Marco Ballotta

Marco Ballotta ( born April 3, 1964 in Casalecchio ) is a former Italian football goalkeeper. He is now sporting director of FC Modena.

Playing career

The beginnings

Marco Ballotta comes from the youth of his home club FC Bologna, but his first professional stop was in San Lazzaro, where he played from 1982 to 1984. He spent the next six years at FC Modena before he played for the first time in January 1991 at AC Cesena in Serie A. After only six months, he left the club after its descent again in the direction of Parma, where he earned a long-term contract signed for Premiership rivals FC Parma.

AC Parma

With the AC Parma Marco Ballotta succeeded in 1992/93 in a great first season of victory in the European Cup winners. However, his good form lasted only one year. He was still playing the two games in the UEFA Super Cup against AC Milan, before he had to take back to the bench, so also in the lost final in the Cup Winners Cup in 1994.

Descent and ascent fight

Dissatisfied with his position as the second goalkeeper left Ballotta the top club and went to Brescia Calcio. However, with his new team, he got into a memorably poor season with only two wins from 34 games as a Table from. In the summer of 1995, Ballotta decided on a change to the ambitious second division side AC Reggiana. With the team he managed in the first start-up promotion to the Serie A, but at the end of the season it was clear the direct re- descent - with 67 goals conceded Ballotta was the final man who had most often grab behind.

Lazio Rome

Despite the renewed descent Marco Ballotta remained in the first division and went to Lazio. Although less inserts and the fact that he only nominally goalkeeper number three was at Lazio, the next few years have been extremely successful for him and the club. Between 1997 and 2000 Ballotta won with Lazio the European Cup Winners' Cup (1998), the UEFA Super Cup (1999), the Italian Supercup (1998, 2000), the Coppa Italia (1998, 2000) and became Italian Champion ( 2000).

As a veteran

In the 2000 /01 season was followed by a short spell at Inter Milan, where he came as the second goalkeeper to six inserts. The current 37 -year-old keeper went to his longtime former club, the second division FC Modena, where it found its way back to its former strength and regular keeper was. With Modena he succeeded in the first year of the ascent, but after two years it was in League 1 back to the second division. Ballotta now played back even second-rate, but for FBC Treviso, which he led to the rise as regular keeper.

Return to Lazio

As the third goalkeeper of the 41 -year-old Ballotta was committed for the second time of Lazio. Since the first two Torwärte, Angelo Peruzzi and Matteo Sereni injured, he was allowed to play 2005/ 06 eight times. The following season, goalkeeper Peruzzi remained faithful to the injury problems, which is why he ended his career and Ballotta could contribute with eleven missions to reach the third place in the league and reaching the Champions League.

At the beginning of the season 2007/ 08 was supposed to take the place in goal for the Uruguayan Fernando Muslera neuverpflichtete, but because he repeatedly made ​​mistakes in the 1:5 defeat against AC Milan, Ballotta was allowed to remain in goal and has now established a regular place. His contract ran out in 2008 with the Romans and Ballotta waived for another year as a footballer and was at FC Modena, his old club, sports director.

Records

At 43 years and 253 days during the 1-3 against Real Madrid on 11 December 2007 Ballotta is the oldest player ever to play in the Champions League - ahead of his compatriot Alessandro Costacurta, on 21 November 2006, 40 years played and 213 days against AEK Athens.

Even in the domestic Serie A Ballotta with an age of 44 years and 38 days at his last match against Genoa 1893 record holder before Dino Zoff, who was 42 years and 34 days old at his last league game.

Achievements

• European Cup Winners Cup Winners: 1992/93, 1997/98
• European Supercup winner: 1993, 1999
• Italian Cup Winners: 1997/ 98, 1999/2000
• Italian Champion: 1999/2000
• Italian Super Cup winner: 1998, 2000