Sergio Floccari

Sergio Floccari (born 12 November 1981 in Vibo Valentia) is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club S.S. Lazio.

Career

Early career

Floccari began playing football as a junior with the local side of his town, Nicotera, before moving into the youth system of Catanzaro. He began professionally in Serie D with Avezzano and Montebelluna before moving up to Serie C2 with Mestre and Faenza. It was at Faenza, under coach Carlo Regno, current assistant to Davide Ballardini at Lazio, that Floccari first bloomed, scoring many goals.

Rise

Following his successful period at Faenza, he joined Genoa in 2002, but did not establish himself as a regular, playing just nine league games and scoring one goal in his first season of Serie B.

Floccari took a step back into Serie C2, joining Rimini where he played and scored regularly. His goals contributed to successful promotions as Rimini went from playing in C2 to Serie B during his time there.

In January of 2006, Floccari's form was rewarded when Serie A strugglers Messina signed him as they looked to avoid relegation. Floccari scored three times as Messina survived thanks to the Calciopoli scandal. Two of those goals came in a 2–2 draw with Juventus. In his first full season of Serie A in 2006–07, Floccari scored only twice as Messina finished last.

Atalanta

The Calabrese striker did not return to Serie B with his Messina teammates though. Atalanta signed him for a fee of 1.6 million euro plus defender Mariano......
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