Gabriele Ambrosetti
From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki
| Gabriele Ambrosetti | |
| |
| Full Name | Gabriele Ambrosetti |
| Date of Birth | 7 August 1973 |
| Place of Birth | Varese, Italy |
| Position | Midfielder Winger |
| Chelsea career | 1999-2003 |
| Debut | 21 August 1999 |
| Games (goals) | 23 (1) |
| Other clubs | Varese Brescia Venezia Vicenza Piacenza Pro Patria |
Gabriele Ambrosetti (born 7 August 1973 in Varese, Italy) is an Italian former winger who played for Chelsea during the 1999-00 season. He remained on the club's books until 2003, having spent time on loan in his native Italy following a debut season in which he failed to establish himself in the first team.
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Before Chelsea
Ambrosetti began his career at hometown club Varese, before signing for Brescia for the 1993-94 season, in which he helped the club gain promotion to Serie A. He then signed for Venezia for the 1994-95 season before joining Vicenza in 1995. Following a brief spell back at Brescia he returned to Vicenza where he established himself as a first team regular, helping his side to the Italian Cup in 1997. Vicenza also reached the semi-finals of 1997-98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, Ambrosetti playing in both legs of the 3-2 aggregate loss to Chelsea; who he would join the following year, having caught the eye of future Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli.
Chelsea career
Ambrosetti was signed by Chelsea at the beginning of the 1999-00 season for £3.5m. Gianluca Vialli famously described the winger as the "Italian Ryan Giggs"; a description that heaped pressure on the newcomer. Ambrosetti made his debut against Aston Villa early in the season as a substitute, but despite occasionally impressing, including a confident strike in a memorable 5-0 away win against Galatasaray and a strong performance as a second half substitute against Coventry City at Stamford Bridge late in the season, he struggled to cope with the physicality of the English game. Ambrosetti was unable to hold down a regular place in the first team; many of the Italian's appearances came as a substitute, and when starting he would rarely finish a game. His last appearance for the Blues came as a substitute; replacing Gus Poyet against Derby County in the final league game of the season. The Italian wasn't involved at all in the 2000 FA Cup Final.
Ambrosetti's career at Chelsea was as good as over when Vialli was sacked five games into the following season, with new manager Claudio Ranieri sending his compatriot out on loan to Piacenza a short time later. A loan spell back at Vicenza in 2001 preceded another at Piacenza, for whom he would eventually sign permanently in 2003.
After Chelsea
Ambrosetti made 28 league appearances for Piacenza following his move, before signing for Serie C1 side Lombardy side Pro Patria, which would be his final club before retiring from the game in 2005. [1]
Statistics
| Season | Prem | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 1999-00 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Total | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
Goals
| # | Season | Date | Year | Competition | Opponent | Score | Result | Venue |
| 1 | 1999-00 | 20 October | 1999 | Champions League | Galatasaray | 5-0 | 5-0 | Ali Sami Yen Stadium |
