Armando Pantanelli
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Armando Pantanelli (born 1 June 1971) is an Italian former professional
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
goalkeeper In many team sports that involve scoring goal (sport), goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie, or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or i ...
.


Playing career

Born in
Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...
, Pantanelli spent his childhood in
Parma Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...
, and began his footballing career with A.C. Reggiana, and from 1992 to 2006, he played for a host of other clubs, appearing in over 400 matches in the Serie C2, Serie C1, and Serie B, before making his
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
debut in the 2006–07 season after
Calcio Catania Catania Football Club, commonly known as Catania, is an Football in Italy, Italian football club based in the city of Catania, Sicily, that plays in Serie C. Originally founded in 1908 as ''Associazione Sportiva pro Educazione Fisica'', the clu ...
earned promotion to the premier division. After a feud with the club management, he moved to
Avellino Avellino () is a city and ''comune'', capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento. ...
in the summer of 2007. Pantanelli is famous for his mane of hair kept out of his eyes with a
baseball cap A baseball cap is a type of soft cap, hat with a rounded crown and a stiff bill projecting in front. The front of the hat typically displays a design or a logo (historically, usually only a sports team, namely a baseball team, or names of releva ...
rather than the conventional headband. He has also captained
Catania Catania (, , , Sicilian and ) is the second-largest municipality on Sicily, after Palermo, both by area and by population. Despite being the second city of the island, Catania is the center of the most densely populated Sicilian conurbation, wh ...
on a number of occasions. He is also well respected for his remarkable reflex saves, as well as his ability to save penalties. He is, however, also known to have made some high-profile blunders. Pantanelli has been compared to another
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
goalkeeper,
Marco Storari Marco Storari (born 7 January 1977) is an Italian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. After a lengthy spell in Italy's lower leagues, he arrived in Serie A aged 27. Steady performances for Messina prompted his signing by A.C. Milan i ...
, for a similar style of goalkeeping, as well as hairstyle. Storari, ironically spent much of his career with Sicilian rivals
Messina Messina ( , ; ; ; ) is a harbour city and the capital city, capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of 216,918 inhabitants ...
.


A.C. Reggiana

Pantanelli began his professional career with A.C. Reggiana 1919, in 1986. He spent 5 seasons playing within the club's youth system, and began to earn first team call-ups for the 1989–1990
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
Lega Calcio The Lega Nazionale Professionisti (Italian for National Professionals League), commonly known as Lega Calcio (Football League), was the governing body that ran the two highest football divisions in Italy, namely Serie A and Serie B, from 1946 to ...
season. He never earned a first team cap for the club, and was sold in July 1990 to Olbia Calcio.


Olbia Calcio – Carpi F.C.

Following his official transfer to Olbia Calcio, Pantanelli soon became a vital part of the team, as after a quiet first season, the
goalkeeper In many team sports that involve scoring goal (sport), goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie, or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or i ...
eventually earned a starting position, and went on to make 35 league appearances up until his 1994 summer transfer to fellow
Serie C The Serie C (), officially known as Serie C NOW for sponsorship purposes, is the third-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie B and Serie A. The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Lega Pro) is the governing ...
side Carpi F.C. 1909. Upon his transfer, the young net-minder managed to instantly break into the club's starting XI, and in just two full seasons with the team, Pantanelli made a very impressive 68 appearances for the club, in all competitions. At the conclusion of the 1995–96 season, he transferred to
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
giants
Inter Milan Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly referred to as Internazionale () or simply Inter, and colloquially known as Inter Milan in English-speaking countries, is an Italian professional Association football, football List of football ...
, following his impressive displays in the lower divisions.


F.C. Internazionale Milano

Following his impending transfer to the northern Italian giants, Pantanelli was signed as a reserve goalkeeper, and spent the entire 1996–1997
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
campaign on the bench. Without ever making an appearance for the ''nerrazzurri'', Pantanelli soon returned to the lower divisions, returning to former club A.C. Reggiana in the summer of 1997.


