Whellington Fabiano Santacroce (born 24 August 1986) is an Italian former professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
who played as a
defender in the
centre
Center or centre may refer to:
Mathematics
*Center (geometry), the middle of an object
* Center (algebra), used in various contexts
** Center (group theory)
** Center (ring theory)
* Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...
or on the
left
Left may refer to:
Music
* ''Left'' (Hope of the States album), 2006
* ''Left'' (Monkey House album), 2016
* ''Left'' (Helmet album), 2023
* "Left", a song by Nickelback from the album ''Curb'', 1996
Direction
* Left (direction), the relativ ...
. He was born in Brazil to an Italian father and an
Afro-Brazilian
Afro-Brazilians (; ), also known as Black Brazilians (), are Brazilians of total or predominantly Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Most multiracial Brazilians also have a range of degree of African ancestry. Brazilians whose African features are mo ...
mother, then spending his childhood in the
Lombard town of
Casatenovo
Casatenovo ( Brianzöö: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region of Lombardy, about northeast of Milan and about southwest of Lecco. , it had a population of about 12,700.
Casatenovo borders the followin ...
, in Northern Italy. At international level, he has represented the
Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 Association football, football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.
The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, held every two ...
. He is cousin of fellow footballer
Alessandro Santos
, often known as Alex, is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Brazil, he became a Japanese citizen and made 82 appearances for the Japan national team.
Club career
Santos was born in Maringá in Paraná and mov ...
, who played for
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
-
Club career
Como
Santacroce was a youth product of
Calcio Como
Como 1907 () is an Italian professional football club based in Como, Lombardy. The club competes in the Serie A, the first tier of Italian football league system, Italian football, after achieving promotion in the 2023–24 Serie B, 2023–24 Se ...
SpA. He finished as the losing side in the round 16 of 2004
Primavera Reserve League. He was in the starting lineup alongside future Serie A players
Marco Parolo
Marco Parolo (; born 25 January 1985) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.
During his club career, Parolo played for Como, Pistoiese, Foligno, Verona, Cesena, and Parma, before moving to Lazio in 2014. ...
,
Giuseppe Greco
Giuseppe Greco (; 4 January 1952 – September 1985) was an Italian hitman and high-ranking member of the Sicilian Mafia. A number of sources refer to him exclusively as Pino Greco, although ''Giuseppe'' was his Christian name; ''Pino'' is a fr ...
and
Daniele Padelli
Daniele Padelli (born 25 October 1985) is an Italian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper for Serie A club Udinese Calcio, Udinese.
Early life
Padelli was born in Brescia, I ...
.
Parolo and Santacroce were promoted to Como first team in 2004, as the club had faced financial difficulties as well as relegation from Serie B in 2004. Santacroce remained with the club in the whole
2004–05 Serie C1
The 2004–05 Serie C1 was the twenty-seventh edition of Serie C1, the third highest league in the Italian football league system.
Overview
Serie C1/A
It was contested by 19 teams, and U.S. Cremonese won the championship. It was decided that U ...
despite they were declared bankrupt on 22 December 2004. Santacroce was in the starting XI in Como's relegation "play-out", which the playoffs matches Como losing to
Novara
Novara (; Novarese Lombard, Novarese: ) is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont (Italy), Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With 101,916 inhabitants (on 1 January 2021), it is the second most populous ...
in 1–2 aggregate. Como folded at the end season as a takeover bid was denied.
Brescia
Santacroce moved to
Brescia
Brescia (, ; ; or ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the region of Lombardy, in Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Lake Garda, Garda and Lake Iseo, Iseo. With a population of 199,949, it is the se ...
as a free agent and played for their ''Primavera'' team before making his first team debut for the ''rondinelle'' in a
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 ...
game on 23 April 2006, against
Cesena
Cesena (; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy; and - with Forlì - is the capital of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. Served by Autostrada A14 (Italy), Autostrada A14, and located near the Apennine M ...
. He played at Brescia from 2005 to 2007, also ensuring a place in the
Italian U-21 team due to his impressive performances with the Lombardian side.
Napoli
During the January 2008 transfer window,
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 ...
club
Napoli
Naples ( ; ; ) is the regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its province-level municipality is the thir ...
completed the signing of Santacroce in a permanent move, for €5.5 million, becoming the third Brescia player to join the ''azzurri'' that year, the other two being
Marek Hamšík
Marek Hamšík (; born 27 July 1987) is a Slovak football coach and former player who played as a midfielder. He is currently the team manager and assistant coach for the Slovakia national team.
After beginning his club career with Slovan B ...
and
Daniele Mannini. He quickly established himself into Napoli's regular lineup, forming a valid defense duo with team captain
Paolo Cannavaro
Paolo Cannavaro (; born 26 June 1981) is an Italian former professional association football, footballer who played as a centre-back and most recently was the head coach of Serie C club Pro Vercelli.
After beginning his career with S.S.C. Napol ...
, and playing very well throughout the remainder of the season. Santacroce has been described by a number of people in Italy, including Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, as the "new
Alessandro Nesta
Alessandro Nesta (; born 19 March 1976) is an Italian professional football coach and former player who is the current head coach of Serie A club Monza. Usually deployed as a centre-back, he is widely considered as one of the best defenders of ...
" That half season he started 13 times as well as 27 times in
2008–09 Serie A
The 2008–09 Serie A (known as the Serie A TIM for sponsorship reasons) was the 107th season of top-tier Italian football, the 77th in a round-robin tournament. It began on 30 August 2008 and ended on 31 May 2009, with the announcement of the ...
. However, after the arrival of
Hugo Campagnaro
Hugo Armando Campagnaro (; born 27 June 1980) is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a centre back.
