Nick Rizzo
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography
Nicholas Anthony Rizzo (born 9 June 1979) is an Australian former footballer. Rizzo began his career in England with Liverpool, however, he made his professional debut for Crystal Palace where he featured in the Division 1. He then moved to Italy and played with Ternana, AC Ancona and AC Prato before returning to England with Milton Keynes Dons, Grimsby Town and Chesterfield. He has since played in his native land for Perth Glory, Central Coast Mariners and APIA Leichhardt Tigers. He has been capped once for Australia.
Club career
After being educated at playing school football at Waverley College in Sydney, Rizzo arrived in England in 1996 joining English giants Liverpool. Although not capped in the first team, the then 18-year-old was an unused substitute on four occasions in the Premier League season 1997/98. He was then lured to Crystal Palace by Terry Venables for two seasons and featured in 36 league games[1] before moving to Italian Serie B side Ternana in 2000. At Palace he scored three times; once in the league against Norwich City[2] and twice in a League Cup tie against Colchester United (once in the first leg[3] and once in the second leg).[4]
Following three injury plagued seasons with a knee injury in Italy he then joined English League 1 side Milton Keynes Dons (formerly Wimbledon F.C.) on a free transfer in November 2004, where he became a firm favourite with the fans. He is a lively and tricky player, known for his crossing and readiness to shoot on sight as well as his hard work and discipline. The summer of 2006 was not the best of times for Rizzo, who featured in the Dons' first pre-season game against Derby County but suffered with injury later in the season before going on loan to league two side Grimsby Town and then league one side Chesterfield in 2007. It was announced on 8 May 2007 that Rizzo's contract with M K Dons had been terminated by mutual consent.
He then signed a two-year contract with Perth Glory on 19 May 2007, and made his debut on 26 August 2007, coming on in the 69th minute for Naum Sekulovski in a game against the Newcastle Jets.[5]
Rizzo was not offered a new contract at Perth Glory, and went on to sign a short-term deal for the Central Coast Mariners to play in their AFC Champions League campaign. It was announced on 20 May 2009, that Nick Rizzo's contract with Central Coast Mariners would not be re-signed.[6] Rizzo went on to play for APIA Leichhardt Tigers until 2011.
International career
Nicky has represented Australia at the U17, U20, U23 level and is a full Australian international when he played for the Socceroos against Croatia in 1998. He also played in the 2000 Olympics for the Australian U23 team which failed to go past the group stages.
Coaching career
Since retiring Rizzo has set up his own soccer school named "Nick Rizzo International Football School".[7]
A-League career statistics
(Correct as of 2 February 2009)
| Club | Season | League | Finals | Asia | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Perth Glory | 2007–08 | 12 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| 2008–09 | 14 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
| Central Coast Mariners | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 26 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 1 | |
Honours
Australia U-20
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Central Coast Mariners release four, sign Nicky Travis
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
- Central Coast Mariners profile
- Oz Football profile
- Template:First word Nick Rizzo UK at SoccerbaseTemplate:EditAtWikidataTemplate:WikidataCheck
- Nick Rizzo International Football School
Template:Australia Squad 2000 Summer Olympics
Family he now has 3 daughters
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- 1979 births
- Living people
- Soccer players from Sydney
- Australian people of Italian descent
- Sportspeople of Italian descent
- Australian expatriate men's soccer players
- Australia men's international soccer players
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Olympic soccer players for Australia
- Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- A-League Men players
- Serie B players
- AC Ancona players
- AC Prato players
- APIA Leichhardt FC players
- Central Coast Mariners FC players
- Chesterfield F.C. players
- Crystal Palace F.C. players
- Grimsby Town F.C. players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
- Perth Glory FC players
- Sydney Olympic FC players
- Ternana Calcio players
- Men's association football midfielders
- Australian men's soccer players
- English Football League players
- Expatriate men's footballers in England