Simone Rota
{{short description|Filipino footballer}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Philippine name|Mondiali|Rota}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Simone Rota
| image =
| fullname = Simone Mondiali Rota{{GSA player|simone-rota/41867|access-date=19 January 2022}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|06|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Parañaque, Philippines
| position = Right back
| currentclub = Kaya–Iloilo
| clubnumber = 23
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 2001–2010
| clubs1 = Pro Sesto
| caps1 = 127
| goals1 = 5
| years2 = 2006
| clubs2 = → Manfredonia (loan)
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2008–2009
| clubs3 = → Lugano (loan)
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 6
| years4 = 2010–2012
| clubs4 = Borgomanero
| caps4 = 54
| goals4 = 3
| years5 = 2012–2014
| clubs5 = Asti
| caps5 = 15
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2014–2016
| clubs6 = Stallion
| caps6 = 43
| goals6 = 7
| years7 = 2017
| clubs7 = Ceres-Negros
| caps7 = 1
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2017–2019
| clubs8 = Davao Aguilas
| caps8 = 28
| goals8 = 1
| years9 = 2019–
| clubs9 = Kaya–Iloilo
|| caps9 = 37
| goals9 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2004–2005
| nationalteam1 = Italy U20 Lega Pro
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| nationalyears2 = 2014–
| nationalteam2 = Philippines
| nationalcaps2 = 31
| nationalgoals2 = 2
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|PHI}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|AFC Challenge Cup}}
{{Medal|Silver|2014 Maldives|}}
| pcupdate = August 7, 2018
| ntupdate = 12:45; June 14, 2022
}}
Simone Mondiali Rota (born November 6, 1984) is a Filipino footballer who plays as a right back for Philippines Football League club Kaya-Iloilo.
Early life
Rota was left in an orphanage of Buklod Kalinga run by Franciscan sisters in Parañaque when he was a baby and was raised by Sister May Memorial, who he considers a second mother to him. A woman named Sonia Tulay reportedly left Rota in the convent at about two months old in November 1984.{{cite news|last1=Castillejo|first1=Dyan|title=Azkals' Simone Rota searching for biological parents|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/17/16/azkals-simone-rota-searching-for-biological-parents|accessdate=18 February 2016|publisher=ABS-CBN News|date=18 February 2016}}
Rota was eventually adopted by Maurizio Rota and Marilena (née Mondiali), a couple from Italy who were taxi drivers. He has a sister, Valentina, who was also born on the 6th of November and adopted from the Philippines.{{cite web|url=https://ph.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/thepassionatefan/azkal-simone-rota-enjoys-long-journey-back-home-101806267.html|title=Azkal Simone Rota enjoys his long journey back home|date=21 April 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015|author=Bob Guerrero|work=Yahoo Sports}}{{cite web|url=http://sports.inquirer.net/153809/laos-goal-sweetens-simone-rotas-journey|title=Laos goal sweetens Simone Rota's journey|date=24 May 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015|author=Cedelf P. Tupas|work=Inquirer.net}}
Mother Flora Zippo, an Italian missionary, assisted in finding people to adopt Rota.
