Sebastian Giovinco

Infobox Football biography
playername = Sebastian Giovinco


height = height|metres=1.64
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|01|26
cityofbirth = Turin
countryofbirth = Italy
clubnumber = 20
currentclub = Juventus
position = Attacking midfielder
youthyears = 2001–2006
youthclubs = Juventus
years = 2006–
2007–2008
clubs = Juventus
→ Empoli "(loan)"
caps(goals) = 03 (0)
35 (6)
nationalyears = 2003 2003–2004 2005 2006 2006–2007 2007– 2008
nationalteam = Italy U-16 Italy U-17 Italy U-18 Italy U-19 Italy U-20 Italy U-21 Olympic team
nationalcaps(goals) = 07 (3)cite web |url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=2655&squadra=1 |publisher=FIGC.it |language=Italian |accessdate=2008-08-07 |title=GIOVINCO SEBASTIAN ] 07 (1) 04 (0) 01 (1) 04 (0) 11 (0) 10 (3)
pcupdate = May 18 2008
ntupdate = September 9 2008

Sebastian Giovinco (born January 26, 1987 in Turin) is an Italian footballer who is currently playing for Juventus. Giovinco plays as an attacking midfielder with noted dribbling and play-making skills.cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/speciali/statistiche/2008_nw/giocatori/91213.shtml|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=Italian|title=Sebastian GIOVINCO|accessdate=2007-09-15]

Due to his short stature and his technical skills Giovinco acquired the nickname "formica atomica" (atom ant, after the eponymous Hanna-Barbera character) and although only being in the early stages of his footballing career, he is today considered one of the most promising Italian footballers. [cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/ccu/giovincoccu.html|publisher=Football Italia|accessdate=2007-09-15|title=Sebastian Giovinco: Sebastian's way|date=2007-04-01]

Biography

Early life

Giovinco was born in Turin to Southern-Italian immigrant parents; his mother is from Catanzaro, Calabria while his father is from Palermo, Sicily. [cite web|url=http://www.j1897.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=81175&pid=2972035&st=0&#entry2972035|publisher=J1897.com|accessdate=2007-09-15|title=Sebastian Giovinco Complete Interview|date=2007-04-01] He grew up highly interested in football and impressed Juventus who brought him into their youth system in 2001, at the age of 14. He then rose through the youth system ranks of the club, impressing by winning the Campionato Primavera with the "bianconeri" in their 2005–06 campaign.

Club career

He was successively integrated into the Juventus first team and made his debut on May 12, 2007 in a Serie B league match against Bologna, entering in as a substitute in place of Raffaele Palladino, and promptly marking his debut with a splendid assist for David Trezeguet's tap-in.

On July 4, 2007 he was loaned out to Empoli, a Tuscan Serie A team that also took part in the UEFA Cup 2007–08. Giovinco scored his first Serie A goal on September 30, 2007 when Empoli beat Palermo 3–1. His goal became the game winner.

Giovinco caused large media interest when he scored his second goal a few weeks later, on November 4. The goal was an equalizer in the last minute against Roma, it was a long distance curling free kick from the right wing, a goal which was compared by some pundits to Ronaldinho's against England in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. [cite news |title=Giovinco Wonder Goal Denies Roma|url=http://goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=469324|publisher=Goal.com|date=2007-11-04 |accessdate=2007-11-05 ]

On June 25, 2008 it was confirmed that Giovinco would return to Juventus for the 2008–2009 campaign, giving him the chance to play at the UEFA Champions League level as well.

International career

Giovinco has represented Italy at every youth level from under-16s upwards. He was called up to Italy U-21 by head coach Pierluigi Casiraghi, on June 1, 2007 to make his first appearance at that level in a qualification match against Albania. [cite news |language=Italian |title=U.21: Italia-Albania, 21 convocati |url=http://www.raisport.rai.it/sportarticolo/0,10719,63369,00.html |publisher=RAI Sport |date=2007-05-25 |accessdate=2007-05-25 ] He gave the assist for Acquafresca who scored. Italy U-21 won the match 0–1.

He also starred at the 2008 Toulon Tournament, where he was voted most valuable player, scoring two goals in the opening game against the Ivory Coast, [ [http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may21r.html channel4.com - Football Italia ] ] and netting the winning penalty in the semifinal match against Japan. [ [http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may28b.html channel4.com - Football Italia ] ] Italy ultimately won the competition, defeating Chile 1–0 in the final.

Giovinco then appeared in the 2008 Olympic Games for the Italian team. He scored the first goal in a 3–0 win against Honduras in the first match of the competition where he struck the ball from outside of the box with his left foot. He also had an impressive second match against South Korea. His Olympic adventure ended after Italy lost 3–2 to Belgium in the quarter-finals.

Honours

Club

*2005–06 Torneo di Viareggio (Juventus)
*2005-06 Campionato Primavera (Juventus)
*2006–07 Serie B (Juventus)

International

*2008 International Tournament of Toulon (Italy U-21)

References

Persondata
NAME= Giovinco, Sebastian
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Giovinco, Sebastian
SHORT DESCRIPTION=football (soccer) player
DATE OF BIRTH= 1987-1-26
PLACE OF BIRTH= Turin, Italy
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=