Claudio Marchisio facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Claudio Marchisio

Marchisio in 2021
Personal information
Date of birth	(1986-01-19) 19 January 1986 (age 39)
Place of birth	Turin, Italy
Height	1.80 m
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
1993–2005	Juventus
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2018	Juventus	294	(33)
2007–2008	→ Empoli (loan)	26	(0)
2018–2019	Zenit Saint Petersburg	9	(2)
Total		329	(35)
National team
2007–2008	Italy U21	14	(1)
2009–2017	Italy	55	(5)
Honours Men's Football Representing  Italy UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2012 Poland–Ukraine FIFA Confederations Cup Third 2013 Brazil
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Claudio Marchisio (born 19 January 1986) is an Italian former professional footballer. He played as a midfielder.

Claudio grew up in the Juventus youth system. He spent most of his career with his hometown club. He also played one season on loan at Empoli. With Juventus, he won seven Serie A titles in a row from 2012 to 2018. He also won four Coppa Italia titles from 2015 to 2018.

He was the second vice-captain for Juventus. In 2018, he left Juventus and joined the Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg. He played there for one season before retiring from football in 2019.

For his country, Marchisio played for Italy in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He also played in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. He helped Italy reach the finals of UEFA Euro 2012, winning a silver medal. He also won a bronze medal at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Overall, he played 55 games for Italy between 2009 and 2017, scoring five goals.

After becoming well-known in the 2008–09 season, Marchisio was often compared to former Juventus player Marco Tardelli. This was because of his energy and strong playing style. He was good at switching between attacking and defending. His main position was central midfield. However, he could play in many different midfield roles.

Early Life & Youth Football

Claudio Marchisio was born in Turin, Italy. He was the youngest of three children. His family were big Juventus fans. They had season tickets and he used to be a ball boy at the Stadio delle Alpi.

When he was seven, Juventus youth coaches noticed him. He was also good at running and skiing. After turning 16, he started training to be a surveyor. This was his backup plan if football didn't work out. But he later left school to focus on football.

Club Career Highlights

Marchisio in 2005

Starting with Juventus

In the youth system, Marchisio played as a forward. He also played as an attacking midfielder. He looked up to his hero, Alessandro Del Piero. At age 16, he moved to a deeper midfield role. This was because of his slim build.

He trained with the first team in the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons. He was on the bench for a game against Cagliari. In his last full season with the youth team, he captained them to a league title.

After Juventus was moved down to Serie B, Marchisio joined the first team. He made his debut on 19 August 2006 in the Coppa Italia. He came on as a substitute in a 3–0 win. He played his first league game on 28 October against Frosinone. He became a regular starter that season. Juventus won promotion back to Serie A.

Loan to Empoli

On 25 July 2007, Marchisio went on loan to Empoli. He went with his friend Sebastian Giovinco. This was to get more experience playing in the first team. He made his Serie A debut on 26 August against Fiorentina. He also played in the UEFA Cup. Empoli was moved down to a lower league that season. Marchisio then returned to Juventus.

Becoming a Star at Juventus

Marchisio playing for Juventus in 2009

Marchisio returned to Juventus for the 2008–09 season. He played well in his first Champions League game. In November, a former player said Marchisio had everything to play at the highest level. He compared him to the great Marco Tardelli.

Marchisio became a regular starter due to other players' injuries. Fans quickly loved him. They voted him Player of the Month for December. He scored his first Serie A goal against Fiorentina. Juventus then gave him a new five-year contract. He finished the season strongly, helping Juventus finish second. The Italy national team coach, Marcello Lippi, noticed his good play.

Challenges and Comebacks

Marchisio remained a key player under new coaches. In the 2009–10 season, he started well. He won Man of the Match awards in four games in a row. He then got a knee injury in October. After surgery, he was out for a month and a half.

On 5 December 2009, he scored the winning goal against Internazionale. This was in the Derby d'Italia. He was voted Juventus Player of the Year for 2009 by fans. He captained the team for the first time on 11 March 2010. This was in a Europa League game against Fulham. Despite a tough season for Juventus, Marchisio was praised.

In September 2010, he played his 100th game for Juventus. He scored a goal in a 4–0 win against Udinese. In April, he started his first game as captain against Roma. On 17 May 2011, he signed a new five-year contract. His bicycle kick goal against Udinese was voted Goal of the Season by fans.

Winning Titles with Juventus

2011–12 Season: The First Scudetto

Marchisio started the 2011–12 season well. He scored in the first game at the club's new stadium. Under coach Antonio Conte, he played with Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo. They were called the "M-V-P" midfield by fans. He scored two late goals against Milan. This was his first time scoring more than one goal in a game.

He scored his first Coppa Italia goal against Bologna. His good play earned him a nomination for an award. He ended a three-month goal drought in March. He scored his ninth goal of the season against Lecce. This took his total goals for the season into double figures. The next game, he won his first Scudetto (league title). Juventus won 2–0 against Cagliari. He finished the season with ten goals.