Club career
=Italy=
Rota entered the first team of Pro Sesto in the 2001–02 Serie C2 season, becoming a regular the following year. In 2005, the team was promoted to Serie C1 as the Group A winner of the 2004–05 Serie C2 season. Subsequently, Rota was also selected for the Mirop Cup as a member of Italy U-20 Lega Pro.{{cite news|url=http://www.lega-pro.com/it/Comunicati/Comunic2005/Lega/Lega%20289.pdf|title=C.U. No.289: ATTIVITA'DI RAPPRESENTATIVA DI LEGA - STAGIONE SPORTIVA 2004/2005|date=20 June 2005|accessdate=3 May 2011|work=Lega Pro|language=Italian|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008194811/http://www.lega-pro.com/it/Comunicati/Comunic2005/Lega/Lega%20289.pdf|archivedate=8 October 2011}} Their team went up against the youth national teams of Styria, Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia,{{cite news|url=http://www.lega-calcio-serie-c.it/it/attrapp/RappresentativaLega/Ungheria-Italia.pdf|title=UNGHERIA UNDER 20- ITALIA "C" UNDER 20 3-1|date=5 October 2005|accessdate=3 May 2011|work=Lega Pro|language=Italian|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928061837/http://www.lega-calcio-serie-c.it/it/attrapp/RappresentativaLega/Ungheria-Italia.pdf|archivedate=28 September 2011}} and eventually Italy's U-20 Lega Pro team was named the champion of that tournament.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/alps-adria.html RSSSF.com]
Rota also capped for the Italy U-20 Lega Pro team in the 2005 Trofeo Dossena, which lost to Sport Club Internacional in the final game. He did not suit up for Italy in the final match of that tournament.{{cite news|url=http://www.lega-calcio-serie-c.it/it/attrapp/RappresentativaLega/Nota%20Stampa%2014-12.pdf|title=CROAZIA - ITALIA UNDER 20 1-2, MIROP CUP|date=14 December 2005|accessdate=3 May 2011|work=Lega Pro|language=Italian|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928061847/http://www.lega-calcio-serie-c.it/it/attrapp/RappresentativaLega/Nota%20Stampa%2014-12.pdf|archivedate=28 September 2011}} In January 2006, Rota was transferred from Pro Sesto to Manfredonia.{{cite news|url=http://www.teleradioerre.it/news/articolo.asp?idart=14953|title=Ancora un acquisto per il Manfredonia: dalla Pro Sesto arriva Simone Rota|date=31 January 2006|accessdate=3 May 2011|work=TeleRadioErre|language=Italian|archive-date=March 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317023121/http://www.teleradioerre.it/news/articolo.asp?idart=14953|url-status=dead}} By the end of that season, Manfredonia finished tenth, and Pro Sesto was relegated. Rota returned to Pro Sesto as a regular, though he missed the rest of the season.{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2007/aprile/28/Girone_Sconti_tifosi_dal_Padova_ga_10_070428054.shtml|title=Girone A Sconti ai tifosi dal Padova e dal Venezia|date=28 April 2007|accessdate=3 May 2011|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=Italian}}
In November 2007, Rota returned to Pro Sesto, playing eight games of the season. He was then transferred to Lugano of Swiss Challenge League in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.football.ch/sfl/de/Transfers_ChL08_sommer.aspx|title=Transferübersicht Dosenbach Challenge League - Saison 2008/09 (Sommer)|date=November 2008|accessdate=3 May 2011|work=Swiss Football League|language=German}} In 2009, Rota returned to Pro Sesto, but the club went bankrupt and finished last in the 2009–10 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
=Philippines=
In October 2013, Rota showed interest in playing in the United Football League to have more chances of being selected by the Philippines national football team. He signed with Stallion FC in January 2014.
In January 2017, Ceres-Negros announced that they had signed Rota, along with few other players, to play for the club.{{cite news|title=CERES-NEGROS FC UNVEILS NEW SIGNINGS FOR AFC CUP CAMPAIGN|url=http://ceresfootball.com/ceres-negros-fc-unveils-new-signings-for-afc-cup-campaign/|accessdate=17 January 2017|publisher=Ceres FC|date=17 January 2017}} He went on to join Davao Aguilas later in the year.{{cite news| url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/blog/football-asia/153/post/3174541/younghusband-brothers-shake-up-philippines-football-with-move-to-davao| title=Younghusband brothers shake up Philippines football with Davao move| date=8 August 2017| first=John| last=Duerden| publisher=ESPN| access-date=1 November 2017}}
International career
= Italy =
Rota represented the Italy U20 Lega Pro team at the 2005–06 Mirop Cup.{{Cite web|last=Yumpu.com|title=di rappresentativa - stagione 2005/2006 - Lega Pro|url=https://www.yumpu.com/it/document/read/14948609/di-rappresentativa-stagione-2005-2006-lega-pro|access-date=2022-01-19|website=yumpu.com|language=it}}
= Philippines =
Rota received his first call up for the Philippines national football team in February 2014,{{cite news|url=http://philnews.ph/2014/02/17/thomas-dooley-forms-34-man-training-team-for-azkals/|title=Thomas Dooley Forms 34-man Training team for Azkals|date=17 February 2014|accessdate=14 April 2014|work=Philippine News}} making his international debut in a friendly match against Malaysia on 1 March 2014. He scored his first international goal in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup group stage match against Laos on 22 May 2014.
