Luca Toni facts for kids
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Toni in 2021
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luca Toni | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 26 May 1977 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Pavullo nel Frignano, Italy | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1991 | Officine Meccaniche Frignanesi | |||||||||||||||
| 1991–1994 | Modena | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Modena | 32 | (7) | |||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Empoli | 3 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 1997–1998 | Fiorenzuola | 26 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 1998–1999 | Lodigiani | 31 | (15) | |||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Treviso | 35 | (15) | |||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Vicenza | 31 | (9) | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Brescia | 44 | (15) | |||||||||||||
| 2003–2005 | Palermo | 80 | (50) | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Fiorentina | 67 | (47) | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2010 | Bayern Munich | 60 | (38) | |||||||||||||
| 2009 | Bayern Munich II | 2 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2010 | → Roma (loan) | 15 | (5) | |||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Genoa | 16 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Juventus | 14 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2012 | Al Nasr | 7 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Fiorentina | 27 | (8) | |||||||||||||
| 2013–2016 | Verona | 95 | (48) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 586 | (268) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2009 | Italy | 47 | (16) | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Luca Toni (born 26 May 1977) is a famous Italian former professional footballer. He played as a striker, which is a player whose main job is to score goals. Luca Toni was known for scoring many goals throughout his career. He scored over 300 goals in total! He is one of the top Italian goalscorers of all time.
Luca Toni played for the Italian national team 47 times and scored 16 goals for his country. Many people think he was one of the best strikers of his time. He was great at finishing chances and was a strong leader on the field.
He played for many different Italian teams during his career, showing he was a "footballing nomad." He started in lower leagues and slowly worked his way up. He became well-known after playing for Palermo. He helped Palermo get promoted to Serie A, which is Italy's top football league, in the 2003–04 season. He was the top scorer in that league with 30 goals. The next season, he helped Palermo qualify for European competitions.
After playing very well for Fiorentina, Luca Toni moved to the German team Bayern Munich. There, he helped them win several trophies in the 2007–08 season. Later, he returned to Italy and played for teams like Roma, Genoa, and Juventus. He finished his career in 2016 after playing three seasons for Verona.
Luca Toni also played a big part in Italy winning the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored two goals in that tournament and was chosen for the World Cup All-Star Team. He won many individual awards too, like being the top scorer in Serie A twice and winning the European Golden Shoe. This award goes to the top goalscorer in European national leagues.
Contents
Luca Toni's Football Journey
Starting His Career
Luca Toni began his professional football journey at Modena. He then played for several teams in Italy's lower divisions, like Empoli, Fiorenzuola, and Lodigiani. After playing for Treviso in Serie B, he moved to Vicenza. This was his first time playing in Serie A, Italy's top league. Later, he joined Brescia for two seasons.
Success with Palermo
In 2003, Luca Toni joined Palermo, a team in Serie B that wanted to reach Serie A. He was a key player in their successful season, scoring a record 30 goals. This helped Palermo get promoted to Serie A after more than 30 years.
Because of his great performance, he was called up to play for the Italian national team for the first time in August 2004. In the next season, Toni continued to score many goals, netting 20 in Palermo's first Serie A season. This helped the team qualify for the UEFA Cup, a European competition, for the first time in their history.
Time at Fiorentina
Luca Toni's move to Fiorentina in 2005 was a big step. Fiorentina paid €10 million to sign him. In his first season in Florence, he scored an amazing 31 goals. This was the first time in 50 years that a Serie A player had scored 30 or more goals in a single season.
This achievement earned him the European Golden Shoe, making him the first Italian player to win this award. His goal-scoring helped Fiorentina finish fourth in the league and qualify for the Champions League. However, due to a football scandal, Fiorentina lost their Champions League spot and started the next season with a points deduction. Toni stayed with the team despite wanting to leave. The next season, injuries limited him to 16 goals. He left Fiorentina after that season.
Playing for Bayern Munich
On 30 May 2007, Luca Toni signed a four-year contract with German club Bayern Munich. He was given the number 9 shirt. Toni quickly became a star for Bayern. He scored four goals in a UEFA Cup group stage match against Aris. On 17 February 2008, he scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick (three goals in one game) against Hannover 96.
In the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, Toni scored two dramatic goals in extra time against Getafe, helping Bayern advance. He finished as the top scorer in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup with 10 goals. He also scored two goals in the German Cup final, helping Bayern win the trophy. Toni was the top scorer in the Bundesliga season with 24 goals. Overall, he scored 39 goals in 46 matches that season.
In the 2008–09 season, Toni continued to play well for Bayern, scoring 14 goals in 25 Bundesliga games. He also scored in the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League. He dealt with an Achilles tendon injury for much of that season. In November 2009, he was fined for leaving the stadium early after being substituted. After some disagreements with the Bayern manager, Toni was loaned to Roma.
