Francesco Benussi (born 15 October 1981) is a retired Italian footballer who played as a

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 ...

Club career

Venezia

Benussi started his career at

Venezia Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...

, After he made his team debut in 1999–2000 season. He was loaned to Serie C1 clubs likes

Lumezzane Lumezzane (, locally ) is a town and (municipality) in the province of Brescia, in the Italian region of Lombardy. With a population of 22,255 (), it is one of the largest towns in its province. It is situated in the Gobbia Valley, which is a s ...

and Ascoli. After played as a backup of Giovanni Indiveri, he returned to Venice and played as a backup of

Salvatore Soviero Salvatore may refer to: * Salvatore (name), a given name and surname, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name * "Salvatore", a song by Lana Del Rey, on her 2015 album ''Honeymoon'' * Salvatore (band), a Norwegian instrume ...

before left on loan again for

Arezzo Arezzo ( , ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Italy and the capital of the Province of Arezzo, province of the same name located in Tuscany. Arezzo is about southeast of Florence at an elevation of Above mean sea level, above sea level. As of 2 ...

of Serie C1. Benussi became first choice after Soviero departed for

Reggina Associazione Sportiva Reggina 1914, commonly referred to as Reggina, is an Italian football club based in Reggio Calabria. They play their home matches at the 27,763 seater Stadio Oreste Granillo and are currently playing in the Serie D league. ...

Lecce

After Venezia bankruptcy and relegated, Benussi was signed by Lecce, as first a backup to Vincenzo Sicignano in August 2005. But due to injury of Sicignano, he played 15 Serie A games. Lecce failed to protect her place in Serie A, and saw Sicignano left the club. Benussi became the first choice at the start of 2004–05 season, before left on loan to

A.C. Siena Siena Football Club Società Sportiva Dilettantistica, commonly referred to as Siena, is an Italian football club based in Siena, Tuscany. The club was re-incorporated in 2020 after the bankruptcy of the previous legal entity Robur Siena, which ...

as player exchange with

Nicola Pavarini Nicola Pavarini (born 24 February 1974) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Playing career Pavarini started his career at Brescia. After he made his first team debut in the 1996–97 Serie B season, he was lo ...

. At

Siena Siena ( , ; traditionally spelled Sienna in English; ) is a city in Tuscany, in central Italy, and the capital of the province of Siena. It is the twelfth most populated city in the region by number of inhabitants, with a population of 52,991 ...

, he failed to challenge

Alex Manninger Alexander Manninger (born 4 June 1977) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played internationally for the Austria national team on 33 occasions, including at UEFA Euro 2008, and has represented football ...

for the first choice, and Siena has not decided to bought Benussi outright. Returned to Lecce for another Serie B season, his first choice place was challenged by

Antonio Rosati Antonio Rosati (born 26 June 1983) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Career Lecce Rosati's career began at Cisco Calcio Roma. He moved to Lecce in the 2002–03 season, making his first team debut in Feb ...

but Benussi played 23 Serie B games and all 4 promotion playoffs, to win promotion for the

Apulia Apulia ( ), also known by its Italian language, Italian name Puglia (), is a Regions of Italy, region of Italy, located in the Southern Italy, southern peninsular section of the country, bordering the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Strait of Ot ...

club in June 2008.

Livorno

On 12 August 2009

Livorno Livorno () is a port city on the Ligurian Sea on the western coast of the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Livorno, having a population of 152,916 residents as of 2025. It is traditionally known in English as Leghorn ...

have signed the goalkeeper on loan from

U.S. Lecce Unione Sportiva Lecce () is a Football in Italy, professional Italian football club based in Lecce, Apulia. The club play in Serie A in the 2023–24 Serie A, 2023–24 season, the top level of the Italian football league system, Italian footb ...

. He played as an unused substitute on 9 August, 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 ...

match that Lecce won 4–0 over

Vico Equense Vico Equense is a coastal town and ''comune'' in the Metropolitan City of Naples, in southern Italy. Geography Vico Equense is part of the greater Bay of Naples metropolitan area and is a tourist destination. Located on a tuff cliff, it is ...

. On 25 October 2009, he played his first match for Livorno, substituted Nico Pulzetti after goalkeeper

Alfonso De Lucia Alfonso De Lucia (born 12 November 1983) is an Italian football coach and a former player who played as a goalkeeper. Career Parma De Lucia was signed by Parma A.C. from S.S.C. Napoli, as part of the deal of Paolo Cannavaro. De Lucia made his ...

was sent off. He played as starter in the subsequent 3 league matches and 2

games.

Palermo and loan to Torino

On 1 February 2010 Benussi agreed for a loan transfer to

Palermo Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...

