Damiano Tommasi Explained

Damiano Tommasi
Order:Mayor of Verona
Term Start:29 June 2022
Birth Date:1974 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Negrar, Italy
Party:Centre-left independent
Profession:Footballer, sports manager
Module:
Embed:yes
Damiano Tommasi
Birth Date:17 May 1974
Birth Place:Negrar, Italy
Height:1.79 m
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:1991–1993
Youthclubs1:Verona
Years1:1993–1996
Caps1:77
Goals1:4
Years2:1996–2006
Caps2:263
Goals2:14
Years3:2006–2008
Caps3:44
Goals3:1
Years4:2008
Caps4:7
Goals4:0
Years5:2009
Caps5:29
Goals5:1
Years6:2009–2022
Clubs6:Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo
Caps6:10
Goals6:2
Years7:2015–2019
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:1994–1996
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:1998–2003
Nationalcaps2:25
Nationalgoals2:2

Damiano Tommasi (pronounced as /it/; born 17 May 1974) is an Italian former footballer and current Mayor of Verona.

A defensive midfielder during his footballing years, after a decade at Roma – winning the 2001 Serie A title – he continued his career abroad, going on to play for teams in three countries until his retirement from professional football at the age of 37. He amassed Serie A totals of 262 games and 14 goals.

Tommasi earned 25 caps for Italy, and was a member of the team that took part in the 2002 World Cup.

He successively served as the president of the Italian Footballers' Association between 2011 and 2020,[1] before starting a political career the following year and being elected Mayor of Verona in the 2022 local elections.[2] [3]

Club career

Born in Negrar, Province of Verona, Tommasi started his professional career with local club Hellas Verona, in Serie B.[4] He made his Serie A debut on 7 September 1996 with AS Roma in a 3–1 win over Piacenza Calcio, and would be an instrumental figure in the side's 2001 conquest of the scudetto, with manager Fabio Capello even labelling him as the team's most important player.

During a summer friendly match against Stoke City in 2004, Tommasi suffered a serious knee injury in a collision with Gerry Taggart,[5] [6] and was out of action long-term. In the summer of 2005 he accepted a one-year contract extension, with youth player wages (€1,500 a month) – a contract which he instigated himself in the name of fairness.[7] He finally returned to play on 30 October 2005, coming on as a second-half substitute for Olivier Dacourt during a league match against Ascoli Calcio 1898 and being hailed with a long standing ovation by the Roma supporters.

On 27 November 2005, Tommasi scored after just two minutes in an eventual 1–1 home draw against ACF Fiorentina,[8] being an important first-team member as Roma finished runner-up. After ten years with the club, in July 2006 he joined Levante UD in Spain,[9] spending two seasons with the La Liga strugglers, eventually ending in relegation in 2007–08.

On 10 September 2008, Tommasi agreed a one-year deal with English Football League Championship team Queens Park Rangers.[10] On 9 January 2009, his contract was terminated by mutual consent and, after advanced talks with Chinese Super League's Tianjin TEDA, he signed for the club early in the following month, citing an interest in a third experience abroad as the main reason for it.[11]

After one season, 35-year-old Tommasi left Teda and decided to return to Italy, joining amateurs Sant'Anna d'Alfaedo (Seconda Categoria), where he played alongside his two brothers.[12] He made his debut with the team on 13 December 2009;[13] he came out of retirement nearly six years later, with SP La Fiorita of San Marino. He stated on his decision: "It's a challenge that La Fiorita have given me the chance to experience all over again. I've been looking forward to this Europa League draw for ages now. Let's hope it will be a beautiful adventure and that I can add another chapter to my football career", and went to feature in their campaign in the UEFA Europa League campaign against FC Vaduz.[14]

International career

Tommasi played for the Italy under-21 team that won the 1996 UEFA European Championship, also being picked for that year's Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta where he made three appearances. He made his debut for the senior side on 18 November 1998, under Dino Zoff, in a 2–2 home draw against Spain,[15] but did not become a regular team member until 2001.

