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Franco Brienza

{{short description|Italian footballer (born 1979)}}

{{BLP sources|date=April 2010}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Franco Brienza

| image = Franco Brienza.JPG

| caption = Brienza with Atalanta in 2013

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|3|19|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cantù, Italy

| height = 1.68 m

| position = Forward, attacking midfielder

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1985–1994 | youthclubs1 = Campagnano

| youthyears2 = 1994–1995 | youthclubs2 = Isolotto

| youthyears3 = 1995–1996 | youthclubs3 = Imolese

| years1 = 1995–1996 | caps1 = 2 | goals1 = 0 | clubs1 = Imolese

| years2 = 1997–2000 | caps2 = 59 | goals2 = 8 | clubs2 = Foggia

| years3 = 2000–2008 | caps3 = 137 | goals3 = 15 | clubs3 = Palermo

| years4 = 2002–2003 | caps4 = 30 | goals4 = 7 | clubs4 = → Ascoli (loan)

| years5 = 2004 | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 2 | clubs5 = → Perugia (loan)

| years6 = 2008–2010 | caps6 = 81 | goals6 = 23 | clubs6 = Reggina

| years7 = 2010–2012 | caps7 = 65 | goals7 = 11 | clubs7 = Siena

| years8 = 2012–2013 | caps8 = 17 | goals8 = 1 | clubs8 = Palermo

| years9 = 2013–2014 | caps9 = 24 | goals9 = 1 | clubs9 = Atalanta

| years10 = 2014–2015 | caps10 = 30 | goals10 = 8 | clubs10 = Cesena

| years11 = 2015–2016 | caps11 = 29 | goals11 = 3 | clubs11 = Bologna

| years12 = 2016–2019 | caps12 = 78 | goals12= 11 | clubs12 = Bari

| years13 = 2022–2023 | caps13 = 6 | goals13= 0 | clubs13 = Ischia

| nationalyears1 = 2005 | nationalteam1 = Italy | nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Franco Brienza ({{IPA|it|ˈfraŋko briˈɛntsa}}; born 19 March 1979) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a forward or attacking midfielder. Throughout his career, he played for several Italian clubs, but is mainly known for his time with Palermo. At international level, he briefly represented Italy at senior level, making two appearances for his country in 2005.

Club career

=Early career=

Born in Cantù but growing up in Ischia, Brienza began his footballing career with local club Campagnano, before moving to Florence at the age of 15 to play for Isolotto. In 1997–98 he joined Serie B club Foggia and stayed when the team was relegated to Serie C1 in 1998 and to Serie C2 in 1999.

=Palermo=

==Under Sensi==

In 2000, he was signed by A.S. Roma along with teammates Attilio Nicodemo and Giuseppe Di Masi, which cost Roma 100 million Italian lire for Brienza (€51,646).{{cite web|url=http://www.borsaitaliana.it/bitApp/view.bit?lang=it&target=DocViewerDownload&filename=db/pdf/1095.pdf|title=RELAZIIONE SEMESTRALE AL 31 DIICEMBRE 2000|access-date=24 March 2015|work=AS Roma|publisher=Borsa Italiana Archive|language=it}} Roma loaned out Brienza and Nicodemo along with Roma youth products Daniele De Vezze and Luca Ferri to sister club Palermo, which Roma president Franco Sensi had acquired in March 2000. Brienza helped his club to win the league and achieve promotion to Serie B in 2001.

On 30 June 2002, he permanently joined Palermo in a co-ownership deal for €5.5 million, as part of the deal to sign Davide Bombardini, priced €11 million.AS Roma SpA Report and Accounts on 30 June 2002 {{in lang|it}}{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2002/novembre/07/Roma_buco_nel_bilancio_Per_co_0_0211077824.shtml|title=La Roma ha un buco nel bilancio? Per coprirlo basta vendere 26 sconosciuti|date=7 November 2002|access-date=5 April 2010|work=Corriere della Sera|author=Vittorio Malagutti|language=it}}

