Giacomo Bonaventura

Summary

Giacomo “Jack” Bonaventura[2] (Italian: [ˈdʒaːkomo ˈdʒɛk ˌbɔnavenˈtuːra; - bo-]; born 22 August 1989) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Fiorentina and the Italy national football team.

Giacomo Bonaventura
Bonaventura with Milan in 2016
Personal information
Full name Giacomo Bonaventura[1]
Date of birth (1989-08-22) 22 August 1989 (age 34)
Place of birth San Severino Marche, Italy
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
Fiorentina
Number 5
Youth career
2006–2007 Atalanta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2014 Atalanta 104 (17)
2009Pergocrema (loan) 4 (1)
2010Padova (loan) 15 (0)
2014–2020 AC Milan 155 (30)
2020– Fiorentina 123 (19)
International career
2008 Italy U19 4 (1)
2009–2010 Italy U20 12 (2)
2013– Italy 18 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:16, 15 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 March 2024

Bonaventura started his senior career at Atalanta in the Serie A in 2007; his impressive performances earned him a €7 million transfer to AC Milan in 2014, where he spent six seasons, before leaving to join Fiorentina in 2020.

Bonaventura has been a youth national team member since 2008. He made his senior international debut on 31 May 2013, in a friendly match against San Marino.

Club career edit

Atalanta edit

After playing for San Francesco 93' youth team, he was transferred to Tolentino, where he was noticed by one of Atalanta's scouts, Antonio Bongiorni. Bonaventura made his debut with Atalanta on 4 May 2008, in a match against Livorno. He only played this match in the whole 2007–08 season. He appeared again on 9 November, against Fiorentina.

On 13 January 2009, Atalanta announced he had joined Pergocrema on loan for the remainder of the 2008–09 season.[3] Five days later, he made his debut for Pergocrema, getting on the scoresheet in a match against Sambenedettese. He made three more appearances before returning to Atalanta.

He returned to La Dea, but had to wait until January 2010 to appear again, this time against Palermo. On 1 February, he joined Serie B club Padova on loan until the end of the season.[4] He made his debut for the club on the 20th, against Triestina.

In June 2010, Padova decided not to buy him outright,[5] and Bonaventura returned to Atalanta, signing a contract extension until 2015.[6]

On 9 November, he scored his first Atalanta goal, against Modena. He played a key part for La Dea during the 2010–11 season, scoring nine times, with his club being crowned Serie B champions, thus earning promotion to Serie A. On 11 April 2012, he scored his first Serie A goal, against Napoli, before scoring again in a 2–0 victory against Fiorentina on 29 April. He scored his first brace on 3 March 2013, in a 2–0 victory against Siena.[7]

AC Milan edit

2014–15 season edit

In late August, Atalanta and Hellas Verona had agreed for the signature of Bonaventura and Verona's ex sporting director, Sogliano, had talked to Giacomo but on 1 September 2014, in the last hours of the Italian transfer window, AC Milan announced the signature of Bonaventura from Atalanta for a fee reported to be around €7 million after they failed to sign Jonathan Biabiany.[8][9][10] His agent later revealed that Bonaventura cried after signing for Milan as his dream became true.[11] He was given the number 28, which was previously worn by Urby Emanuelson. On 14 September, Bonaventura scored a goal on his debut as Milan beat Parma 5–4.[12] Bonaventura scored his second goal for Milan on 29 October against Cagliari and was voted man of the match. On 12 December, Bonaventura scored a powerful header and assisted Jérémy Ménez's goal as Milan defeated Napoli 2–0; Bonaventura was also voted man of the match against Napoli and again in the next week against Roma.[13] The following match against Sassuolo, he scored a goal and later in the match he received a second yellow card and was sent off. It was the first time in his career that he was sent off.[14] On 30 May, he scored twice against his former team Atalanta in a 3–1 victory. Bonaventura finished his first season at Milan with 7 goals and 4 assists in all competitions.