Loan to Roma
On 31 December 2009, Luca Toni joined Roma on a six-month loan. He made his debut for Roma in January 2010 and scored his first two goals against Genoa. He scored five goals for Roma during that season, including a winning goal against Internazionale.
Later Club Teams
After his loan at Roma, Toni's contract with Bayern ended. In June 2010, he signed a two-year contract with Genoa. He then joined Juventus on a free transfer in January 2011. He scored his 100th Serie A goal for Juventus against Cagliari. In 2012, he moved to Al Nasr in the United Arab Emirates.
Return to Fiorentina
On 31 August 2012, Luca Toni returned to Fiorentina. He made a goal-scoring return, scoring with his first touch after coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 win against Catania.
Playing for Verona and Retirement
On 5 July 2013, Toni signed with Verona, a newly promoted Serie A club. He quickly started scoring goals for Verona, including two in his Serie A debut for the club against Milan. He had a fantastic season in 2013–14, scoring 20 goals and becoming the second-highest goalscorer in Serie A at 37 years old.
In the 2014–15 season, he continued his great form, scoring his 300th career goal. He finished that season with 22 goals, making him the oldest player to win the Serie A top scorer award at 38 years old.
His third season with Verona was affected by injuries. After Verona was relegated from Serie A, Luca Toni announced his retirement from football on 4 May 2016. He scored his very last career goal from a penalty kick in his final match, a 2–1 home win against Juventus. He received a standing ovation from the fans when he was substituted. In total, he scored 48 league goals for Verona. He ended his career with 157 Serie A goals in 344 appearances and 324 goals in all competitions.
Playing for Italy
Luca Toni scored 16 goals in 47 appearances for the Italian national team. He first played for Italy in August 2004. He scored his first international goal on 4 September 2004, in a World Cup Qualifying match against Norway.
On 11 June 2005, he was captain of the Italian team for the first time in a friendly match against Ecuador. On 7 September, Toni scored his first international hat-trick in a 4–1 victory against Belarus in a 2006 World Cup qualifying match.
Luca Toni was part of Italy's team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He wore the number 9 shirt. He scored two goals in the quarter-finals against Ukraine, which were his only goals of the tournament. Italy won that match 3–0. In the final against France, Italy won 5–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. Toni was Italy's top goal-scorer in the tournament, along with Marco Materazzi, with two goals. He was also named to the 2006 World Cup Team of the Tournament.
Toni continued to play for Italy in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, scoring five goals. He was called up for UEFA Euro 2008, but he didn't score any goals in that tournament. He did, however, help Italy win a penalty kick in a crucial group match against France. Italy was knocked out of the tournament by Spain in the quarter-finals.
He was also part of Italy's squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. After this tournament, he was no longer called up to the national team. Even though he played very well for Verona in 2014, he was not included in Italy's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
After Luca Toni retired from football in 2016, the Italian Football Federation honored him before a friendly match. He received a special shirt and a city plaque.
After Retirement
After retiring from playing, Luca Toni took a course to become a director of sport with his former club Verona. He later received his coaching license in December 2017. In 2019, he started working towards his UEFA Pro Licence, which he received in September 2020.
How Luca Toni Played
Luca Toni was a classic centre-forward, meaning he played in the middle of the attack. He was especially good at heading the ball and scoring goals from inside the penalty area. Even though he wasn't known for fancy dribbling, he was a very accurate finisher with both feet. He was also excellent at taking penalty kicks.
He was praised for his leadership and his ability to use his height and strong body to win aerial challenges. He could also hold up the ball for his teammates, allowing them to join the attack, and provide assists. His strength and heading ability made him one of the best headers of the ball in Italian football history.
Some experts described him as a "relic" of an older style of striker, especially as football became faster. However, he was still very effective. In his final season, an Italian sports newspaper called him "the last great Italian centre-forward."
Goal Celebrations
Luca Toni was famous for his unique goal celebration. After scoring, he would look at his teammates and rotate his right hand next to his ear. This was like saying, "Do you realize what I just did?"