==Under Zamparini==

{{Confusing|section|date=April 2015}}

After Sensi sold the club to Maurizio Zamparini in July 2002, Brienza was out of favour at Palermo, as Zamparini bought players from his other club Venezia. The co-ownership deal was terminated on 13 August 2002 for 1 million lire (€516). His registration rights (€5,500,516) were also reduced to €1M to reflect his real value.{{cite news|url=http://www.figc.it/Assets/contentresources_2/ContenutoGenerico/89.$plit/C_2_ContenutoGenerico_24964_StrilloComunicatoUfficiale_lstAllegati_Allegato_0_upfAllegato.pdf|title=COMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 91/CDN (2009–10 season)|date=27 May 2010|access-date=13 August 2010|work=FIGC|language=it}} However, the "write-down" was actually through Articolo 18-bis Legge 91/1981, which only left over the toxic asset "worth "€4,500,516" list in asset side and amortize in 10-year period. On 31 August 2002, he moved to Ascoli on loan, re-joining teammate Vincenzo Montalbano, where Brienza scored 7 goals playing as second striker.

In 2003, he returned to Palermo, playing for the Rosanero for the first half of the season before being loaned out to Perugia in January 2004 as part of an agreement that brought Fabio Grosso to Palermo, making his Serie A debut at Stadio San Siro, in an away match lost 2–1 to A.C. Milan.

He again returned to Palermo as the club won promotion to Serie A. In the 2004–05 Serie A campaign, Brienza scored an impressive 10 goals in 33 games playing just behind Luca Toni, earning a call-up to the national team.

In 2005–06, new Palermo boss Luigi Delneri, who always showed a preference to play a 4–4–2 formation, ruled out a 'free role' for Brienza, who had little space during the first half of the season. After Del Neri's dismissal, Brienza later found more space in the starting lineup with new coach Giuseppe Papadopulo. He scored only one goal in 27 matches, being also featured 13 times in the UEFA Cup, scoring three goals in the continental competition.

Following Francesco Guidolin's return to Palermo in the 2006–07 season, Brienza failed to find a stable place in the regular lineup, being featured mostly as a substitute, playing only 22 league and five UEFA Cup matches. On the 37th matchday, after a 2–1 home win to Siena, Guidolin declared his choice to use Brienza mostly as a reserve as one of his main mistakes in a troubled season which ended in a fifth place.{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/index.php?action=read&id=59845|language=it|publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb|title=TMW A CALDO – Palermo, Guidolin: "Soddisfatto della Uefa, ma ammetto i miei errori…"|access-date=20 May 2007|date=9 September 2007}} Brienza, who originally declared his intention to leave Palermo to find more space in the lineup, remained for the 2007–08 season, later stating to have changed his mind following a meeting with new boss Stefano Colantuono.{{cite web|url=http://www.stadionews.it/brevi.asp?ID=25100 |language=it |publisher=Stadionews |title=Brienza: "A Palermo mi trovo molto bene" |access-date=9 September 2007 |date=9 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071225091639/http://www.stadionews.it/brevi.asp?ID=25100 |archive-date=25 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}

=Reggina=

On 17 January 2008, it was announced that Brienza had joined Reggina on loan for €300,000.US Città di Palermo Report and Accounts on 30 June 2008 {{in lang|it}} Before leaving Palermo, Brienza was the only player still contracted to Palermo who played with the rosanero in both Serie A, B and C1 divisions.

On 2 July 2008, Brienza joined Reggina permanently. The club paid around €2.2 million to buy out his Palermo contract.{{cite news|url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0809/news_scheda.jsp?id=9777 |title=DICHIARAZIONE DI ZAMPARINI |date=2 September 2008 |access-date=14 March 2010 |work=ilpalermocalcio.it |language=it |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429025709/http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0809/news_scheda.jsp?id=9777 |archive-date=29 April 2009 }}

=Siena=

Brienza joined Siena following their relegation from the Serie A in the 2010–11 season for about €700,000, signing a three-year contract.AC Siena SpA Report and Accounts on 30 June 2011 {{in lang|it}} He helped the club to win an immediate return to the top flight and established himself as a first choice in the 2011–12 season under the guidance of new head coach Giuseppe Sannino, who regularly featured him as attacking midfielder.

