Francesco Cozza (footballer)

Francesco Cozza (born 19 January 1974) is an Italian football manager and former player, who played as a playmaker in the role of attacking midfielder.

Francesco Cozza
Personal information
Date of birth (1974-01-19) 19 January 1974 (age 50)
Place of birth Cariati, Italy
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11+12 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1992–1994 Milan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994 Reggiana 3 (0)
1994–1995 Vicenza 18 (2)
1995 Torino 0 (0)
1995–1996 Lucchese 28 (6)
1996–1997 Cagliari 28 (3)
1997–1998 Lecce 27 (2)
1999–2004 Reggina 146 (27)
2004 Genoa 5 (0)
2005–2007 Siena 29 (4)
2005–2006Reggina (loan) 32 (9)
2007–2009 Reggina 52 (10)
2009–2010 Salernitana 15 (4)
Total 383 (67)
Managerial career
2011–2013 Catanzaro
2013–2014 Pisa
2014 Reggina
2015–2016 Reggina
2016–2017 Sicula Leonzio
2017 Taranto
2018–2019 Team Altamura
2020–2021 San Luca
2021 Biancavilla
2022–2023 San Luca
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Born in Cariati, Calabria, Cozza started his career at A.C. Milan. He first signed for Reggiana in 1994, and in November left for Vicenza.

Cozza signed for Genoa C.F.C. at summer 2004, but left for A.C. Siena in January 2005. He returned to Reggina on loan for the 2005–06 season. Cozza returned to Siena in summer 2006, but left for Reggina again in summer 2007, in exchange with Alessandro Lucarelli.

Coaching career

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On 29 June 2010, he signed a one-year contract with his former club Reggina, but as one of the coach assistant of youth team.[1]

On 2 July 2011, it was confirmed Cozza had accepted an offer to become new head coach of Catanzaro in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione (fourth division),[2] he recently passed the coach exam.[3]

After guiding Calabrian Serie D amateurs San Luca during the 2020–21 season, on 25 September 2021 Cozza was hired by Biancavilla, another Serie D club.[4] He was fired by Biancavilla on 5 November 2021 after gaining 4 points in 7 games under his helm.[5]

On 8 July 2022, Cozza agreed to return to guide San Luca for the 2022–23 Serie D season.[6] He was sacked on 15 January 2023, just a mere few hours before the Serie D league game against Catania.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Francesco Cozza collaboratore dello staff tecnico". Reggina Calcio (in Italian). 29 June 2010. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Ciccio Cozza allenatore del Catanzaro". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). 2 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 November 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Baggio's new life, as a professional coach - Football - la Gazzetta dello Sport". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  4. ^ "Francesco Cozza Nuovo Tecnico del Calcio Biancavilla" (in Italian). Biancavilla. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Esonerato Francesco Cozza" (in Italian). Biancavilla. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  6. ^ "San Luca, è ufficiale il ritorno dell'ex bandiera della Reggina" (in Italian). SerieD24.com. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Cozza esonerato ma lui "non lo sa" e va in panchina contro il Catania" (in Italian). ItaSportPress. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
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