The Newcastle Jets have this morning signed Italian forward Fabio Vignaroli for a 6 month period, which will see the veteran play for the Hunter based club in the upcoming AFC Champions League 2009 tournament.
The Newcastle Jets have this morning signed Italian forward Fabio Vignaroli for a 6 month period, which will see the veteran play for the Hunter based club in the upcoming AFC Champions League 2009 tournament.
Vignaroli, 32, most recently played for S.S. Lazio in the Serie A in 2007/08 where he made 9 appearances for the Biancocelesti, and has also enjoyed extended spells with the likes of A.S. Bari, Bologna F.C. 1909, Parma F.C. and Modena F.C. in Italy-s top flight club competition.
The striker did spend a period at Greek Super League outfit Panthrakikos F.C. in 2008; however, after a brief time at the Komotini club he began trialling across Europe, particularly at Kilmarnock F.C. and Dundee F.C. in Scotland.
Undoubtedly the diminutive Vignaroli-s most successful stint was spent at Serie B club Salernitana Calcio 1919, where the marksmen netted 20 goals in the 2001/02 season making him the second highest goalscorer in Italy-s second tier, behind Belgian striker Luis Oliveira.
He will now join a strikeforce at the Jets which includes fellow newcomers Donny de Groot and Sasho Petrovski, which will lead the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 Champions into their maiden AFC Champions League campaign. However, the squad will be without striker Joel Griffiths who has now departed for China on a loan spell at Beijing Guoan until 31 December, 2009.
“The greatest attribute that Fabio brings to our club is a tremendous amount of experience in one of the biggest and most competitive league-s in the world,” John Tsatsimas, Jets CEO, said this morning.
“There is no doubt that his time in the Serie A will give our squad a wonderful boost in terms of know-how and familiarity on the big stage as we embark on our first Asian Champions League. If you look at some of the clubs that he has played at, and therefore the calibre of players he was alongside, it speak volumes about what he can contribute to Newcastle.”
“We believe that with our signings over this past week, Fabio very much included, will see us enter the Champions League with positive energy and forward momentum.”
“As a club we are very pleased to have Fabio on board, and look forward to having him join the rest of our squad as they prepare for this prestigious tournament,” Mr. Tsatsimas added.
Fabio Vignaroli Profile
Date of Birth: 7 June 1976
Place of Birth: Finale Ligure, Italy
Position: Striker
Playing History
Year Club Appearances (Goals)
1994-1998 Como Calcio 1907 78 (7)
1998-2000 A.C. Monza Brianza 51 (7)
2000-2003 Salernitana Calcio 1919 81 (26)
2003-2005 Modena F.C. 63 (6)
2005 Parma F.C. 16 (0)
2005-2006 Bologna F.C. 1909 31 (2)
2007 A.S. Bari 15 (0)
2007-2008 S.S. Lazio 9 (0)
2008 Panthrakikos 0
