ItalJuve Euro 2012 Profiles – Emanuele Giaccherini

With Euro 2012 rapidly approaching, we here at JuventiKnows are profiling the different Juventus players participating in the summer tournament. This year, seven of our Scudetto winners are going to Poland and Ukraine as part of Cesare Prandelli’s Italian national side as the coach – himself a former midfielder for the Bianconeri – called up – Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli, and today’s featured star Emanuele Giaccherini.

Birthplace and Birthday:

5 May 1985 (#5MAGGIO!) in Bibbiena (Tuscany), Italy

Nickname:

The Flea, Little Goblin, Jack, Giaccherinho, Full Metal Jack,
Greaserini ( ok I gave him that one bc OMG we’re like TWINS)

Estimated Market Value:

€4.7 million

Silverware:

Title, Year, (Club)
Serie A, 2011-2012 (Juventus)

Team Supported Growing Up:

Inter… damn it.

Preferred Foot:

Right

Level of Fame:

To be brutally honest, when it comes to football fame Giaccherini is a nobody, and would be even less famous than Diamanti or Sirigu if not for winning the Scudetto.

That’s not his fault though, as Giaccherini made his Serie A debut in 2010 after barely spending any time in Serie B, mostly plying his trade in Italy’s amateur divisions.

Giaccherini’s career thus far is a real-life fairytale, made even more magical by a National Team call-up. BRAVO, GIACCH!

Unfortunately, Emanuele is probably most famous in Serie A for last year’s post-rebound-open-net epic fail, and as much as it sucks to watch our defense get cut like a thin piece of swiss cheese it’s still really heartwarming to see the Cesena ball-boys console him:

Personality:

Adorable. Giaccherini comes across as a very humble and good spirited dude, most notably in his interview during the Scudetto-clinch party where he gets lovingly teased by Pepe, Vucinic, AND Quagliarella.

Being one of the shortest and least-experience of the Juventus players, he seems to be that little rookie/freshman that everyone else teases!

Strengths:

A quick and creative forward, Giaccherini has good speed and dribbling skills. His passing and finishing is also good. Giaccherini is a dynamic player, able to run at/past defenders and is quick off the counter attack.

Giaccherini is also versatile, able to play in midfield or forward, though he might feel most comfortable on the wing. That versatility, combined his very hard-working work-rate, is why both Conte and Italy coach Cesare Prandelli want him on their squads.

Weaknesses:

No aerial game (he’s a short dude) and not a tough tackler. Also inexperienced, though that will change pretty soon.

Status on Club Team:

Mascot… but in a good way! Giaccherini is that little brother that everyone loves to playfully tease with affection. Very much the underdog, Giaccherini is the type of player that people want to see succeed.

YouTube Comp with Questionable Music:

2011-2012 Club Season:

Scored 3 goals this season, 2 of which were in Coppa Italia and made 2 assists, both in Serie A. Giaccherini had 12 starts (9 in Serie A, 3 in Coppa Italia) and 14 sub appearances (all Serie A).

Liked by Conte for his seemingly tireless legs and creative feet, Giaccherini was fielded in Center Midfield, Left Midfield, Left Wing, and Right Forward. A surprising co-ownership acquisition last summer, Giaccherini has done well for himself and proved to be a useful talented bench player.

He may not have scored many goals but they are all superb, my favorite being a lovely 89th-minute goal against Bologna which is featured in the YouTube compilation (without music) below.

Status in National Team:

Newbie.

Expected Performance for National Team:

Probably won’t feature at all, but with of Italy’s injury worries leading up to the tournament Full Metal Jack might help Prandelli be more flexible tactically.

Random Facts:

During his second season of football for hometown amateur side Bibbiena, Giaccherini sustained an injury which ended his year early and resulted in having his spleen removed. During that troubled time he doubted his dream of having a career as a professional footballer, and considered a return to life as a factory worker.

YouTube Comp Without Questionable Music:

“Sembrava Alberto Tomba!” or “like Alberto Tomba” that World Champion Italian skier who specialized at the slalom.

In one word:

Underdog.