Chimenti Antonio
Antonio Chimenti is a retired Italian football goalkeeper. Chimenti began his career in the youth academy of S.S. Sambenedettese Calcio. In 1988, he was promoted to the first team. After two more seasons spent in Sambenedettese in Serie C1 and then Serie C2, he was loaned out to Tempio in the Serie C2 as well. With Tempio he managed 35 appearances as the club’s starting goalkeeper. For the 1992–93 season, Chimenti was loaned out to AC Monza Brianza who played in the Serie B. Following just 4 appearances with the club, he returned to Sambenedettese for the 1993–94 season, but was sold simultaneously to Salernitana Calcio. With Sambenedettese, Chimenti made just five first team appearances. He then played for Salernitana, Roma, Lecce, Juventus, Cagliari and Udinese before he joined Juventus again in 2008. Nicknamed Zucchina, Chimenti was known for his confidence and consistency as a goalkeeper, and for his ability with the ball at his feet. Chimenti’s father, Francesco, and uncle, Vito, were both also footballers.
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In the summer of 1997, Chimenti transferred to Serie A side AS Roma, following his good form in Salerno. On 21 September 1997, Chimenti made his Serie A debut with the capital club, in a match Roma won 3–1 versus US Lecce. He obtained 7 more appearances that season, and during his second season with the club, Chimenti appeared on a more regular bases, making 24 Serie A starts and hence totaling 32 appearances in two years with AS Roma. Following his spell in the Eternal City, Chimenti transferred to fellow Serie A club, US Lecce.
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In 1999, Antonio Chimenti transferred to US Lecce on a three-year deal. He was instantly inserted into the club’s starting line-up and made 33 appearances for his new club, in his first season. He appeared an additional 34 times during 2000–01 Serie A campaign, and totaled 31 appearances the following season. After displaying decent form with the club, in his three-year spell, Chimenti transferred to Serie A, and European powerhouse, Juventus F.C.
Did you Know?
During the 2002 summer transfer market, Chimenti was purchased by Juventus, to serve as a back-up for the world’s number one ranked goalkeeper, and Italian International, Gianluigi Buffon, replacing former back-up Michelangelo Rampulla. In his first season with the Turin based club, Chimenti made 4 Serie A appearances as Juventus won the title, and also appeared in Juventus’s second-round UEFA Champions League defeat to Manchester United, at Old Trafford; Juventus went on to reach the final of the competition, only to lose out to domestic rivals A.C. Milan on penalties.