2012–13 Season: More Success

After Alessandro Del Piero left, some thought Marchisio would take the number 10 jersey. But he said he was a midfielder and liked his number 8. He captained the team in the first game of the season. This was when Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini were absent.

In November, he scored his first goal in a UEFA club competition. This was in the Champions League against Nordsjælland. He was nominated for the 2012 UEFA Team of the Year. He scored important goals, including two against rivals Torino. Juventus won their second league title in a row. Marchisio also scored against Celtic in the Champions League. Juventus reached the quarter-finals.

2013–14 Season: Third Title

In the 2013–14 season, Marchisio often competed with Paul Pogba for a midfield spot. He had an injury early in the season. He mostly played as a substitute in league games. He started more games later in the season. He scored four goals in the second half of the season.

In April, he played his 200th Serie A game. Juventus won their third league title in a row. They set a record with 102 points. Juventus was knocked out of the Champions League group stage. They reached the Europa League semi-finals.

2014–15 Season: Cup and Champions League Final

The 2014–15 season was a big one for Marchisio. He played his 200th Serie A game for Juventus. He also played his 300th game for the club in all competitions. He won his first Coppa Italia title. He also played in his first Champions League final.

He scored his first goal of the season on 13 September. On 15 February 2015, he scored in his 200th Serie A game. He helped Juventus reach the Coppa Italia final. He was suspended for the final, which Juventus won. He made his 300th appearance for Juventus on 29 April. Juventus won the Serie A title for the fourth time in a row.

In the Champions League Final against Barcelona, he helped set up a goal. Juventus lost the final 3–1. Marchisio played 52 games that season, one of the most for Juventus. He was named in the UEFA Champions League squad of the season. Fans voted him Player of the Season for 2014–15.

2015–16 Season: Injuries and Another Title

In July 2015, Marchisio signed a new five-year contract. He got an injury in his first game of the season. He was out for a month. On 24 November, he was nominated for the 2015 UEFA Team of the Year.

In March 2016, he missed a Champions League game due to a muscle problem. On 17 April, Marchisio suffered a serious knee injury. This ruled him out for the rest of the season. He also missed the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament. After surgery, he was out for six months. Juventus won their fifth league title in a row. The captain, Buffon, dedicated the win to Marchisio.

2016–17 Season: Return and More Trophies

On 26 October 2016, Marchisio returned to play after six months. He scored his first goal since his injury in a Champions League game against Sevilla. On 15 April 2017, he played his 250th Serie A game for Juventus.

On 21 May 2017, he helped Juventus win their sixth league title in a row. This was a historic achievement. Marchisio was one of only six players to be in the squad for all six wins. On 3 June, he played in his second Champions League Final. Juventus lost 4–1 to Real Madrid.

2017–18 Season: Final Year at Juventus

Marchisio had another knee injury in the first game of the 2017–18 season. He did not start a game until 5 November. On 17 August 2018, Marchisio left Juventus. His contract was ended by agreement. He had spent 25 years in the Juventus system. He played 389 games for the club, scoring 37 goals.

Zenit Saint Petersburg and Retirement

Marchisio with Zenit Saint Petersburg in November 2018

On 3 September 2018, he signed a two-year contract with Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia. He made his debut on 16 September 2018. On 1 July 2019, Marchisio left Zenit. His contract was ended by mutual agreement.

On 3 October 2019, Marchisio announced his retirement from football. He held a press conference at Juventus Stadium.

International Career

Youth and Senior Debut

Marchisio played for the Italy under-21 squad. He made his under-21 debut in June 2007. He scored a goal at the 2008 Toulon Tournament. Italy won the tournament. He was called up for the 2008 Olympics. However, he had to return home due to an injury. In May 2009, he was named in the squad for the 2009 Under-21 European Championship. He played every game and was named to the Team of the Tournament.

On 12 August 2009, Marchisio made his senior debut for Italy. This was in a friendly game against Switzerland. Coach Marcello Lippi praised him. Marchisio played his first competitive game for Italy in a World Cup qualifier. He became a regular player for Lippi's team. He was in the squad for the 2010 World Cup. Italy was eliminated in the first round.

Euro 2012 and Confederations Cup

Marchisio scored his first international goal on 7 October 2011. This was in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia.

He was in the squad for UEFA Euro 2012. He started every game in midfield. Italy made a surprise run to the final. They lost 4–0 to Spain.

Marchisio became a key player for Italy. He was in the squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Italy finished third in this tournament. Marchisio helped Italy reach the semi-finals for the first time. Italy won the bronze medal game against Uruguay.

2014 World Cup

Marchisio was selected for the 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. On 30 May 2014, he captained the team for the first time. This was in a friendly game.

At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Marchisio scored Italy's first goal. It was a long shot against England. Italy won that game 2–1. He played in Italy's next two group games. Italy lost both games 1–0. In the final group game against Uruguay, he received a red card. Italy finished third in their group and were eliminated.

Later International Career

On 27 March 2015, Marchisio got injured during Italy training. This was before a Euro 2016 qualifying game. After a serious knee injury in April 2016, Marchisio missed UEFA Euro 2016.