A full international for Argentina since 2012, Campagnaro has earned 17 caps for his country, and two years later was selec ...
,
Walter Mazzarri
Walter Mazzarri (; born 1 October 1961) is an Italian professional football manager and former player.
After a 14-year playing career with Italian clubs including Reggiana and Empoli, Mazzarri coached several smaller Italian sides and in 2007 ...
started to fix its 3-men defense to
Salvatore Aronica
Salvatore Aronica (born 20 January 1978) is an Italian football manager and former player who played as a defender, currently in charge of club Trapani.
Playing career
Aronica spent his early career with Juventus, but he was sent to Crotone o ...
, Campagnaro and Cannavaro.
Parma
At the start of
2011–12 Serie A
The 2011–12 Serie A (known as the Serie A TIM after its headline sponsors) was the 110th season of top-tier Italian football, the 80th in a round-robin tournament, and the second since its organization under a league committee separate from S ...
, Napoli sent
Manuele Blasi
Manuele Blasi (; born 17 August 1980) is an Italian former professional footballer who played a midfielder and now works as a coach.
Club career
Primarily a central midfielder, Blasi made his Serie A debut for AS Roma in a match against Piacenz ...
and Santacroce to
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, ...
as part of the compensation of signing
Blerim Džemaili
Blerim Džemaili (, ; ; born 12 April 1986) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
He began his career at FC Zürich, where he won the Swiss Super League twice. He subsequently spent most of his career in Italy, ma ...
(€9 million). Santacroce went on loan for €100,000. He was largely used as a back-up central defender and made 12 league appearances, which was enough to secure him a move to Parma in a co-ownership deal for €900,000 in 4-year contract in July 2012.
[Parma FC SpA ''bilancio'' (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 ] Santacroce wore no.13 shirt that season, changing from no.33.
Following the
2012–13 Serie A
The 2012–13 Serie A (known as the Serie A TIM for sponsorship reasons) was the 111th season of top-tier Italian football, the 81st in a round-robin tournament, and the 3rd since its organization under a league committee separate from Serie B. ...
season, the remaining half of Santacroce's ownership was purchased from Napoli by Parma for free.
[ The club now owns him outright. On 6 August 2013 Santacroce left for ]Padova
Padua ( ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Veneto, northern Italy, and the capital of the province of Padua. The city lies on the banks of the river Bacchiglione, west of Venice and southeast of Vicenza, and has a population of ...
in a temporary deal. Santacroce was given no.3 shirt of the first team.
Ternana and Juve Stabia
On 1 February 2016 the last day of the transfer market goes 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 ...
with Ternana
Ternana Calcio, commonly referred to as Ternana, is an Italian football club based in Terni, Umbria and currently compete in the Serie C.
The club was founded in 1925 and refounded in 1993. In its history, Ternana has twice played in Serie A ...
, signing a contract until June with the option for the following season. Collect only two appearances and 30 June is released from the umbrian club. The 19 January 2017 is made official its acquisition by Juve Stabia
Società Sportiva Juve Stabia is an Italian professional football club based in Castellammare di Stabia, Campania.
Juve Stabia plays in Serie B, the second tier of Italian football system, following their promotion ahead of the 2024–25 seas ...
.
Virtus Verona
On 17 August 2019, he signed a one-year contract with Virtus Verona
Virtus Verona, founded as Unione Sportiva Virtus Borgo Venezia in 1921, sometimes referred to as Virtus Vecomp Verona for sponsorship reasons, is an Italian association football club located in Borgo Venezia, a district of Verona, Veneto. It c ...
. He retired from football in early 2021, and pursued a career as a sports agent. Before retiring completely, Santacroce had a short spell at Italien amateur club Weese Ca8.
International career
Santacroce has been a member of the Italy U-21 national team from 2007 to 2009.
In 2008–09, Santacroce was confirmed as a Napoli regular, and his performances were quickly noted by new 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 the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
head coach Marcello Lippi
Marcello Romeo Lippi (; born 12 April 1948) is an Italian former professional association football, football player and manager, who led the Italy national football team, Italy national team to victory in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
He was appoin ...
, who on 5 October 2008 called him to join the ''azzurri'' squad for the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualification matches against Bulgaria
Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...
and Montenegro
, image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg
, coa_size = 80
, national_motto =
, national_anthem = ()
, image_map = Europe-Mont ...
. However, he was an unused substitute during these matches, and is yet to make his senior international debut. Santacroce dedicated his first senior call-up to his former Como youth team coach Stefano Borgonovo
Stefano Borgonovo (; 17 March 1964 – 27 June 2013) was an Italian footballer and manager, who played as a striker. An opportunistic striker, Borgonovo played for several Italian clubs throughout his career, and came to prominence while playin ...
, who was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or—in the United States—Lou Gehrig's disease (LGD), is a rare, Terminal illness, terminal neurodegenerative disease, neurodegenerative disorder that results i ...
at the time, succumbing to the disease in 2013.
Career statistics
Club
''Statistics accurate up until 16 May 2012''
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Santacroce, Fabiano
Italian men's footballers
Italy men's under-21 international footballers
Como 1907 players
Brescia Calcio players
Men's association football defenders
People from Camaçari
Footballers from Bahia
Footballers from the Metropolitan City of Milan
Brazilian people of Italian descent
Brazilian emigrants to Italy
1986 births
Living people
SSC Napoli players
Parma Calcio 1913 players
Calcio Padova players
Ternana Calcio players
AC Cuneo 1905 players
Serie A players
Serie B players
Serie C players
21st-century Italian sportsmen