=Third stint at Palermo=

On 6 June 2012, Palermo confirmed to have signed Brienza from Siena for €1.4 millionUS Città di Palermo SpA Report and Accounts on 30 June 2012 {{in lang|it}} on a two-year contract. The announcement came only a few hours after Palermo unveiled the hiring of Giuseppe Sannino, Brienza's former boss at Siena, as new head coach.{{cite news |url=http://palermocalcio.it/it/1112/news/scheda.php?id=26853 |publisher=US Città di Palermo |language=it |access-date=6 June 2012 |date=6 June 2012 |title=BRIENZA TORNA A "CASA" |trans-title=BRIENZA COMES BACK "HOME" |archive-date=8 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608071637/http://palermocalcio.it/it/1112/news/scheda.php?id=26853 |url-status=dead }} On 18 August 2012, in the Coppa Italia match against Cremonese, Brienza reached the milestone of 200 appearances with Palermo: 168 in the league, 15 in UEFA Cup, 15 in Coppa Italia and 2 in the Supercoppa Serie C.

=Atalanta=

On 31 January 2013 he moved to Atalanta from Palermo for €950,000.{{cite news |url=http://palermocalcio.it/it/1213/news/scheda.php?id=27985 |publisher=US Città di Palermo |language=it |access-date=31 January 2013 |date=31 January 2013 |title=BRIENZA SI TRASFERISCE ALL'ATALANTA, LORES E SOSA CEDUTI IN PRESTITO |trans-title=BRIENZA MOVED TO ATALANTA, LORES E SOSA ON LOAN |archive-date=2 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202205110/http://palermocalcio.it/it/1213/news/scheda.php?id=27985 |url-status=dead }}US Città di Palermo SpA bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 {{in lang|it}}

=Cesena=

On 13 August 2014 Brienza joined Serie A newcomers Cesena.{{cite news|url=http://cesenacalcio.it/it/news/2014/08/13/franco-brienza-%C3%A8-bianconero-1060.html|title=Franco Brienza è bianconero|date=13 August 2014|access-date=14 August 2014|publisher=AC Cesena|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816184424/http://cesenacalcio.it/it/news/2014/08/13/franco-brienza-%C3%A8-bianconero-1060.html|archive-date=16 August 2014|url-status=dead}}

=Bologna=

On 24 July 2015 Brienza joined newly promoted Serie A side Bologna as a free agent after leaving relegated Cesena.{{cite news|title=Bologna sign former Palermo forward Franco Brienza|url=http://www.espnfc.com/soccer-transfers/story/2535160/bologna-sign-former-palermo-forward-franco-brienza|access-date=24 July 2015|date=24 July 2015|work=ESPNFC}} On 6 July 2016, he signed a new one-year contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.bolognafc.it/brienza-in-rossoblu-lavventura-continua/|title=Brienza in rossoblù: l'avventura continua|date=6 July 2016|access-date=22 August 2016|publisher=Bologna F.C. 1909|language=it}}

=Bari=

On 30 August 2016 Brienza was sold to Bari from Bologna.{{cite web|url=https://fcbari1908.club/mercato-brienza-biancorosso/|title=Mercato: Brienza è biancorosso|date=30 August 2016|access-date=30 August 2016|publisher=F.C. Bari 1908|language=it}}

After the club's exclusion from professional football and its refoundation under the ownership of Aurelio De Laurentiis, Brienza re-signed for Bari in August 2018, agreeing to remain at the club also in the Serie D league.

After helping the team with promotion to Serie C in the 2018–19 season, he left the club at the end of the campaign when his contract expired.[https://www.stadionews.it/brienza-rompe-bari-de-laurentiis-deve-riflettere-sul-suo-futuro/ Brienza rompe con il Bari. De Laurentiis: “Deve riflettere sul suo futuro”], stadionews.it, 13 July 2019

=Ischia=

In November 2022, 43-year-old Brienza went out of retirement to join hometown club Ischia in the Eccellenza fifth-tier amateur league, with the aim to help them win promotion to Serie D.{{cite web |url=https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/2022/11/11-99733517/franco_brienza_torna_in_campo_a_43_anni_giochera_con_l_ischia |publisher=Corriere dello Sport - Stadio |language=it |accessdate=19 December 2022 |date=11 November 2022 |title=Franco Brienza torna in campo a 43 anni: giocherà con l'Ischia}} He left the club by the end of the season after being part of Ischia's squad that won promotion to Serie D.

International career

In 2005, Brienza was called up to the Italy national team by Marcello Lippi and was subsequently capped during a friendly North-American tour with the Azzurri, marking his debut in a 1–1 draw with Serbia and Montenegro at Rogers Centre, Toronto on 8 June 2005, replacing Giorgio Chiellini in the 64th minute. In the match against Ecuador three days later, Brienza featured in the starting lineup partnering Luca Toni and David Di Michele. Brienza and Toni were replaced by Cristiano Lucarelli and Antonio Langella at half-time in the 1–1 draw at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey state.