Return to Reggio Emilia

Following his adventure with the
Milan Milan ( , , ; ) is a city in northern Italy, regional capital of Lombardy, the largest city in Italy by urban area and the List of cities in Italy, second-most-populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of nea ...
side, he returned to his youth club, and was surprisingly sent out on loan upon his arrival. He was loaned to A.S. Andria BAT, and in less than a full season, the keeper made 27 appearances, maintaining a starting position. Following the expiration of the loan deal, the 26-year-old Pantanelli returned to Reggiana. In between 1997 and 1999, the shot-stopper managed just 25 appearances, and was again sold in the summer of 1999.


A.C. Perugia

At the conclusion of his second spell with the
Emilia-Romagna Emilia-Romagna (, , both , ; or ; ) is an Regions of Italy, administrative region of northern Italy, comprising the historical regions of Emilia (region), Emilia and Romagna. Its capital is Bologna. It has an area of , and a population of 4.4 m ...
based Reggiana, Pantanelli was sold to A.C. Perugia, in
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
, where he was again utilized as a reserve keeper, never making his Serie A debut, or even making a league appearance for the club, in less than one season.


Cosenza Calcio 1914

After another sub-par adventure in the Italian Serie A, Armando returned again to the lower divisions of the
Lega Calcio The Lega Nazionale Professionisti (Italian for National Professionals League), commonly known as Lega Calcio (Football League), was the governing body that ran the two highest football divisions in Italy, namely Serie A and Serie B, from 1946 to ...
, and joined
Cosenza Calcio 1914 Cosenza Calcio 1914 was a professional Italian football club based in Cosenza, Calabria. It starts in 1926 when was founded Cosenza Foot-Ball Club (the year 1914 is a reference to the first historic match played by the club on 23 February 1914) ...
in 1999. It was here, where the goalie made a name for himself, and in just 2 seasons, he made over 65 appearances for the club, in all competitions, and was soon linked again to several
Serie B The Serie B (), officially known as Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It has been operating for over ninety years since the 1929–30 season. It had b ...
clubs, and lesser
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
clubs. With a hefty transfer link in the summer of 2001, he eventually moved to
Sardinia Sardinia ( ; ; ) is the Mediterranean islands#By area, second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, and one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. It is located west of the Italian Peninsula, north of Tunisia an ...
with then-
Serie B The Serie B (), officially known as Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It has been operating for over ninety years since the 1929–30 season. It had b ...
side
Cagliari Calcio Cagliari Calcio, commonly referred to as Cagliari (), is an Football in Italy, Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia, that plays in Serie A, the first tier of Italian football. The club currently plays home matches at the 16,416-sea ...
, for an undisclosed transfer fee.


Cagliari Calcio

With his permanent move to the club for the 2001–2002
Serie B The Serie B (), officially known as Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It has been operating for over ninety years since the 1929–30 season. It had b ...
season, Pantanelli instantly held down a guaranteed starting position, and eventually went on to make well-over 100 league appearances for the club, also appearing for the club in the
Coppa Italia Coppa Italia () is the annual domestic cup of Italian football. The knockout competition was organized by the DDS and the Lega Calcio until the 2009–10 season and by Lega Serie A ever since. Juventus is the competition's most successf ...
. He also helped to lead his team into the Serie A, but failed to make his
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
debut, until the 2006–2007
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
season, with Sicilian giants,
Calcio Catania Catania Football Club, commonly known as Catania, is an Football in Italy, Italian football club based in the city of Catania, Sicily, that plays in Serie C. Originally founded in 1908 as ''Associazione Sportiva pro Educazione Fisica'', the clu ...
. After spending 3 seasons in
Sardinia Sardinia ( ; ; ) is the Mediterranean islands#By area, second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, and one of the Regions of Italy, twenty regions of Italy. It is located west of the Italian Peninsula, north of Tunisia an ...
with
Cagliari Cagliari (, , ; ; ; Latin: ''Caralis'') is an Comune, Italian municipality and the capital and largest city of the island of Sardinia, an Regions of Italy#Autonomous regions with special statute, autonomous region of Italy. It has about 146,62 ...
, the 33-year-old keeper transferred to then-
Serie B The Serie B (), officially known as Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It has been operating for over ninety years since the 1929–30 season. It had b ...
side,
Calcio Catania Catania Football Club, commonly known as Catania, is an Football in Italy, Italian football club based in the city of Catania, Sicily, that plays in Serie C. Originally founded in 1908 as ''Associazione Sportiva pro Educazione Fisica'', the clu ...
.


