Name: Giuseppe Rossi
Born: Feb. 1, 1987, in Teaneck, N.J.
Position: Forward
Pro club: Fiorentina
Why is he in the news?
Rossi has been on an incredible scoring streak lately. The Italian international has five goals in five games for Fiorentina this season in all competitions—aside from the four he’s bagged in Serie A, he also scored his first European goal in more than two years, helping Fiorentina beat Pacos Ferreira 3–0 last week in the UEFA Europa League.
He’s special because
Rossi is renowned for his passing skills and insightful linkup play. Blessed with excellent technical ability, Rossi’s versatility—he can play on the wings, as the lone striker or as a classic No. 9—has earned him comparisons with Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero. But it’s his mental toughness and determination in overcoming adversity that is most impressive.
Club career
Born to Italian immigrants in New Jersey, Rossi played with local side Clifton Stallions before moving to Italy when he was 12 in pursuit of his soccer dreams, joining the youth team of Parma. Five years later he was scooped up by Premier League powerhouse Manchester United and made his professional debut. But first-team opportunities were few and far between at Old Trafford—he made just five appearance from 2005 to 2007), and he was sent out on loans with Newcastle United and Parma. Manchester sold him to Spanish outfit Villarreal in the summer of 2007.
This is when Rossi’s club career took off. The Italian forward averaged 11 goals over the course of his first three seasons in La Liga before exploding for 18 during the 2010–11 campaign—and 32 in 56 games in all competitions for the Yellow Submarine. Rossi was one of the hottest young stars in the game, but his career took an unexpected turn when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on his right knee while playing against Real Madrid in October 2011. Rossi was sidelined for six months before making his comeback, but he reinjured the same knee in April 2012 and was out for another 10 months. Villarreal cut its losses and sold Rossi to Fiorentina this past January. He didn’t make his debut for the Florence-based side until May on the final day of the 2012–13 Serie A season. Rossi is making up for lost time in the current Italian campaign and seems to have rediscovered his old form.
International career
Though born and raised in New Jersey, Rossi chose to play internationally for Italy—his father was born on the peninsula, thus making his son eligible for the Azzurri. In 2006, Rossi turned down an invitation to attend a pre-World Cup training camp with the U.S. team by then-coach Bruce Arena, making it clear he wanted to play for Italy. This was a point of contention among a lot of American fans who felt he turned his back on his birth nation and labelled him a traitor.
Rossi represented Italy at almost every youth level—from under-16 to under-21—and at the 2008 Olympics. That same year he made his debut for Italy’s national team in a friendly against Bulgaria, scoring his first international goal the following year against Northern Ireland. His best performance for Italy came against the U.S., when he scored two goals in a 3–1 win at the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. Rossi was in line to play for Italy at the World Cup the following year, but didn’t make the final roster cut. With six goals in 27 appearances and fully fit again, expect Rossi to figure in manager Cesare Prandelli’s plans going forward.
His most famous moment
On Aug. 26, 2013, Rossi scored his first goal in 23 months in Fiorentina’s 2–1 win over Catania to open the Serie A campaign. His celebration and the expression on his face shows just how much it meant to him:
Here’s an interesting fact
Rossi was the top scorer (four goals) at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, a tournament that featured notable names such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Alexandre Pato, Angel di Maria and Kevin Mirallas.
He said it
"I dedicate the goal to my father." – Rossi after scoring in Fiorentina’s season opening victory. Fernando Rossi died three years ago following a lengthy illness, and was a guiding force in Giuseppe’s life, serving as his childhood coach and soccer mentor.
What they’re saying about him
"We are a little amazed by the speed of his recovery, but not by his quality." – Fiorentina’s sporting director Daniele Prade told Sky Sports Italia.
