Matteo Ferrari

PROFESSIONAL

2013: Set personal bests in MLS with 31 games played, 31 starts and 2,790 minutes of play in his second MLS season, finishing third on the Impact for minutes and tied for third in starts… Scored his first MLS goal – a game-winner – on May 11 against Real Salt Lake and his first assist on September 14 against Columbus… Selected once to the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week for Week 14… Started the Eastern Conference Knockout Round game against Houston in the MLS Playoffs… Also helped the team win the Amway Canadian Championship, starting two games in the tournament, before starting two CONCACAF Champions League games.

2012: Attended training camp with the Impact in February before officially joining the team on March 1… Played 25 games, including 23 starts, and 2,029 minutes, in his first MLS season… Mostly used as a central defender but also played as a fullback… Selected twice to the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week, for weeks 8 and 32… Started both games in the Amway Canadian Championship… Also played in international matches against Olympique Lyonnais, Bologna FC and ACF Fiorentina.

2010/2011: Started seven games with Besiktas in the Super Lig… Also started four qualification games followed by five Europa League games.  

2009/2010: Joined Besiktas in June following a €4.5 million transfer from Genoa, starting 23 games in the Super Lig, the Turkish first division… Started six games in the UEFA Champions League group stage as well as the TFF Super Kopa against Fenerbahce.

2008/2009: Started 33 games with Genoa C.F.C. in Serie A and recorded one assist in two Coppa Italia games.

2007/2008: Recorded one assist in 16 Serie A games with A.S. Roma… Also played five UEFA Champions League games, including one game in the first knockout round against Real Madrid as well as two Coppa Italia games.

2006/2007: Recorded two goals and two assists in 27 games and 2,119 minutes of play, including 23 starts with A.S. Roma in Serie A… Also started six UEFA Champions League games and two Coppa Italia games.

2005/2006: Loaned to England first division club Everton F.C. by A.S. Roma for €200,000, with an option to purchase for €5.5 million.… Played eight Premier League games, including six starts… Also started one UEFA Cup game and one FA Cup game.

2004/2005: Started 34 of his 35 games in Serie A with A.S. Roma, playing close to 3,000 minutes…  Also started six UEFA Champions League games and two Coppa Italia games.

2003/2004: Scored one goal in 33 starts and close to 3,000 minutes of play with Parma F.C in Serie A… Also played four UEFA Cup games.

2002/2003: Scored two goals in 33 games, including 31 starts and 2,811 minutes of play with Parma F.C in Serie A… Also played two UEFA Cup games.

2001/2002: Joined Parma F.C. following a co-ownership transfer of €4,7 million with Inter Milan… Played 16 Serie A games and two UEFA games… Transferred permanently to Parma in May for an additional €5.7 million.

2000/2001: Returned to Inter Milan and played 19 games in Serie A and five UEFA Cup games.

1999/2000: Played 26 games with Bari, in Serie A, following a third loan from Inter Milan… Made his debut in the Italian first division on August 28 against ACF Fiorentina.

1998/1999: Loaned by Inter Milan to Lecce, in Serie B… Played 13 games in his second season in the Italian second division.

1997/1998: Loaned by Inter Milan to Genoa, in Serie B, where he played three games in his first pro season.

INTERNATIONAL
Played 11 games for the Italian National Team, taking part in the 2004 EUROs… Was part of the 2002 UEFA U21 Euro squad and played in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in Athens, Greece.

YOUTH
Started with Real SPAL in 1995, playing all positions… Joined Inter Milan’s youth system in 1996.

PERSONAL
Born in Algeria to an Italian father and Guinean mother… Raised in Ferrara, Italy… Has a son, Aron… Enjoys basketball.