2017, he permanently joined Bologna by signing a four-year contract. The new four-year contract is worth €800,000 net per season.

On 15 October he signed his first goal for the rossoblu, in the 2–1 against SPAL .

Antalyaspor

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On 23 July 2021, Poli signed a three-year deal with Turkish Süper Lig club Antalyaspor.[6]

Modena

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On 29 September 2022, Poli joined Modena in Serie B for the 2022–23 season.[7]

Pro Sesto

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On 7 February 2024, Poli signed with Serie C club Pro Sesto.[8]

International career

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Poli was in the squad at the 2008 U-19 European Championships, where he scored two goals in the first round.[9]

On 11 February 2009, he made his debut with the Italy U-21 squad in a 1–1 friendly draw against Sweden, played at the Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste.[10][11] He was called up by manager Pierluigi Casiraghi for the 2009 European Championships in the summer,[12] but did not make an appearance, as Italy reached the semi-finals, only to be eliminated 1–0 by eventual champions Germany.[13] He scored his first goal for the under-21 side later that year, on 8 September, in a 2–0 home win over Luxembourg, in a Euro 2011 qualifier.[14][15]

After being given his first senior international call-up by Cesare Prandelli on 10 August 2012,[16] Poli made his debut with the Italian senior team on 15 August, coming on for Alberto Aquilani in the second half of a 2–1 friendly loss to England.[17] On 31 May 2013, he scored his first goal with the national team, in a 4–0 friendly win against San Marino, in Bologna.[18] Poli was initially included in Italy's 31-man preliminary squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup,[19] but excluded from the final 23-man squad.[20]

Style of play

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Poli mainly operates as an offensive-minded central midfielder, known as the "mezzala" role, in Italy, due to his ability to assist his team both offensively and defensively, although he can also be deployed as an attacking midfielder, or even as a defensive midfielder in front of the back-line; he has also been fielded as a full-back on occasion. He has been described as a versatile, energetic player, with good technical and creative qualities, which make him capable of starting attacking plays after winning back the ball. He also possesses an eye for goal due to his accurate striking ability from distance. He has been praised for his stamina, work-rate, and ability to read the game, as well as his tactical intelligence and discipline.[21][22][23][24] Poli has been compared to Daniele De Rossi, and he has cited Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard, and Steven Gerrard as his role models, with the main focus on the latter.[25][26]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 8 August 2024[27][2]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Treviso 2006–07 Serie B 4 0 0 0 4 0
Total 4 0 0 0 4 0
Sampdoria 2007–08 Serie A 1 0 0 0 1 0
2009–10 31 0 1 0 32 0
2010–11 21 0 2 0 5[a] 0 28 0
2012–13 31 3 1 0 32 3
Total 84 3 4 0 5 0 93 3
Sassulo (loan) 2008–09 Serie B 32 5 1 0 33 5
Total 32 5 1 0 33 5
Internazionale (loan) 2011–12 Serie A 18 0 1 1 1[b] 0 20 1
Total 18 0 1 1 1 0 20 1
AC Milan 2013–14 Serie A 26 2 1 0 10[b] 0 37 2
2014–15 33 1 2 0 35 1
2015–16 18 0 6 0 24 0
2016–17 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0
Total 90 3 8 0 10 0 0 0 109 3
Bologna 2017–18 Serie A 32 2 1 0 33 2
2018–19 30 4 2 0 32 4
2019–20 28 2 2 1 30 3
2020–21 18 1 1 0 19 1
Total 108 9 6 1 0 0 0 0 114 10
Antalyaspor 2021–22 Süper Lig 28 0 3 0 1[c] 0 32 0
Modena 2022–23 Serie B 11 0 0 0 11 0
Pro Sesto 2023–24 Serie C 10 0 0 0 10 0
Career total 385 20 23 2 16 0 1 0 426 22
  1. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, Four appearances in Europa League
  2. ^ a b All appearances in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearance in Turkish Super Cup

International

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As of match played on 16 June 2015. [28]
Italy national team
Year Apps Goals
2012 1 0
2013 3 1
2014 1 0
Total 5 1

Honours

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Club

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AC Milan[2]

Italy U21

References

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  1. ^ "Comunicato Ufficiale N. 126" [Official Press Release No. 126] (PDF). Lega Serie A. 27 December 2017. p. 2. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Andrea Poli at Soccerway
  3. ^ a b "RELAZIONI E BILANCIO AL 31 DICEMBRE 2013" [A.C. Milan Group 2013 Annual Report] (PDF) (in Italian). A.C. Milan. 13 October 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  4. ^ AC Milan signs Andrea Poli Archived 14 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 8 July 2013
  5. ^ "Risolti gli accordi di partecipazione relativi a Salamon e Poli" (in Italian). U.C. Sampdoria. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Andrea Poli FTA Antalyaspor'umuzda".
  7. ^ "CALCIOMERCATO: ANDREA POLI È GIALLOBLÙ" (in Italian). Modena. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  8. ^ "ANDREA POLI È BIANCOCELESTE!" [ANDREA POLI IS BIANCOCELESTE!] (in Italian). Pro Sesto. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  9. ^ Gaetano Imparato (24 July 2008). "Under 19, quanti nuovi talenti" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  10. ^ "La giovane Italia non va oltre l'1-1" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 11 February 2009. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  11. ^ "ITALIA-SVEZIA" (in Italian). FIGC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Under21: i convocati di Casiraghi per l'Europeo" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2016.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "Germany set up rematch". Sky Sports. 26 June 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  14. ^ Riccardo Pratesi (8 September 2009). "Under 21, compitino vincente Lussemburgo steso 2-0" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  15. ^ "ITALIA-LUSSEMBURGO" (in Italian). FIGC. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  16. ^ "Sono 8 le novità di Prandelli per l'amichevole con l'Inghilterra" (in Italian). FIGC. 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  17. ^ Alistair Magowan (15 August 2012). "England 2-1 Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  18. ^ Riccardo Pratesi (31 May 2013). "Italia-San Marino 4-0: gol di Poli, Gilardino, Pirlo e Aquilani" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  19. ^ "I 31 pre-convocati di Prandelli per la Confederations Cup: Agazzi, Bonaventura e Sau le novità" (in Italian). goal.com. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  20. ^ "Nazionale, ecco la lista dei 23 convocati Prandelli: "Nessuna bocciatura per chi resta fuori"" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  21. ^ "Milan: sorpasso alla Juve, Andrea Poli quasi preso" (in Italian). Il Corriere dello Sport. 2 June 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  22. ^ Monari, Simone; Zaino, Stefano (25 November 2017). "Le pagelle di Bologna-Sampdoria: Destro in palla, Ramirez evanescente". La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  23. ^ Taglieri, Angelo (5 March 2014). "POLI: UOMO CHIAVE NELLO SCACCHIERE DI SEEDORF". Pianeta Milan (in Italian). Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  24. ^ "Milan, Poli: 'Sono pronto a fare il terzino'" (in Italian). www.calciomercato.com. 25 October 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  25. ^ "Bologna, Poli: "Lasciare il Milan non è un passo indietro nella mia carriera"" (in Italian). gianlucadimarzio.com. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  26. ^ "Un po' Pirlo, un po' De Rossi ma Poli sogna Gerrard". La Gazzettta dello Sport (in Italian). 5 October 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  27. ^ "Poli:Andrea Poli". AC Milan. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  28. ^ Andrea Poli at National-Football-Teams.com
  29. ^ Under 21 Championship UEFA
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