Lupatelli Cristiano
Cristiano Lupatelli is an Italian former goalkeeper. He is known for his trademark goatee and sideburns with his bald head. Hr played for Roma, Chievo before he joined Fiorentina, in summer 2004, on a free transfer. Lupatelli featured regularly for the Fiorentina first team in the 2004–05 season, but after the arrival of Sébastien Frey in 2005, Bogdan Lobonţ in the 2006–07 season, and Vlada Avramov in 2007, he became the club’s third choice keeper, and was loaned out to Parma during 2005–06 season for part of Frey’s deal. Whilst on loan at Parma F.C., he was exchanged with Matteo Guardalben mid-season. In September 2008, he joined Cagliari on a free transfer, acting as a deputy to Federico Marchetti. He was set to become a free agent on 1 July 2010, and was not called-up to the club’s 2010–11 pre-season training camp. During the 2010–11 summer transfer window, he joined Bologna on a free transfer, as Emiliano Viviano’s backup. On 8 July 2011, he joined Genoa on a free transfer, after being released from Bologna. He served as the backup to Frey once again. On 15 July 2012, he joined Fiorentina once again, on a free transfer. He retired from football after his contract with Fiorentina expired on 1 July 2015.
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This shirt was issued for Cristiano Lupatelli for a Serie A game of the season 1999/2000. Lupatelli was the backup goalkeeper behind Francesco Antonioli. The 1999–2000 season saw Associazione Sportiva Roma continue its long drought of titles, finishing a frustrating 6th place in Serie A. New manager Fabio Capello did not make an immediate impact, and its position actually worsened with one spot, despite 18 goals from Sampdoria signing Vincenzo Montella. Reward for Capello’s new 3–4–1–2 system would come in 2000–01, however, when summer signings Gabriel Batistuta, Walter Samuel and Emerson completed the thin squad of the 1999–2000 season, and Roma was able to claim the title. That seemed far away as city rivals Lazio celebrated the 2000 league title.
Did you Know?
Lupatelli moved from Roma to Chievo for 3 billion Italian lire in a co-ownership deal in 2002. In the 2003–04 season, he returned to Roma for €0.9million as the backup of Ivan Pelizzoli. He played with Chievo with number 10 on the back. That was the first time that a professional goalkeeper played with number 10 on his shirt.
Did you Know?
Lupatelli won a scudetto while playing for A.S. Roma in season 2000–01. A Roma youth product, Lupatelli was farmed to Chievo for the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons, after he played just 12 Serie A games for the capital club, wearing the number 10 jersey, despite being a goalkeeper. He was sold to Chievo for 3 billion Italian lire in a co-ownership deal in 2002. In the 2003–04 season, he returned to Roma for €0.9million, as the backup of Ivan Pelizzoli wearing this time the number 3.