Marco Ambrosio
Birth date30 May 1973 (age 53)
Birth placeBrescia, Italy
Height1.87 m[1]
PositionGoalkeeper
Years 11991–1992
Years 21992–1993
Years 31993–1994
Years 41994–1995
Years 51995–1996
Years 61996–1997
Years 71997–1999
Years 81999–2001
Years 92001–2003
Years 102003–2004
Years 112004
Years 122005–2006
Years 132006–2007
Years 142007–2009
Years 152009
Clubs 1Lumezzane
Clubs 2Atalanta
Clubs 3→ Pisa (loan)
Clubs 4Prato (co-ownership)
Clubs 5→ Ravenna (loan)
Clubs 6Prato
Clubs 7Sampdoria
Clubs 8Lucchese
Clubs 9Chievo
Clubs 10Chelsea
Clubs 11Grasshoppers
Clubs 12Salernitana
Clubs 13Brescia
Clubs 14Reggiana
Clubs 15FeralpiSalò
Caps 12
Caps 20
Caps 39
Caps 415
Caps 510
Caps 634
Caps 710
Caps 846
Caps 910
Caps 108
Caps 1114
Caps 1255
Caps 132
Caps 1456
Caps 1517
Totalcaps288
Goals 10
Goals 20
Goals 30
Goals 40
Goals 50
Goals 60
Goals 70
Goals 80
Goals 90
Goals 100
Goals 110
Goals 120
Goals 130
Goals 140
Goals 150
Totalgoals0
Nationalyears 11993–1994
Nationalteam 1Italy U21
Nationalcaps 12
Nationalgoals 10

Marco Ambrosio (30 May 1973) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Ambrosio played for multiple teams in the Italian leagues from 1991 until his retirement in 2009 (most notably with Serie A sides Atalanta, Sampdoria and Chievo), but also had brief spells in England with Chelsea, and in Switzerland with Grasshoppers. He made two appearances for his country's under-21 side during the 1993–94 season, but never made an appearance for the full national side.

Career

A decade in Italy

Ambrosio was born in Brescia. The early years of his career were relatively undistinguished, and saw him play for a succession of minor Italian clubs, such as Lumezzane (Serie D), Atalanta B.C. (youth), Pisa (Serie B), A.C. Prato (Serie C1) and Ravenna (Serie C1). Whilst playing for Pisa, he made two appearances for Italy's under-21 team.[2] He also had a stint with U.C. Sampdoria in Serie A. He made his Serie A debut on 2 November 1997, Sampdoria lost 3–0 at home to A.C. Milan. In total, he played 10 Serie A games for the Genoese team, as second goalkeeper behind Fabrizio Ferron.

After Sampdoria were relegated to Serie B, Ambrosio was sold to Serie C1 team Lucchese in the summer of 1999, where he spent two seasons. In summer 2001 he was signed by newly promoted Serie A team Chievo, where he made another 10 Serie A appearances as second-choice goalkeeper behind Cristiano Lupatelli.

Chelsea

In June 2003 he was signed for Chelsea on a free transfer by Italian manager Claudio Ranieri.[3]

Ambrosio was signed to be goalkeeping understudy to Carlo Cudicini alongside fellow new-acquisition Jürgen Macho, and so found his playing opportunities limited at Stamford Bridge. Shortly after joining the club Macho picked up a serious knee injury and Chelsea subsequently signed Neil Sullivan, meaning Ambrosio would now compete with Sullivan while providing back up to Cudicini.[4][5] His cause was not helped by an unlucky debut in the League Cup against Notts County, in which he made a series of errors.[6] His second appearance, against Bolton Wanderers, proved far more assured as he made a string of impressive saves to secure a crucial 2–0 win for his side.[7] That, together with injuries to all Chelsea's other goalkeepers, earned him a run in the side. His most significant contribution came in the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal when his saves helped Chelsea to a 2–1 victory at Highbury.[8]

However, he lost his place in the side to the fit-again Cudicini towards the end of the season and with the signing of another new goalkeeper Petr Čech, he was allowed to leave the club on a free transfer in August 2004.

Spell in Switzerland and return to Italy

Ambrosio moved to Swiss side Grasshopper Club Zürich[9] shortly after leaving Chelsea. He later signed for Italian team Salernitana of Serie B on 5 January 2005, replacing Alex Brunner, who left for Cagliari Calcio, and competed with former starter Domenico Botticella.

Ambrosio remained with the team as they were relegated to Serie C1 and competed with former Chievo teammate Gioacchino Cavaliere for a starting spot.

On 21 July 2006, he was signed by Brescia.

In summer 2007, he joined Reggiana of Serie C2.

In September 2009, he signed with FeralpiSalò. Later that year, Ambrosio retired from football.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Marco Ambrosio – Careers – seasons, attendance, goal". TuttoCalciatori.Net. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Marco Ambrosio". Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Ambrosio revels in Chelsea move". UEFA. 1 June 2003. Retrieved 3 April 2008.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Macho suffers knee injury". BBC. 12 July 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  5. ^ "Chelsea sign Sullivan". BBC. 29 August 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Chelsea 4–2 Notts County". BBC. 29 October 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  7. ^ "Bolton 0–2 Chelsea". BBC. 13 March 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  8. ^ "Arsenal 1–2 Chelsea". BBC. 6 April 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  9. ^ "Grasshoppers chance for Ambrosio". UEFA. 11 August 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2008.[dead link]
  10. ^ "The House That Ranieri Built Pt 1: This Ones For 'Keeps". Blue Tinted. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.