De Sanctis Morgan
Morgan De Sanctis is a former Italian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Prior to joining Monaco in 2016, he played for several Italian clubs throughout his career; he began his career with Pescara, and later also played for Juventus, Udinese, Napoli, and Roma; he also had spells in Spain and Turkey with Sevilla and Galatasaray respectively. At international level, he has represented the Italian national team, and was included in squads for the 2000 Summer Olympics, UEFA Euro 2008, the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012.
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At youth level, De Sanctis represented the Italy under-21 side on 7 occasions between 1999 and 2000, and won the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with the team. De Sanctis never became a regular in the Italian senior national team due to the consistency of Gianluigi Buffon, and therefore often served as a back-up keeper. De Sanctis made his senior international debut for Italy on 30 March 2005, under manager Marcello Lippi, in a 0–0 friendly draw against Iceland. Although he did not make Lippi’s 23-man squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he was chosen as one of the four back-up players to be called up in the event of an injury to Buffon, Angelo Peruzzi or Marco Amelia, After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he secured a place as the team’s number two goalkeeper to travel with the Italian squad to UEFA Euro 2008, under Roberto Donadoni, as well as the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, under Lippi. Although Buffon suffered an injury in the opening match of the latter tournament, De Sanctis did not feature in any matches, as Federico Marchetti was instead chosen to start; Italy were eliminated in the first round. The team’s subsequent coach Cesare Prandelli preferred to include younger understudies, such as Antonio Mirante and Salvatore Sirigu, to Buffon, instead of De Sanctis. However, after injury to Emiliano Viviano, De Sanctis returned to the squad as Buffon’s back-up for UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches in September 2011, and also appeared in Italy’s 3–0 friendly win against Northern Ireland in Pescara on 11 October, three years after his last cap for Italy. He eventually made the squad for the final tournament, but did not play, as Italy reached the final. His final match for Italy came on 16 October 2012, in a 3–1 win over Denmark in a 2014 World Cup qualifier. On 26 March 2013, the day of his 36th birthday, he announced that he would be retiring from international football after Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Malta later that day. In total, he made 6 appearances for Italy.
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After three seasons also as a back-up for Luigi Turci, he finally managed to start in 2002–03 season. His contract was renewed on 10 November 2000, 18 October 2003 and 20 September 2005, which his annual gross salary increased from €569,000 (€310,000 net) in 2003 to €623,000 (€350,000 net) in 2005, plus other bonuses, including a loyalty bonus since 2005, for €350,878 a season (€200,000 net). He played all 6 group stage matches of the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, and reached round of 16 of the 2005–06 UEFA Cup.
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A reliable and commanding goalkeeper, known for his leadership from the back and vocal presence on the pitch, in his prime, De Sanctis was known in particular for his shot-stopping ability, positioning, handling, and speed when rushing off his line, and is regarded as one of the best Italian goalkeepers of his generation; he was also adept at stopping penalties.
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Morgan De Sanctis joined Napoli on July 24th 2009. Napoli signed the goalkeeper from Sevilla F.C. on a four-year deal, for €1.5 million. De Sanctis’s nickname is “Superfly” and he is known to be a very superstitious. During his career he used to play with some extra hidden badges iron printed in the bottom of the back of his shirt. During his period with S.S.C. Napoli he used to play with a Superman logo’s badge with his “Superfly” nickname inside, a “Ciucciariello” badge (donkey), which is the team’s mascot and the “Curniciello” badge (the “curniciello” is a universal symbol of luck typical of Naples).
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This shirt was worn by Morgan De Sanctis during the second half of the pre-season friendly game between Roma and Sevilla which took place in Rome, Stadio Olimpico, on August 14th 2015. Roma defeated Sevilla 6-4. The shirt was given by the player to a close friend of him who we got it from.
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On 25 July 2013, Roma signed De Sanctis on a two-year deal from Napoli, for a transfer fee of €500,000. He had aided to Roma’s perfect start to the Serie A season, keeping 9 clean sheets in the first 10 games, conceding just once as they topped the table on 30 points. On 5 January 2014, in a crucial match against Juventus, he conceded three goals for the first time of the season meaning that Roma were now 8 points behind Juventus at the top of the table. During the 2013–14 season, he went 745 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal in the Italian top-flight; he currently holds the joint seventh-highest unbeaten streak in Serie A, alongside Luca Marchegiani.