Paolo Ponzo (11 March 1972 – 24 March 2013) was an Italian footballer who last played as a midfielder for Liguria club Imperia.[3]

Paolo Ponzo
Personal information
Date of birth (1972-03-11)11 March 1972
Place of birth Cairo Montenotte, Italy
Date of death 24 March 2013(2013-03-24) (aged 41)[1]
Place of death Pietra Ligure, Italy
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8+12 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Imperia
Youth career
1991–1992 Genoa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1991 F.C. Vado 76 (2)
1992–1995 Montevarchi Calcio Aquila 1902 90 (2)
1995–1997 AC Cesena 71 (1)
1997–1998 Ravenna Calcio 4 (0)
1998–2000 A.C. Reggiana 1919 63 (1)
2000Calcio Savoia (loan) 15 (0)
2000–2005 Modena F.C. 134 (1)
2005–2007 Spezia Calcio 55 (0)
2007–2009 A.C. Reggiana 1919 60 (2)
2009–2011 Savona 1907 F.B.C. 54 (2)
2011–2012 A.S.D. Imperia Calcio
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Early career edit

Born in Cairo Montenotte, Liguria, Ponzo started his senior career with Serie D club Vado. In 1991–92 Serie A season, he was signed by one of the largest club in Liguria region, Genoa C.F.C. He played a season with its youth team and left for Montevarchi in 1992.

Serie B teams edit

After 3 Serie C2 seasons with the Tuscany team, he was signed by Serie B club Cesena. After the club relegated, he left for Serie B club Ravenna in 1997.

He played 4 times for the Emilia–Romagna club and moved to regional and league rival Reggiana in January 1998, in exchange with Sebastiano Vecchiola.[4]

In January 2000, he was signed by Serie B club Savoia from Reggiana, at that time at Serie C1. He played 15 times for the Campania club. Savoia finished as the bottom team and relegated.

Modena edit

In 2000, he was signed by Modena, his second Serie C1 club.[5] He followed the team promoted to Serie B as Serie C1 champion and promoted to Serie A as Serie B runner-up. From 2002 to 2004, he played 43 Serie A matches. He made his Serie A debut on 14 September 2002, losing to AC Milan 0–3. He followed the team relegated back to Serie B in 2004.

Spezia edit

In 2005, he left for Serie C1 club Spezia,[6] which is from his home region. He won promotion to Serie B again as champion. in 2006–07 Serie B season, he played 27 matches in all competitions, started 20 times. He was on the bench in the relegation play-out.[7]

Later career edit

In 2007, Ponzo was re-signed by Reggiana.[2] He played 2 seasons for the club in Serie C2/Seconda Divisione. In July 2009, he left to play for Savona from his home province, the Province of Savona. He made 32 league appearances for the club and won promotion back to professional league as Group A champion.

Death edit

On 24 March 2013 Ponzo died of a heart attack during the Maremontana running race.[1]

Career statistics edit

  • Serie A Apps 43 : 2002–04 (Modena)
  • Serie B Apps 331 : 1995–97 (Cesena), 1997 (Ravenna), 1999-00 (Savoia), 1998–99 (Reggiana), 2001–02 2004–05 (Modena), 2006–07 (Spezia)
  • Serie C1 Apps 114 : 1999-00 2008–09 (Reggiana), 2000–01 (Modena), 2005–06 (Spezia)
  • Serie C2 Apps 142 : 1992–95 (Montevarchi), 2007–08 (Reggiana), 2010–11 (Savona)
  • Serie D Apps 32 : 2009–10 (Savona)
  • Eccellenza Apps 76 : 1988–91 (Vado), 2011–12 (Imperia)

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Infarto in gara, muore Paolo Ponzo | Liguria | Savona | Il Secolo XIX". Ilsecoloxix.it. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Perfezionato l'acquisto di Paolo Ponzo". AC Reggiana 1919 (in Italian). 17 August 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  3. ^ "Imperia Cup 2013, finale tra Imperia e Savona dedicata a Paolo Ponzo". Riviera24 (in Italian). 28 April 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. ^ Bartolozzi, Bruno; Laudisa, Carlo (20 January 1998). "il Milan incontra l' Udinese per Bierhoff e chiede Genaux o Bertotto per subito". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  5. ^ Binda, Nicola (11 July 2000). "Cesena, un arrivo tira l' altro". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  6. ^ Ceniti, Francesco; Moretto, Andrea (20 July 2005). "Mercato: il Padova prende Nassi". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  7. ^ "Hellas Verona-Spezia 0–0". Hellas Verona FC (in Italian). 21 June 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.

External links edit