Cristiano Doni

Cristiano Doni (Italian pronunciation: [kriˈstjaːno ˈdoːni]; born 1 April 1973) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder, on either flank or in the middle.

Cristiano Doni
Doni in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth (1973-04-01) 1 April 1973
Place of birth Rome, Italy
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1992 Modena 0 (0)
1992–1993 Rimini 31 (6)
1993–1994 Pistoiese 31 (3)
1994–1996 Bologna 54 (11)
1996–1998 Brescia 51 (8)
1998–2003 Atalanta 145 (55)
2003–2005 Sampdoria 44 (7)
2005–2006 Mallorca 24 (2)
2006–2011 Atalanta 323 (112)
Total 531 (204)
National team
2001–2002 Italy 7 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Most of his professional career (which spanned two decades) was associated with Atalanta, as he played in more than 300 official games for the club and scored more than 100 goals. He amassed Serie A totals of 266 matches and 77 goals over the course of ten seasons, also representing in the competition Brescia and Sampdoria.

Doni appeared for Italy at the 2002 World Cup.

Club career

Born in Rome, Doni started playing professionally for Modena F.C. at age 18, subsequently moving on to A.C. Rimini 1912, A.C. Pistoiese and Bologna F.C. 1909.

He made his Serie A debut in 1997–98 for Brescia Calcio against Inter Milan, moving after two years to Bergamo with Atalanta BC. He quickly made a name for himself at the club with his hard-working style, combined with scoring ability, and netted in double digits in three out of five seasons.

After two seasons at U.C. Sampdoria, Doni had his first experience abroad aged 32, signing with Spain's RCD Mallorca. After just one season, he returned to his main team even though he had another year running at the Balearic Islands side, asking to be released so he could accept Atalanta's offer although he took a pay cut in the process.[1]

Doni eventually signed a two-year contract,[2] then proceeded to continue, in spite of his age, to be an indispensable offensive unit – 34 league goals in his first three years combined – as well as team captain. In 2010–11 the 37-year-old scored 12 Serie B goals as Atalanta returned to the top division after one year, as champions.

On 9 August 2011, Doni was banned from football for 3½ years for his role in match fixing during the campaign, effectively ending his career at the age of 38.[3] On 19 December, he was arrested together with 16 other people in connection with another match-fixing and betting investigation.[4]

International career

Doni played seven times for Italy, the first cap arriving on 7 November 2001 as he found the net in a 1–1 friendly with Japan.[5] Subsequently, he was picked for the squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup by manager Giovanni Trapattoni, making two starting appearances throughout the tournament, the opening 2–0 win against Ecuador[6] and the subsequent 2–1 defeat to Croatia where he provided the assist for Christian Vieri.[7]

Style of play

Doni was known for his vision, technical ability and creativity as an offensive midfield playmaker. He was capable of scoring and assisting alike, due to his powerful and accurate mid-range shot.[8][9][10]

Honours

Club

Bologna

Brescia

Atalanta

Individual

References
  1. Doni looking for Islanders exit Archived 7 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine; Sky Sports
  2. Vieri back in Bergamo; Sky Sports
  3. "Scommesse: le decisioni della disciplinare" [Betting: the decisions of the disciplinary panel] (in Italian). Lega Serie A. 9 August 2011.
  4. "Ex-Italy player Cristiano Doni arrested over match-fixing". BBC Sport. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  5. "La sfida col Giappone regala Doni al Trap" [Japan challenge gives Doni to Trap] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 7 November 2001. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  6. Massimo Vincenzi (3 June 2002). "L'Italia parte bene – Battuto l'Ecuador 2–0" [Italy starts well – Ecuador defeated 2–0] (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  7. Dario Olivero (8 June 2002). "Il film: la cronaca di Italia-Croazia" [The film: Italy–Croatia match report] (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  8. "Cristiano Doni, un fuoriclasse finito nel vortice del calcioscommesse" [Cristiano Doni, world class player caught in the vortex of match-fixing] (in Italian). La Repubblica. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  9. "Spunta il nome di De Rossi nell'inchiesta sulle scommesse" [De Rossi name stands out in match-fixing enquiry] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  10. "La rivincita di Doni: "Da bollito a eroe in 7 giorni"" [Doni's revenge: "From done in to hero in 7 days"] (in Italian). Bergamo News. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  11. "Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare Gaetano Scirea: Alba d'Oro" [National Award Exemplary Career Gaetano Scirea: Golden Alba] (in Italian). Comune di Cinisello Balsamo. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
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