In August 2016 Rota suffered a serious ACL tear that would rule him out for the rest of the year, including the 2016 AFF Championship in which the Philippines were the host.{{cite web|url=http://tiebreakertimes.com/tbt/stallions-defender-rota-out-with-knee-injuries/64685|title=Stallion defender Rota out with knee injuries|date=27 August 2016|accessdate=11 September 2016|author=Lorenzo Del Carmen|work=Tiebreaker Times }}
Personal life
Since his return to the Philippines in 2014, Rota makes a point of volunteering at the orphanage where he grew up. Rota is an A.C. Milan fan, and although he fluently speaks Italian, he has difficulty speaking English and Filipino. Rota has multiple tattoos, including the outline of the Philippines archipelago and the names of his sister, adopted mother and father on his right forearm and a prayer and Sister May's name on his left forearm.{{cite web|url=http://fartherfurther.weebly.com/home/simone-rota-from-italy-to-buklod-kalinga-para-sa-kapwa|title=Azkal Simone Rota: From Italy to Buklod Kalinga Para Sa Kapwa|date=16 June 2014|accessdate=24 March 2015|work=Farther Further (Weebly)|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402184554/http://fartherfurther.weebly.com/home/simone-rota-from-italy-to-buklod-kalinga-para-sa-kapwa|archivedate=2 April 2015}}
Rota's biography has been depicted in the film Journeyman Finds Home: The Simone Rota Story, which was directed by Albert Almendralejo and Maricel Cariaga.{{cite news|last1=Guerrero|first1=Bob|title=Simone Rota finds his home in 'Journeyman' film|url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/football/183388-journeyman-finds-home-simone-rota-review|accessdate=29 September 2017|work=Rappler|date=27 September 2017}}
Career statistics
=International=
:Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/simone-rota/37171/ |title=Simone Mondiali Rota - Soccerway profile |work=soccerway.com}}
| class="wikitable"
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| colspan="7"|2014 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 22 May 2014 | Addu Football Stadium, Addu City, Maldives | {{fb|LAO}} | align="center"| 1–0 | align="center"| 2–0 | 2014 AFC Challenge Cup |
| 2. | 22 November 2014 | Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam | {{fb|LAO}} | align="center"| 1–1 | align="center"| 4–1 | 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup |
Honors
Kaya–Iloilo
- Philippines Football League: 2022–23{{cite news |last1=Del Carmen |first1=Lorenzo |title=Kaya-Iloilo ends 27-year wait, takes PFL crown |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/kaya-iloilo-ends-27-year-wait-takes-pfl-crown/273107 |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527070800/https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/kaya-iloilo-ends-27-year-wait-takes-pfl-crown/273107 |archive-date=May 27, 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Cite web |url=http://www.borgomanerocalcio.it/Squadre/prima%20squadra/scheda%20rota.htm |title=A.S.D.C. Borgomanero profile |access-date=2011-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325021356/http://www.borgomanerocalcio.it/Squadre/prima%20squadra/scheda%20rota.htm |archive-date=2012-03-25 |url-status=dead |language=it}}
- [http://www.football.ch/sfl/877701/de/Kader.aspx?tId=0&pId=786431 Profile] at Football.ch {{in lang|de}} {{dead link|date=March 2019}}
- {{TuttoCalciatori|Rota_Simone}}
- [http://aic.football.it/scheda/5666/rota-simone.htm Profile at AIC.Football.it] {{in lang|it}} {{dead link|date=March 2019}}
{{Kaya F.C.–Iloilo squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rota, Simone}}
Category:Sportspeople from Parañaque
Category:Footballers from Metro Manila
Category:Italian people of Filipino descent
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:Filipino men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Pro Sesto 1913 players
Category:Philippines men's international footballers
Category:Filipino expatriate men's footballers
Category:Filipino expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland
Category:Filipino emigrants to Italy
Category:Naturalised citizens of Italy
Category:Stallion Laguna F.C. players
Category:United City F.C. players
Category:Davao Aguilas F.C. players
Category:Asti Calcio FC players
Category:Philippines Football League players