After featuring prominently during the Azzurris 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Tommasi was picked by manager Giovanni Trapattoni for the squad that would take part at the finals in Japan and South Korea. He played in all four matches during the tournament, which ended in round-of-16 exit; in the decisive clash against co-hosts South Korea, he came close to scoring twice: first when Roma teammate Francesco Totti played him in only to have his shot blocked by Lee Woon-Jae. During extra time, referee Byron Moreno disallowed him a goal due to a controversial offside decision, and the Italians were eventually defeated by a golden goal.[16] [17] [18] [19]

Tommasi made his last appearance for Italy on 16 November 2003, in a 1–0 home victory over Romania.[20] He scored the first of two goals for his country on 5 September 2001, in a 1–0 friendly win over Morocco.[21]

Style of play

A quick, strong, tenacious, consistent, hardworking and versatile player, Tommasi primarily excelled at breaking down his opponents' plays and intercepting passes as a box-to-box or defensive midfielder, due to his stamina and hard-tackling style of play. He also possessed good technique, movement, intelligence and was an accurate passer, which enabled him to retain possession and start attacking plays after winning back the ball; these attributes allowed him to play anywhere in midfield, rather than being confined to a single position, and he was often deployed on the right flank earlier on in his career, as well as in the centre, or even as an offensive-minded midfielder, or in the mezzala role, due to his eye for goal.[4] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] In his youth, he also played as a central defender.[27]

Post-retirement

In January 2010, together with his agent Andrea Pretti and longtime friend Werner Seeber, Tommasi set up a company in China called Tommasi Pretti Seeber Sports Culture & Exchange Co., Ltd (TPS), aimed at creating a reliable bridge between Europe and the Asian country in the field of football.

On 9 May 2011, he became the president of the Italian Footballers' Association, succeeding historical founder Sergio Campana who had been in office for 43 years.[1] He resigned from his role in 2020.

Political career

In October 2021, it was announced Tommasi would run as the centre-left candidate for mayor of Verona for the 2022 election.[28] After qualifying to the second round with around 40% of votes, on 26 June 2022 Tommasi won the runoff with over 54% of the vote over outgoing right-wing mayor Federico Sboarina in the traditionally right-wing city.[29]

Personal life

Honours

Club

Roma[4] [34]

2000–01

2001

Runner-up 2005–06

International

Italy under-21[35]

1996

Individual

2000–01[36]