Personal Life
Luca Toni is married to Italian model Marta Cecchetto. They have a daughter named Bianca, born in June 2013, and a son named Leonardo, born in July 2014.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Modena | 1994–95 | Serie C1 | 7 | 2 | – | – | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | ||
| 1995–96 | Serie C1 | 25 | 5 | – | – | – | 25 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 7 | – | – | 2 | 1 | 34 | 8 | ||||
| Empoli | 1996–97 | Serie B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 1 | ||
| Fiorenzuola | 1997–98 | Serie C1 | 26 | 2 | – | – | 4 | 2 | 30 | 4 | ||
| Lodigiani | 1998–99 | Serie C1 | 31 | 15 | – | – | 2 | 1 | 33 | 16 | ||
| Treviso | 1999–2000 | Serie B | 35 | 15 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 39 | 16 | ||
| Vicenza | 2000–01 | Serie A | 31 | 9 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 33 | 9 | ||
| Brescia | 2001–02 | Serie A | 28 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 34 | 14 | |
| 2002–03 | Serie A | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 16 | 2 | |||
| Total | 44 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 50 | 16 | |||
| Palermo | 2003–04 | Serie B | 45 | 30 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 47 | 30 | ||
| 2004–05 | Serie A | 35 | 20 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 36 | 21 | |||
| Total | 80 | 50 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 83 | 51 | ||||
| Fiorentina | 2005–06 | Serie A | 38 | 31 | 4 | 2 | – | – | 42 | 33 | ||
| 2006–07 | Serie A | 29 | 16 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 29 | 16 | |||
| Total | 67 | 47 | 4 | 2 | – | – | 71 | 49 | ||||
| Bayern Munich | 2007–08 | Bundesliga | 31 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 39 |
| 2008–09 | Bundesliga | 25 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 3 | – | 35 | 18 | ||
| 2009–10 | Bundesliga | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 8 | 1 | ||
| Total | 60 | 38 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 89 | 58 | ||
| Bayern Munich II | 2009–10 | 3. Liga | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 2 | 0 | |||
| Roma | 2009–10 | Serie A | 15 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 | 5 | |
| Genoa | 2010–11 | Serie A | 16 | 3 | 2 | 4 | – | – | 18 | 7 | ||
| Juventus | 2010–11 | Serie A | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 | 2 | |
| 2011–12 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 | 2 | |||
| Al Nasr | 2011–12 | UAE Pro League | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | 13 | 5 | |
| Fiorentina | 2012–13 | Serie A | 27 | 8 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 8 | ||
| Verona | 2013–14 | Serie A | 34 | 20 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 36 | 21 | ||
| 2014–15 | Serie A | 38 | 22 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 39 | 23 | |||
| 2015–16 | Serie A | 23 | 6 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 25 | 7 | |||
| Total | 95 | 48 | 5 | 3 | – | – | 100 | 51 | ||||
| Career total | 584 | 267 | 38 | 21 | 26 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 658 | 306 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 2004 | 5 | 1 |
| 2005 | 10 | 5 | |
| 2006 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2008 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 47 | 16 | |
- Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Toni goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 September 2004 | Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo, Italy |  Norway |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 2 | 11 June 2005 | Giants Stadium, New Jersey, United States |  Ecuador |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 7 September 2005 | Dinamo Stadium (Minsk), Minsk, Belarus |  Belarus |
1–1 | 4–1 | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 4 | 7 September 2005 | Dinamo Stadium (Minsk), Minsk, Belarus | Belarus |
2–1 | 4–1 | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 5 | 7 September 2005 | Dinamo Stadium (Minsk), Minsk, Belarus | Belarus |
4–1 | 4–1 | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 6 | 12 November 2005 | Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Netherlands |
3–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 7 | 1 March 2006 | Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence, Italy |  Germany |
2–0 | 4–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 30 June 2006 | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany |  Ukraine |
2–0 | 3–0 | 2006 World Cup |
| 9 | 30 June 2006 | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg, Germany | Ukraine |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2006 World Cup |
| 10 | 7 October 2006 | Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy | Ukraine |
2–0 | 2–0 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 11 | 28 March 2007 | Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy |  Scotland |
1–0 | 2–0 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 12 | 28 March 2007 | Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy | Scotland |
2–0 | 2–0 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 13 | 17 November 2007 | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland | Scotland |
1–0 | 2–1 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 14 | 21 November 2007 | Stadio Alberto Braglia, Modena, Italy |  Faroe Islands |
2–0 | 3–1 | Euro 2008 qualifying |
| 15 | 6 February 2008 | Letzigrund, Zurich, Switzerland |  Portugal |
1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 16 | 19 November 2008 | Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece |  Greece |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
Trophies and Awards
Palermo
- Serie B: 2003–04 (Champions)
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2007–08, 2009–10 (Champions)
- DFB-Pokal: 2007–08, 2009–10 (Winners)
- DFB-Ligapokal: 2007 (Winners)
Italy
- FIFA World Cup: 2006 (Winners)
Individual Awards
- Serie B top scorer: 2003–04
- Serie A top scorer: 2005–06, 2014–15
- European Golden Shoe: 2005–06
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
- Bundesliga top scorer: 2007–08
- UEFA Cup top scorer: 2007–08
- Serie A Team of the Year: 2014–15
- Fiorentina Hall of Fame: 2016
See also
In Spanish: Luca Toni para niños
