Paolo Castellini

Paolo Castellini

File:Castellini (2).jpg Castellini in 2011
Personal information
Full name	Paolo Castellini
Date of birth	(1979-03-25) 25 March 1979
Place of birth	Brescia, Italy
Height
Position(s)	Left back
Team information
Current team	Brescia
Number	33
Youth career
	Cremonese
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–2000	Cremonese	64	(0)
2000–2004	Torino	114	(1)
2004	→ Brescia (loan)	16	(0)
2004–2006	Betis	13	(0)
2006–2012	Parma	136	(1)
2010–2011	→ Roma (loan)	8	(0)
2011–2012	→ Sampdoria (loan)	20	(0)
2012–2014	Sampdoria	8	(0)
2014	Livorno	15	(0)
2014–2015	Cremonese	23	(0)
2015–	Brescia	4	(0)
International career
1998–2000	Italy U20	8	(0)
2001–2002	Italy U21	9	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 September 2015

Paolo Castellini (born 25 March 1979) is an Italian professional footballer who plays for Brescia Calcio as a left back.

Club career

Born in Brescia, Lombardy, Castellini joined made his professional debuts at U.S. Cremonese at only 17, going on to appear for the club in both the Serie B and Serie C1. In the 2000 summer he moved to Torino FC, achieving promotion to Serie A in his debut season whilst appearing in 33 games.

From January 2004, Castellini served a loan at hometown's Brescia Calcio in the top division – Torino had been again relegated – after which he was released by Toro. In the ensuing summer he moved abroad and signed with Real Betis of Spain, on a five-year contract; however, his spell in Andalusia would be disastrous, as he never dislodged veteran Luis Fernández from his starting position, also suffering with injuries (torn ligaments and cartilage in his right knee).

After cancelling his link to Betis, Castellini returned to his country in the summer of 2006, joining Parma F.C. and being an automatic first-choice from the beginning. In his third season he played in 41 out of 42 matches, helping the team return to Serie A after only one year.

In the 2009–10 campaign, Castellini often played as wingback in a 3–5–2 or 5–3–2 formation, with Cristian Zaccardo in the other flank. He helped Parma to a final eighth position, narrowly missing out on qualification to the UEFA Europa League.

On 26 August 2010 Castellini was loaned to A.S. Roma, as cover for John Arne Riise. On 24 June 2011, in the same predicament, he signed for U.C. Sampdoria in the second division.

Castellini moved to the Genoa side on a permanent basis on 9 July 2012, with Jonathan Biabiany heading in the opposite direction.

International career

Castellini never gained one full cap for Italy, but appeared with the under-21s at the 2002 UEFA European Championship, helping the national side to the semifinals.

Honours

Torino

• Serie B: 2000–01

Betis

• Copa del Rey: 2004–05

External links

• Stats at Tutto Calciatori (Italian)
• National team data (Italian)
• Paolo Castellini profile at BDFutbol
• Paolo Castellini at Soccerway