Style of play

A diminutive and creative playmaker, who was known for his technique as well as his striking and passing ability with his left foot, he usually played as a forward or as an attacking midfielder, known as the Trequartista position in Italy,{{cite web|url=http://it.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2321616.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103023235/http://it.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=2321616.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2016|title=Un 2015 da favola per Masina|publisher=UEFA|date=29 December 2015|access-date=13 September 2016}} although he was also capable of playing as a second striker, in deep-lying creative role as a central midfielder (known as the regista position in Italy), or as a right winger, a position which allowed him to cut into the middle onto his stronger foot.{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-A/Bologna/03-11-2015/bologna-donadoni-studia-mossa-brienza-puo-essere-nuovo-regista-130770616916.shtml|title=Bologna, Donadoni studia la mossa. Brienza può essere il nuovo regista|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Luca Aquino|date=3 November 2015|access-date=13 September 2016}}

Career statistics

=Club=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|Coppa Italia

!colspan="2"|Continental

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="8"|Palermo

|2001–02

|rowspan="3"|Serie B

|29

200colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—292
2002–03

|0

020colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—20
2003–04

|18

120colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—201
2004–05

|rowspan="4"|Serie A

|33

1041colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—3711
2005–06

|27

13193colspan="2"|—394
2006–07

|22

02141colspan="2"|—282
2007–08

|8

10010colspan="2"|—91
colspan="2"|Total

!137

151321440016421
Ascoli (loan)

|2002–03

|Serie B

|30

710colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—317
Perugia (loan)

|2003–04

|Serie A

|12

200colspan="2"|—20142
rowspan="4"|Reggina

|2007–08

|rowspan="2"|Serie A

|20

700colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—207
2008–09

|32

512colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—337
2009–10

|Serie B

|29

1122colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—3113
colspan="2"|Total

!81

233400008427
rowspan="3"|Siena

|2010–11

|Serie B

|29

710colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—307
2011–12

|Serie A

|36

430colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—394
colspan="2"|Total

!65

114000006911
Palermo

|2012–13

|Serie A

|17

120colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—191
rowspan="3"|Atalanta

|2012–13

|rowspan="2"|Serie A

|6

000colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—60
2013–14

|18

100colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—181
colspan="2"|Total

!24

1000000241
Cesena

|2014–15

|Serie A

|30

810colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—318
rowspan="3"|Bologna

|2015–16

|rowspan="2"|Serie A

|29

310colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—303
2016–17

|0

010colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—10
colspan="2"|Total

!29

3200000313
rowspan="4"|Bari

|2016–17

|rowspan="2"|Serie B

|27

510colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—285
2017–18

|30

430colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—334
2018–19{{cite web |title=Franco Brienza - Carriera - stagioni, presenze, goal |url=https://www.tuttocalciatori.net/Brienza_Franco |website=tuttocalciatori.net |access-date=18 March 2025 |language=Italian}}

|Serie D

|21

2colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—212
colspan="2"|Total

!78

114000008211
colspan="3"|Career total

!503

823071442054993

=International=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

National teamYearAppsGoals
Italy

|2005

20
colspan="2"|Total20

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080430195355/http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/en/0708/scheda.jsp?id=642 Brienza's profile (from US Palermo official website)]
  • [http://www.gazzetta.it/speciali/risultati_classifiche/2010/calcio/serieb/giocatori/giocatore_franco_brienza_48025596.shtml Brienza's profile (from La Gazzetta dello Sport website)] {{in lang|it}}
  • [http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=3005&squadra=1 Profile at FIGC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405100627/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=3005&squadra=1 |date=5 April 2012 }} {{in lang|it}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brienza, Franco}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Cantù

Category:Italian men's footballers

Category:Italy men's international footballers

Category:Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC players

Category:AC Perugia Calcio players

Category:Palermo FC players

Category:AS Reggina 1914 players

Category:Calcio Foggia 1920 players

Category:Siena FC SSD players

Category:Atalanta BC players

Category:AC Cesena players

Category:Bologna FC 1909 players

Category:SSC Bari players

Category:Serie A players

Category:Serie B players

Category:Serie C players

Category:Serie D players

Category:Men's association football forwards

Category:Imolese Calcio 1919 players

Category:Footballers from the Province of Como