2015[37]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aic, a Tommasi il timone – Succederà a Campana. Aic, Tommasi at the helm – He will succeed Campana. La Gazzetta dello Sport. it. 2 May 2011. 13 April 2015.
  2. Web site: Damiano Tommasi scende in "campo": sarà candidato sindaco a Verona. La Gazzetta dello Sport. it. 28 October 2021. 28 October 2021.
  3. Web site: 2022-06-26 . Damiano Tommasi è il nuovo sindaco di Verona . 2022-06-27 . Il Post . it-IT.
  4. Web site: Damian Tommasi. Hellastory. it. 18 December 2015.
  5. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=209672.html Roma robbed of Tommasi
  6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/3920627.stm Injury blow for Taggart
  7. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=333677.html Tommasi takes one-year option
  8. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=372966.html Tommasi's new lease of life
  9. http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=440904.html Fresh starts for Tommasi and Sá Pinto
  10. News: QPR sign Italian veteran Tommasi. BBC Sport. 10 September 2008. 10 September 2008.
  11. News: Tommasi senza confini – Prossima tappa la Cina. Tommasi without borders – Next step China. La Gazzetta dello Sport. it. 5 February 2009. 5 February 2009.
  12. Football Press, 3 November 2009
  13. News: Dilettante e felice Tommasi è tornato. Ecstatic and happy, Tommasi has returned. La Repubblica. it. 14 December 2009. 14 December 2009.
  14. News: Soccer-Tommasi comes out of retirement at 41 to play in Europe. Reuters. 2 July 2015. 3 July 2015.
  15. Web site: Notable alto. B Plus. Mundo Deportivo. es. 19 November 1998. 8 August 2015.
  16. News: Corea del Sud-Italia 2–1. South Korea-Italy 2–1. la Repubblica. it. Tonelli. Matteo. 18 June 2002. 29 January 2015.
  17. Web site: South Korea 2 - 1 Italy. The Guardian. Sean Ingle. 18 June 2002. 12 November 2017.
  18. Web site: Soccer Referees on Run, and They Can't Hide. The New York Times. 21 June 2002.
  19. Web site: World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No21: Italy lose to South Korea in 2002. The Guardian. Paolo Bandini. 1 June 2014. 12 November 2017.
  20. Web site: Italia-Romania 1-0. Italy-Romania 1-0. italia1910.com. it. 13 November 2017.
  21. Web site: L'Italia stenta con il Marocco. Italy struggles with Morocco. www2.raisport.rai.it. it. 5 September 2001. 13 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202010225/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/nazionale/200109/05/3b968e410014b/. 2 February 2017. dead.
  22. Web site: Biografia di Damiano Tommasi. Biography of Damiano Tommasi. cinquantamila.corriere.it. it. Lorenzo Stellini. Giorgio dell’Arti. 1 October 2014. 13 November 2017. 13 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171113165401/http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=TOMMASI+Damiano. dead.
  23. Web site: Un giocatore, un mito: Damiano Tommasi, anima candida. A player, a myth: Damiano Tommasi, pure soul. Stadio Sport. it. 15 September 2010. 9 November 2014. https://archive.today/20141110033952/http://www.stadiosport.it/rubriche/un-giocatore-un-mito/8579-un-giocatore-un-mito-damiano-tommasi-anima-candida/. dead. 10 November 2014.
  24. Web site: Damiano Tommasi. BBC Sport. 8 May 2002. 4 June 2016.
  25. Web site: Roma – Squad profiles. ESPN FC. 13 February 2003. 22 February 2017. 23 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170223044746/http://m.espn.com/soccer/story?storyId=257738&lang=EN&wjb=&pg=1. dead.
  26. Web site: Corea e Giappone 2002 . Korea and Japan 2002 . Rivista Contrasti . it . De Vincenti . Niccolò Maria . 30 May 2018 . 26 February 2020 .
  27. Web site: Tommasi al Corriere: "Quel gol al Curi...", a Terni il mancato esordio in B. Tommas to the Corriere: "That goal at the Curi...". corrieredellumbria.corr.it. it. 12 March 2015. 13 November 2017.
  28. Web site: Tommasi candidato sindaco a Verona, l'ex calciatore riesce nell'impresa di unire la sinistra. Huffington Post Italia. it. 28 October 2021. 28 October 2021.
  29. Web site: 2022-06-27 . Former Italy International Damiano Tommasi Elected Mayor of Verona . 2022-06-27 . News18 . en.
  30. Web site: Damiano Tommasi . Aiaconegliano . it . 13 April 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305000516/http://www.aiaconegliano.it/documenti/convegno2011/Damiano%20Tommasi.pdf . 5 March 2016.
  31. Web site: Which clubs tell their fans the biggest porkies?. The Guardian. 10 September 2008. 13 April 2015.
  32. Web site: Premio Altropallone – Albo dei vincitori e motivazioni. Altropallone Award – Winners album and motivations. Altro Pallone. it. 13 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150419094543/http://altropallone.it/prima-pagina/viii-premio-altropallone-vi-premio-space/. 19 April 2015. dead.
  33. http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=33825.html Tommasi to lead by example
  34. Web site: D. Tommasi – Trophies. Soccerway. 18 December 2015.
  35. Web site: 1996: Totti on top for Italy. UEFA.com. 1 June 1996. 18 December 2015.
  36. Web site: A Florenzi il "Pallone d'Argento" Coppa Giaimè Fiumano. Florenzi gets Giaimè Fiumano Cup "Silver Ball". Unione Stampa Sportiva Italiana. it. 8 May 2016. 18 May 2016.
  37. Web site: Hall of Fame. AS Roma. it. 27 July 2016.

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