, with Rubinho making the opposite move, reunited with former Venezia owner

Maurizio Zamparini Maurizio Zamparini (9 June 1941 – 1 February 2022) was an Italian businessman. He was the owner and director of football club Palermo between July 2002 – February 2017 and from July 2017 – December 2018. Biography Zamparini had business ...

. After Palermo signed

Giacomo Brichetto Giacomo Brichetto (born 9 May 1983) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Ruggell. Career Brichetto was born in Genoa, and spent most of his career in the lower ranks of Italian professional football. He j ...

permanently, Benussi also signed permanently from Lecce a week later, on 22 July 2010. He signed a 3-year contract. Constantly a second choice behind Italian international

Salvatore Sirigu Salvatore Sirigu (, ; born 12 January 1987) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for club Palermo. Sirigu began his career with Venezia and then Palermo. In 2011, he moved to French side Paris Saint-Germain. Twice v ...

, Benussi has since played only at

UEFA Europa League The UEFA Europa League (UEL), usually known simply as the Europa League, is an annual association football, football club competition organised since 1971 by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for eligible European footb ...

level during his period while at Palermo. Initially confirmed as second goalkeeper following the departure of Sirigu to

Paris Saint-Germain F.C. Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain () or simply PSG, is a French professional football club based in Paris. They compete in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. With 52 major trophies ...

and the signing of Greek international

Alexandros Tzorvas Alexandros Tzorvas (; born 12 August 1982) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Club career Early career Ηe began his career as a member of the renowned (domazos academy) Panathinaikos football academy but, de ...

as a replacement, he successively became the first choice under new head coaches

Devis Mangia Devis Mangia (; born 6 June 1974) is an Italian professional association football, football manager (association football), manager. Managerial career Early years Mangia started his coaching career at age 30, working alongside Sean Sogliano at ...

and

Bortolo Mutti Bortolo Mutti (born 11 August 1954) is an Italian football manager and a former player, who was most recently manager of Livorno. His older brother Tiziano Mutti also played football professionally. To distinguish them, Tiziano was referred to ...

. Following the acquisition of Italy international

Emiliano Viviano Emiliano Viviano (; born 1 December 1985) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Club career Brescia Born in Florence, Viviano is a product of Fiorentina and Brescia youth teams. He started his career with a lo ...

, Palermo opted to send Benussi on loan to

Torino 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 ...

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 ...

league.

Udinese

On 24 July 2013, his contract with Palermo was cancelled and he moved to

Udinese Udinese Calcio (; "Udinese Football") is a professional football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. The team currently competes in the Serie A, the first tier of Italian football. It was founded on 30 November 1896 as a sport ...

Verona

On 30 August 2014 Benussi was signed by

Hellas Verona F.C. Hellas Verona Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Hellas Verona (), is an Italian professional football club based in Verona, Veneto, that currently plays in Serie A. The team won the Serie A championship in the 1984–85 season. I ...

Carpi

On 9 July 2015 Benussi was signed by Serie A newcomer Carpi F.C. 1909. On 27 January 2016 Benussi was released.

Vicenza

Benussi joined

Vicenza Calcio L.R. Vicenza S.p.A. (acronym for ''Lanerossi Vicenza''), better known as Vicenza or Lanerossi, is an Italian football club based in the city of Vicenza. It plays in Serie C, the third division of the Italian football league. Founded on 9 March ...

in a -year contract on 27 January 2016 on a free transfer. He received no.1 shirt from departing Richard Marcone.

International career

Benussi has been capped for the Italy U20 side in 2000 at the

Toulon Tournament The Maurice Revello Tournament (officially French: the ''Festival International "Espoirs" – Tournoi Maurice Revello''), previously known as the Toulon Tournament, is a Association football, football tournament, which traditionally features invit ...

, behind

Generoso Rossi Generoso Rossi (born 3 January 1979) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Club career Rossi started his career at A.S. Bari. he was on loan to Serie C1 teams, and returned to Bari in summer 2000. He made hi ...

as 2nd choice goalkeeper. He played once at the tournament.

Honours

;Lecce *

Third-Place: 2007–08 ;Ascoli *

Serie C1 Serie C1 was the third highest football league in Italy. It consisted of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions. History Before the 1978–79 season, there were only three professional football leagues in Italy, the third being Se ...

Champions: 2001–02

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Benussi, Francesco 1981 births Living people Italian men's footballers Italy men's youth international footballers Venezia FC players Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC players SS Arezzo players US Lecce players Siena FC SSD players US Livorno 1915 players Palermo FC players Torino FC players Udinese Calcio players Hellas Verona FC players AC Carpi players Serie A players Serie B players Serie C players Men's association football goalkeepers Footballers from Venice People from Mestre 21st-century Italian sportsmen