Calcio Catania

Following his transfer to eastern
Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...
in August 2004, and became the club's number goalkeeper, and eventually earned captaincy at the club. During his spell with the Sicilian giants, Pantanelli was an undisputed starter, ahead of
Ciro Polito Ciro Polito (born 12 April 1979) is an Italian football official and a former goalkeeper. He is the sporting director of Bari. Career Salernitana Ciro Polito began his football career with the youth system of Salerno based club, Salernitana S ...
and
Vitangelo Spadavecchia Vitangelo Spadavecchia (born 25 November 1982) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Club career Bari Spadavecchia joined Bari in mid-2000. Spadavecchia joined Pescara on 25 August 2006. Andria In December 20 ...
during the time. He led his club to promotion to the
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
, following a 2nd-place finish in the
Serie B The Serie B (), officially known as Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It has been operating for over ninety years since the 1929–30 season. It had b ...
2005–06 season. During the 2006–2007
Serie A The Serie A (), officially known as Serie A Enilive in Italy and Serie A Made in Italy abroad for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Italy and the highest tier of the Italian football league system. Establish ...
season, Pantanelli held down his starting place, but at the conclusion to the season, Pantanelli was involved in a controversy with the management of the club.


Catania Controversy

At the end of the 2006–2007 season Pantanelli was involved in a feud with
Catania Catania (, , , Sicilian and ) is the second-largest municipality on Sicily, after Palermo, both by area and by population. Despite being the second city of the island, Catania is the center of the most densely populated Sicilian conurbation, wh ...
, accusing the club of bullying him into quitting the club by excluding him from training sessions and keeping him and two other players at a separate hotel at away games. In September 2007 he was allegedly implicated in a betting scandal. An inquest has been opened into betting involving Pantanelli, according to newspaper ‘La Sicilia’. It is alleged that he placed bets on two games that ended with a negative result for Catania, supposedly due to mistakes made by Pantanelli.


Later years

As he was sent off the first team roster, Pantanelli had to find a new club where to play to. In summer 2007 he then joined
Serie B The Serie B (), officially known as Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It has been operating for over ninety years since the 1929–30 season. It had b ...
club
Avellino Avellino () is a city and ''comune'', capital of the province of Avellino in the Campania region of southern Italy. It is situated in a plain surrounded by mountains east of Naples and is an important hub on the road from Salerno to Benevento. ...
, but he did not manage to return to his highs, and the ''biancoverdi'' were ultimately relegated to
Lega Pro Prima Divisione Serie C1 was the third highest football league in Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into ...
that year, but were eventually placed back in
Serie B The Serie B (), officially known as Serie BKT for sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It has been operating for over ninety years since the 1929–30 season. It had b ...
to fill the void left by the bankrupt
Messina Messina ( , ; ; ; ) is a harbour city and the capital city, capital of the Italian Metropolitan City of Messina. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy, with a population of 216,918 inhabitants ...
, who ultimately were relegated to
Serie D The Serie D () is the highest level of semi-professional football in Italy, and the fourth tier of the Italian national league system. It sits beneath the third and lowest fully professional league, Serie C, and feeds in to it through promotion ...
. He was successively released for free by Avellino, and then signed by
Lega Pro Prima Divisione Serie C1 was the third highest football league in Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into ...
club Paganese.


Coaching career

In 2011, he passed his category 2 coaching exam.


References


External links

*http://aic.football.it/scheda/2000/pantanelli-armando.htm {{DEFAULTSORT:Pantanelli, Armando 1971 births Living people Footballers from Turin Men's association football goalkeepers Italian men's footballers AC Reggiana 1919 players Fidelis Andria 2018 players AC Perugia Calcio players Cagliari Calcio players Cosenza Calcio 1914 players Catania FC players US Avellino 1912 players Olbia Calcio 1905 players Serie A players Serie B players Serie C players