Andrea Sala (footballer)

Andrea Sala
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-09-16) 16 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Saronno, Italy
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Crotone
Number 1
Youth career
0000–2011 Pro Patria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Pro Patria 27 (0)
2011–2012 → Inter (loan) 0 (0)
2013–2016 Ternana 16 (0)
2016–2017 Reggina 37 (0)
2017–2018 Ternana 14 (0)
2018–2019 Sambenedettese 25 (0)
2019–2020 Rimini 8 (0)
2020–2021 Arezzo 28 (0)
2021–2022 Catania 23 (0)
2022–2024 Catanzaro 4 (0)
2024– Crotone 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 December 2024

Andrea Sala (born 16 September 1993) is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper who plays for Serie C Group C club Crotone.

Career

Pro Patria

Born in Saronno, the Province of Varese, Lombardy, Sala started his professional career at Pro Patria, located in Busto Arsizio, also in the Province of Varese. Sala had played for Pro Patria since ca.2005, for the Giovanissimi team.[1] Sala made his professional debut during 2010–11 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. That season Luca Anania was the starting keeper and Matteo Andreoletti was the second keeper, while Sala was a player of Berretti reserve team.[2] However Sala also played in the round 12, replacing Matteo Serafini after Anania was sent off. Sala also played in the next round.

Inter

In July 2011 Inter Milan borrowed Sala from Pro Patria for its Primavera under-20 team.[3] The team was short of keepers, as in June 2011 Francesco Bardi was graduated from Inter "spring" while Alberto Gallinetta was transferred to Parma. Initially Sala would compete with Raffaele Di Gennaro for the first choice, who missed most of the 2010–11 season due to injury. However Sala was also injured.[4] Coach Andrea Stramaccioni used overage player Paolo Tornaghi (7 games) as well as borrowed Riccardo Melgrati (3 games + 2 in Europe) and Matteo Cincilla (3 games, 1 as sub + 1 in Europe) from Inter's Berretti under-18 team. Di Gennaro also played twice in the group stage of NextGen series and once in the cup after he recovered. On 14 January 2012, the first league match after the winter break (week 14), Sala became the first choice while Di Gennaro was on the bench, winning against Cittadella 4–1.[5] However it was reversed in the next match, the rescheduled week 4 fixture.[6] He was also able to play once more against Brescia (week 16),[7] the match between the NextGen series and Torneo di Viareggio, where Di Gennaro was the first choice in those tournaments. Sala played again in round 20 (10 March),[8] the match after the rescheduled round 18 on 7 March, as well as round 21 (on 17 March), the match before the NextGen semi-finals (and possibly final; Inter did win the tournament). After Di Gennaro joined the first team as fourth keeper, Sala collected his fifth appearances and the first under Daniele Bernazzani, a 0–1 loss to Chievo on 31 March (week 23), the fifth loss of Inter in the reserve league. However Sala was rested again in week 24 (4 April). That mid-week fixture Di Gennaro played his sixth match and once again out-numbered Sala. However Sala once again played on 7 April against bottom club Vicenza (rescheduled week 22) as Di Gennaro once again joined the first team. Sala was the backup again in round 25 and 26 (last round). In total, Sala played 6 times, Di Gennaro 8 times, Tornaghi 7 times and both 3 games for Melgrati and Cincilla (1 as sub).

In the playoffs, Sala was the backup of Di Gennaro. However, in the second match (semi-finals), Di Gennaro was injured during the match. Sala replaced him in 69th minute and played the whole extra time. He conceded 2 goals (in second half and extra time respectively) but Inter striker Samuele Longo also scored twice in extra time and beat Milan 4–3.[9] In the final Sala conceded 2 goals but the strikers also scored 3 goals to win the league.

Pro Patria return

Sala returned to Pro Patria and went to pre-season camp in July 2012.[10]

Ternana

In 2013, he was signed by Serie B club Ternana in a temporary deal.[11] On 1 July 2014, Sala was signed by Serie C club Reggiana.[12] On 25 July 2014 Sala returned to Serie B for Ternana in a temporary deal, for a reported €100,000 loan fee,[13] with an obligation to sign.[14][15] Sala signed a 1+2-year contract.[15] He was the understudy of Alberto Brignoli (2014–15 season) and Luca Mazzoni (2015–).

Rimini

On 20 August 2019 he joined Rimini on a one-year contract with an option for the second year.[16]

Catania

On 18 July 2021, he signed with Catania.[17]

On 9 April 2022, he was released together with all of his Catania teammates following the club's exclusion from Italian football due to its inability to overcome a number of financial issues.[18]

Catanzaro

On 1 July 2022, Sala signed a two-year contract with Catanzaro.[19]

Crotone

On 19 July 2024, Sala signed a three-year contract with Crotone.[20]

Honours

References

  1. ^ "GIOVANISSIMI FASCIA C LOMBARDIA: LA PRO PATRIA SI AGGIUDICA IL DERBY". Zona Calcio (in Italian). 25 April 2006. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  2. ^ "CAMPIONATO BERRETTI: SANREMESE SCONFITTA". Zona Calcio (in Italian). 16 October 2010. Archived from the original on 16 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  3. ^ "Mercato: Sala in prestito dalla Pro Patria". inter.it (in Italian). Inter Milan. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  4. ^ "Appiano: Yuto Nagatomo is back". inter.it. Inter Milan. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Inter 4-1 Cittadella: a dominant Nerazzurri display". inter.it. Inter Milan. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Primavera: Nerazzurri put three past Varese". Inter Milan. inter.it. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Primavera: Brescia hold Inter to 0–0 draw". inter.it. Inter Milan. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Primavera: Inter 4-2 Cesena". inter.it. Inter Milan. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  9. ^ Primavera: Inter 4-3 AC Milan, Longo decisive
  10. ^ "SI COMINCIA" (in Italian). Aurora Pro Patria 1919. 18 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  11. ^ "MERCATO: UFFICIALE L'INGAGGIO DEL PORTIERE ANDREA SALA" (in Italian). Ternana Calcio. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  12. ^ "UFFICIALE - I primi arrivi della nuova stagione" (in Italian). A.C. Reggiana 1919. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 30 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  13. ^ "Il portiere Andrea Sala prenderà il posto di Feola". Gazzetta di Reggio (in Italian). Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Ceduto Sala alla Ternana" (in Italian). AC Reggiana 1919. 25 July 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Mercato: triennale per il portiere Andrea Sala" (in Italian). Ternana Calcio. 26 July 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  16. ^ "ANDREA SALA E' UN GIOCATORE BIANCOROSSO" (Press release) (in Italian). Rimini. 20 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Andrea Sala al Catania: il portiere si lega al nostro club fino al 30 giugno 2022" (in Italian). Catania. 18 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Delibera del Presidente federale: revocata l'affiliazione al Calcio Catania" (in Italian). FIGC.it. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  19. ^ "ANDREA SALA È UN NUOVO CALCIATORE DEL CATANZARO" (in Italian). Catanzaro. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Sala è rossoblù. Dini al Catanzaro" [Sala is red and blue. Dini to Catanzaro] (in Italian). Crotone. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.