Raffaele Pucino (born 3 May 1991) is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Serie B club Bari.

Raffaele Pucino
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-05-03) 3 May 1991 (age 32)
Place of birth Caserta, Italy
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Right back, centre back
Team information
Current team
Bari
Number 25
Youth career
Boys Caserta
Napoli
Empoli
Casertana
Atletico Nola
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Alessandria 44 (0)
2011–2013 Varese 69 (3)
2013–2014 Sassuolo 3 (0)
2014–2017 Chievo 0 (0)
2014–2015Pescara (loan) 36 (0)
2015–2016Virtus Lanciano (loan) 20 (0)
2016Avellino (loan) 13 (0)
2016–2017Vicenza (loan) 36 (5)
2017–2019 Salernitana 50 (4)
2019–2021 Ascoli 49 (2)
2021– Bari 67 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 January 2024

Career edit

Early career edit

Born in Caserta, Italy, Pucino began his youth career with local side Boys Caserta, before he was scouted by S.S.C. Napoli. His stay in Naples was short-lived, however, and soon after, Pucino moved to Tuscany, with the youth academy of Empoli F.C. He started playing football in the youth team of Empoli, before moving back to his hometown with Casertana F.C. to finish out his youth career.[citation needed] Pucino also earned his first two senior caps with Casertana,[citation needed] during the 2007–08 Lega Pro season. In the summer of 2009, however, Pucino was on the move once more; he transferred to Atletico Nova, where he joined the club's youth set-up.

In 2009, Pucino transferred to U.S. Alessandria who played in the Lega Pro Prima Divisione. In his first season with the club, the young defender went on to make 16 league appearances for his team: 13 of which, were starts. His second season proved even more successful, as he integrated himself into the club's starting line-up. He made 27 league appearances for Alessandria during the 2010-11 Lega Pro Prima Divisione season, which attracted the interest of several Serie B clubs.

Varese edit

On 24 July 2011, Pucino completed a transfer to Serie B outfit, A.S. Varese on a co-ownership agreement with Alessandria. He made his debut for the club on 27 August 2011 in a 0–0 league match versus A.S. Bari, and scored his first professional goal on 4 October 2011 in a 0–2 away win over Vicenza. At the conclusion of the 2011-12 Serie B campaign, the team from Lomardy finished the season 5th in the league standings and in the promotion play-off positions, where they lost in the final to U.C. Sampdoria, after defeating Hellas Verona in the semi-final play-off.

On 20 June 2012, Varese purchased the player outright, although they subsequently sold 50% of his contract to A.C. ChievoVerona, for €350,000.[1] During the 2012–13 Serie B campaign, Pucino remained with Varese and continued to be an integral part of the team's lineup, scoring 2 goals in 33 league matches, which helped the team to a 7th-place position in the league standings, just 2 points shy of the promotion play-off slots.[2]

At the end of the season, the two companies agreed to the renewal of the co-ownership agreement and the loan of Pucino to Varese for the 2013–14 Serie B campaign.

Sassuolo edit

Less than a month after beginning the 2013–14 season, on 2 September 2013, it was announced that newly promoted Serie A team Sassuolo had signed with Pucino[3] for €620,000,[4] with Varese receiving €600,000.[5]

In June 2014 Chievo bought back Pucino for €300,000.[5][6]

Chievo edit

Chievo purchased the full registration rights of Pucino in 2014. On 21 July 2016 he was signed by Vicenza Calcio in a temporary deal.[7]

Ascoli edit

On 14 August 2019, he signed a 2-year contract with Ascoli.[8]

Bari edit

On 2 September 2021, he moved to Bari in Serie C on a two-year deal.[9]

Honours edit

Bari

References edit

  1. ^ A.C. Chievo-Verona S.r.l. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2013 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  2. ^ "Italy - R. Pucino - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".
  3. ^ Ufficiale: arrivano Floro Flores, Pegolo e Pucino. Bianchi al Modena, Laverone e Pavoletti al Varese. Archived 2013-09-27 at archive.today (in Italian) U.S. Sassuolo Calcio. 2 September 2013.
  4. ^ U.S. Sassuolo Calcio S.r.l. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2013 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  5. ^ a b A.C. Chievo-Verona S.r.l. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 30 June 2014 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  6. ^ U.S. Sassuolo Calcio S.r.l. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2014 (in Italian), PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.
  7. ^ "Raffaele Pucino è biancorosso" (in Italian). Vicenza Calcio. 21 July 2016. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Calciomercato: Pucino ha firmato un biennale" [Pucino signs a 2-year contract] (in Italian). Ascoli. 14 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Benvenuto Raffaele Pucino !" (in Italian). Bari. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.

External links edit