His last international game was on 7 June 2017. He played in a friendly game against Uruguay. In total, Marchisio played 55 games for Italy. He scored five goals.

Style of Play

Claudio Marchisio with a fan in Toronto in 2011

Marchisio was known for being very versatile in midfield. He could play in many different positions. He played out wide, as a defensive midfielder, or in central midfield. His best position was central midfield. Here, he could switch between defending and attacking freely.

He was sometimes called an attacking central midfielder. This was because he often scored goals. He was also described as a "box-to-box midfielder". This means he played well in both defence and attack. After Pirlo left Juventus, Marchisio also played a deeper playmaking role. He was good at passing the ball and controlling the game.

Marchisio was a talented player from a young age. He had physical strength, speed, and good awareness. This made him one of the top midfielders of his time. However, he was also known to get injured often.

His role changed over the years with different coaches. At Juventus, he played well with Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. They were able to switch between defence and attack quickly. This helped Juventus win many titles. For the Italy national team, he played a similar role supporting Pirlo.

There are few flashy moments, few showpiece 30-yarders or slaloming runs past four challenges. Instead, he’s consistent, a sort of Italian Denis Irwin: lots of matches where the good work goes unnoticed, plenty of seven/eight out of 10 showings.

One of Marchisio's main strengths was his ability to quickly switch from defence to attack. He was also tactically disciplined. His athleticism, tackling, vision, and passing range helped him break up opponent plays. He could then quickly move the ball forward to create chances. Marchisio also had good technique and dribbling skills. He could pass and shoot with both feet. This made him a threat near the opponent's goal. He was known for scoring goals from distance or after making late runs into the penalty area. After Pirlo left, he also became good at taking corners and free kicks.

Marchisio was often compared to Juventus legend Marco Tardelli. This was because of his hard-working and strong playing style. Marchisio also said Steven Gerrard was a big influence on him. He was known for his calm leadership. He had a reputation as a "big game player." He often scored or set up important goals in big matches. Many of his early goals for Juventus were match-winners. He also scored crucial goals against rivals Internazionale and Torino.

After Retirement

After retiring, Marchisio wrote an autobiography called Nero su bianco (Black on white) in 2016. He wrote another book in 2020. In 2021, Marchisio started writing as a columnist for a newspaper in Turin. He also used social media to speak out on social issues.

Business Ventures

In 2016, Marchisio and his wife opened a Japanese-Italian restaurant in Turin. It grew into a chain with several locations.

Marchisio also co-founded a company that helps professional athletes. This company manages their image rights and communication. It also gives them legal advice on contracts. His long-time teammate Giorgio Chiellini joined as a partner in 2020.

Personal Life

Marchisio supporting FARE Action Weeks in 2011

Marchisio married Roberta Sinopoli in June 2008. They have two sons, Davide (born 2009) and Leonardo (born 2012). His wife used to be a junior tennis player. She supported Juventus's rivals, Torino. Marchisio had his wife's birthday tattooed on his arm. He sometimes kissed it when he scored a goal.

Marchisio is often called Il Principino ("The Little Prince"). This nickname came from his Juventus teammates. It was because of how he dressed and his calm behavior on the field. Some fans also called him the "De Rossi of Turin." This was because of his similar playing style to Daniele De Rossi. Both players also grew up in their hometown clubs.

Marchisio was featured on the Italian cover of EA Sports' FIFA 13 video game. He was alongside Lionel Messi. He also appeared in the Netflix show First Team: Juventus.

Career Statistics

Club

International

International goals

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	7 October 2011	Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade	Serbia	1–0	1–1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
2.	11 June 2013	Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro	Haiti	2–0	2–2	Friendly
3.	4 June 2014	Stadio Renato Curi, Perugia	Luxembourg	1–0	1–1	Friendly
4.	14 June 2014	Arena da Amazônia, Manaus	England	1–0	2–1	2014 FIFA World Cup
5.	17 November 2015	Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, Bologna	Romania	1–1	2–2	Friendly

Honours

Juventus

• Serie A (7): 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
• Serie B: 2006–07
• Supercoppa Italiana (3): 2012, 2013, 2015
• Coppa Italia (4): 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2014–15, 2016–17

Zenit Saint Petersburg

• Russian Premier League: 2018–19

Italy

• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2012
• FIFA Confederations Cup bronze medal: 2013

Italy U-21

• Toulon Tournament: 2008
• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Semi-finalist: 2009

Individual

• 2009 UEFA European under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament
• Oscar del Calcio Serie A Team of the Year (midfield position): 2010–11 (joint winner with Thiago Motta), 2011–12
• UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2014–15

Images for kids

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  Marchisio in 2021

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  Marchisio in 2005

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  Marchisio playing for Juventus in 2009

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  Marchisio with Juve in 2013

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  Marchisio with Zenit Saint Petersburg in November 2018

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  Marchisio playing for Italy in Euro 2012

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  Claudio Marchisio posing for a picture with a fan in Toronto in 2011

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  Marchisio supporting FARE Action Weeks in 2011

See also

In Spanish: Claudio Marchisio para niños