Manuele Blasi

Manuele Blasi - SSC Neapel (1)

Manuele Blasi (born 17 August 1980 in Florence, Italy) is a retired Italian professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Throughout his career, Blasi was known for his tenacity, work-rate, and tactical intelligence on the pitch. He is best remembered for his time at Juventus and Napoli, among other clubs in the Italian Serie A and lower divisions.

Club Career

Blasi began his professional career with Roma in 1998, but it was during his loan spells at Lecce and Parma that he began to make a name for himself. His performances caught the eye of Juventus, where he moved in 2002. However, his time at Juventus was marred by injuries and competition for places, leading to loan spells at Fiorentina and Parma again.

In 2006, Blasi transferred to Napoli, where he became an integral part of the team's midfield, helping the club to gain promotion to Serie A and establishing themselves as a competitive side in the top flight. After his stint at Napoli, Blasi went on to play for various clubs including Ancona, Lecce again, and Pescara, before ending his career in the lower leagues of Italian football.

International Career

Blasi was part of the Italy U-21 team that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2004. Despite his success at the youth level, Blasi's senior international career was limited. He made his debut for the Italy national football team in 2004 but earned only a few caps, as competition for places in Italy's midfield was fierce during his playing days.

Style of Play

Blasi was primarily deployed as a defensive midfielder, known for his ability to break up opposition attacks and distribute the ball effectively. His aggressive playing style and ability to cover a lot of ground made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for. Despite not being known for his goal-scoring, Blasi's work ethic and dedication on the field were highly appreciated by his coaches and teammates.

Post-Retirement

After retiring from professional football, Blasi has kept a relatively low profile. While he has not taken up a high-profile coaching or managerial role, he remains a respected figure among fans of the clubs he represented, particularly Napoli, where he is remembered for his contributions to the team's resurgence in the late 2000s.

Honours

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2004 with Italy U-21