- Michele Di Piedi
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Michele Di Piedi 
Personal information Date of birth December 21, 1980 Place of birth Palermo, Italy Height 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Playing position Striker Club information Current club Mazara Youth career ?–1997 Panormus 1999 Fiorentina Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1997–1999 Siracusa ? (?) 1999–2000 Perugia 0 (0) 2000–2003 Sheffield Wednesday 39 (5) 2002 → Odd Grenland (loan) 4 (0) 2003 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 5 (0) 2004 Sora 3 (0) 2004–2005 APOEL FC 5 (2) 2005–2006 Gela 9 (0) 2006–2007 Doncaster Rovers 3 (0) 2007–2009 Nuorese 34 (11) 2009–2010 Castrovillari 2010 Vigor Lamezia 2010 Mazara ? (4) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 January 2008.
† Appearances (Goals).Michele Di Piedi (born December 21, 1980 in Palermo), is an Italian professional footballer, most famous for playing for Sheffield Wednesday. He is currently a free agent.
Biography
Signed from Perugia and was Paul Jewell's first acquisition for the South Yorkshire club, Di Piedi made his debut for Sheffield Wednesday in their first game since relegation from The Premiership against Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Molineux on 13 August 2000 at the age of 19 as a 60th minute substitute for Gilles De Bilde, with Andy Booth scoring a 79th minute equaliser after Kevin Pressman was sent off in the first minute. Di Piedi was immediately welcomed and warmed to the Wednesday fans (this was possibly due to his nationality and the wednesdayites were looking at him as a possible replacement to the unfaithfuls Paulo Di Canio or Benito Carbone). He showed signs he was full of energy, chasing lost causes and what he lacked in skill he made up for with his effort. His first goal for the club was a spectacular strike on his first start and was the only goal in a game away at Grimsby on 26 August.[1] He scored some wonderful goals for The Owls, his last-minute strike at Birmingham City is well remembered by those who saw it, as he tore his shirt off, placed it on the corner flag and waved it in the air in front of the thousands of travelling Owls fans at St Andrews.[2] His debut season was a big success with some great goals and performances which won him a four year contract.[1] His second season was ruined by injuries and he never fulfilled his earlier impact, although he did wow the crowds with a fantastic long-range overhead kick against Sunderland in the Carling Cup that saw the team progress against Premiership opposition.[1] He scored seven goals in ten starts and thirty four substitute appearances for Wednesday. After spending time on loan at Norwegian side Odd Grenland in 2002 and Bristol Rovers in 2003 he was released by the club due to his child being ill and he returned to Italy to play for A.S. Sora but returned the next year for a trial at Bournemouth, after he had been recommended to them by Efan Ekoku.[3] However, he failed to earn a permanent contract after breaking his neck in training.[4] He then had a spell at Cypiot side Apoel Nicosia before moving to Sicily to play for Serie C2 side Gela FC. He would again return to England in the summer of 2006, signing for Doncaster Rovers after having trials at Gillingham and Yeovil Town.[5] Unfortunately he only made three appearances and did not score before returning to his native country again.
After leaving England, he returned in Italy to play at lower level leagues, including Lega Pro Seconda Divisione with Nuorese and Serie D with Calabrians Castrovillari and Vigor Lamezia throughout the 2009–10 season. On August 2010 he was signed by Western Sicilian club Mazara on a free transfer.[6] He left the club by mutual consent on 29 November 2010.[7]
References
- ^ a b Donny Online • View topic - Michele di Piedi Signs for Rovers
- ^ Sheffield Wednesday - Di Piedi Back In England
- ^ Chief'S Choice
- ^ {news} - Bournemouth Team News from football.co.uk
- ^ "Rovers reward Di Piedi" Football.co.uk Retrieved on 7 January 2008
- ^ "COMUNICATO STAMPA N° 34 del 20 agosto 2010" (in Italian). Mazara Calcio ASD. 21 August 2010. http://www.mazaracalcio.it/articles.asp?id=34. Retrieved 23 August 2010.
- ^ "COMUNICATO STAMPA N° 34 del 20 agosto 2010" (in Italian). Mazara Calcio ASD. 29 November 2010. http://www.mazaracalcio.it/news.asp?id=51. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
"Michele Di Piedi career stats on Soccerbase.com". http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=21541. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
External links
Categories:- Italian footballers
- Italian expatriate footballers
- Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players
- Bristol Rovers F.C. players
- Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
- APOEL F.C. players
- Expatriate footballers in Cyprus
- 1980 births
- Living people
- U.S.D. Nuorese Calcio players
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