Tranquillo Barnetta facts for kids
Barnetta with Switzerland in 2006
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Tranquillo Barnetta | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 22 May 1985 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | St. Gallen, Switzerland | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1991–1996 | FC Rotmonten St. Gallen | |||||||||||||||
| 1996–2002 | St. Gallen | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | St. Gallen | 60 | (15) | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2012 | Bayer Leverkusen | 187 | (23) | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2005 | → Hannover 96 (loan) | 7 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Schalke 04 | 44 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | → Eintracht Frankfurt (loan) | 22 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Philadelphia Union | 41 | (6) | |||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | St. Gallen | 60 | (11) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 421 | (61) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | Switzerland U17 | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2014 | Switzerland | 75 | (10) | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Tranquillo Barnetta is a former professional football player from Switzerland. He was born on May 22, 1985. He played as a midfielder, which means he was usually in the middle of the field.
Barnetta was known for his amazing speed, quick movements, and creative plays. He often played as a left winger, running down the side of the field. He also played as an attacking midfielder or a central midfielder. Before joining Major League Soccer (MLS), he played for several clubs in Switzerland and Germany. He also played many times for the Swiss national team. He represented his country in three FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Football Championships.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting with St. Gallen
Tranquillo Barnetta began his professional football journey with his hometown team, St. Gallen. This was for the 2002–2003 season. In his first year as a pro, he played in 30 games and scored 5 goals.
Time with Bayer Leverkusen
Barnetta's strong start in Switzerland caught the eye of teams abroad. In January 2004, he joined the German club Bayer Leverkusen. During his first season with Bayer, he was loaned to Hannover 96. He returned to Bayer Leverkusen in March 2005.
After playing well in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Barnetta became a regular player for Bayer. The 2008–2009 season was a bit tough for him. Bayer finished lower in the league, and he scored fewer goals. Despite rumors of leaving, he found his great form again in the 2009–2010 season. He scored two goals in his second league game. This helped Bayer stay unbeaten for the entire first half of that season.
Playing for Schalke 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt
On July 2, 2012, after his contract with Bayer Leverkusen ended, Barnetta joined Schalke 04. He signed a three-year contract with them. This move was a free transfer, meaning Schalke did not have to pay a fee for him. He was given the number 27 shirt.
During the 2013–2014 season, Barnetta was loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt. He played there for a full season before returning to Schalke 04 in June 2014. On September 23, 2014, he scored his first goal for Schalke in his second league match of the 2014–2015 season.
Joining Philadelphia Union
On July 29, 2015, Barnetta signed with the Philadelphia Union in the United States. He joined them midway through their 2015 season. He scored his first goal for the Union on September 20, in a home game against the Houston Dynamo.
After a full preseason, Barnetta became a key attacking player for the Union in 2016. He scored 5 goals and made 4 assists. He helped Philadelphia reach the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011. Before the 2016 season ended, Barnetta announced he would return to Switzerland. He wanted to play for his hometown club, FC St. Gallen, while he was still fit. He finished his time with Philadelphia with 45 appearances and 6 goals.
Returning Home to St. Gallen
Barnetta signed a contract with St. Gallen on November 14, 2016. He started playing for them on January 1, 2017. He played for St. Gallen until the end of the 2018–2019 season. After that season, Tranquillo Barnetta decided to retire from professional football.
International Matches
Barnetta played for Switzerland's youth teams. He was part of the Swiss U-17 squad that won the 2002 U-17 European Championships. He played alongside future teammates like Philippe Senderos.
He later joined the senior national team. He was called up for Euro 2004 but did not play. At the 2006 World Cup, he scored a goal in Switzerland's win against Togo. However, he missed a penalty kick in a shootout against Ukraine, which Switzerland lost. Barnetta was even considered for the tournament's Best Young Player award.
He played in almost every game during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Switzerland finished first in their group and earned a spot in the World Cup. On June 4, 2011, Barnetta scored two free kicks quickly against England in the Euro 2012 qualifiers. He was also called up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but he did not play in any matches there.
Playing Style and Skills
Tranquillo Barnetta was known for his "extreme pace, mobility and creativity" on the left side of the field. FIFA's official website described him as a "creative footballer." They also noted that he "covers ground and closes down opponents" with lots of energy. He brought "drive, skill and maturity" to the Swiss national team.
Personal Life
Barnetta was born in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Both of his parents are from Italy, so he has both Swiss and Italian citizenship. After retiring from football, Barnetta became a stay-at-home dad. He takes care of his two children while his wife works as a doctor.
Career Statistics Summary
Tranquillo Barnetta played in many matches throughout his career. Here is a summary of his club and international appearances and goals:
- Club Career:
- St. Gallen: 60 appearances, 15 goals
- Hannover 96 (loan): 7 appearances, 2 goals
- Bayer Leverkusen: 187 appearances, 23 goals
- Schalke 04: 44 appearances, 3 goals
- Eintracht Frankfurt (loan): 22 appearances, 1 goal
- Philadelphia Union: 41 appearances, 6 goals
- St. Gallen (return): 60 appearances, 11 goals
- Total Club Career: 421 appearances, 61 goals
- International Career (Switzerland national team):
- 75 appearances, 10 goals
Honors and Awards
Tranquillo Barnetta achieved some notable successes during his career:
- With Bayer Leverkusen:
- DFB-Pokal (German Cup) runner-up in 2008–2009
- With Switzerland U17:
- Won the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in 2002
- Individual Awards:
- Named to the 2016 MLS Team of the Week in Week 8 and Week 23
See also
In Spanish: Tranquillo Barnetta para niños