2015–16 season edit

On 23 August 2015, Bonaventura made his season debut as Milan lost 2–0 to Fiorentina.[15] The following match against Empoli, Bonaventura came on the pitch as the substitute for Suso in the 55th minute and managed to assist Luiz Adriano's winning goal from a corner kick 15 minutes later.[16] On 19 September, Bonaventura assisted Carlos Bacca's first goal and scored directly from a free-kick in a 3–2 win over Palermo. He also gained another assist and goal in Milan's next game, the 2–3 win over Udinese. Once again, he assisted both Carlos Bacca's and Philippe Mexès' goals against Lazio in the 3–1 away win on 1 November. He continued to perform well under the team's coach Siniša Mihajlović and became a fundamental player for his team throughout the season. After missing a 0–0 draw against his former team Atalanta through suspension, he scored the opener in a 4–1 defeat of Sampdoria on 28 November. He scored again in his next game on 1 December, a 3–1 Coppa Italia defeat of Crotone, via a brilliant 20-yard free kick. On 20 December he assisted Carlos Bacca's goal and scored a late goal as Milan beat Frosinone 4–2.[17] On 17 January 2016, he provided another assist for Carlos Bacca as the Rossoneri beat Fiorentina 2–0.[18] He ended the season with 7 goals and 8 assists in all competitions as Milan finished 7th in Serie A, and lost out in the Coppa Italia final against Juventus, following a 1–0 defeat in extra time.[19][20]

2016–17 season edit

 
Giacomo Bonaventura playing for Milan against Bayern Munich in pre-season.

At the beginning of the season, Bonaventura switched his number from 28 to 5. He started Milan's opening match of the Serie A season against Torino. In the second half of the match, he was fouled inside the six-yard box by Joel Obi and Milan was given a penalty which was converted by Carlos Bacca to complete his hat-trick in Milan's 3–2 win.[21] He scored his first goal of the season on 2 October in Milan's memorable comeback against Sassuolo as the game finished 4–3.[22] The following week he assisted M'Baye Niang's goal against ChievoVerona in a 3–1 win.[23] He also assisted Suso's first goal in the 2–2 draw against city rivals, Inter.[24] On 23 December 2016, Bonaventura scored the equalising goal in the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus; he later netted his penalty in the resulting shoot-out, helping Milan to a 4–3 victory.[25] He signed a contract extension through 2020 with Milan on 18 January 2017.[26] On 29 January, Bonaventura suffered an injury in a match against Udinese which ruled him out for the rest of the season following surgery on a thigh injury;[27] earlier in that match, he scored Milan's goal in the 2–1 loss.[28] He returned to the squad for the last game of the season against Cagliari on 28 May, but couldn't make an appearance during the match as Milan lost 2–1.[29][30] He ended the season with 5 goals and 4 assists in 22 appearances in all competition as Milan finished 6th in Serie A, was knocked out of Coppa Italia in quarter-finals by eventual champions Juventus, and also won the Supercoppa Italiana.

2017–18 season edit

Bonaventura played his first game in Europe in a 1–0 win against CS U Craiova in the first leg of Milan's Europa League qualification match on 27 July 2017.[31] He also featured in the second leg the following week, in which he scored the first goal in their 2–0 win.[32] It was his first goal in a European competition and he was voted Man of the Match thereafter for his performance.[33] On 17 August, he got a late injury in Milan's Europa league playoff match against Shkëndija.[34] On 14 September 2017, Bonaventura made his 100th Milan appearance, in a 5–1 away win against FK Austria Wien.[35] His first goal of the season in Serie A against Benevento on 3 December.[36] The following week he scored a brace in a 2–1 win against Bologna.[37] On 6 January 2018, he made his 100th appearance in Serie A for Milan in a 1–0 win against Crotone.[38] He played his 200th match in Serie A on in the 2–1 victory over Cagliari on 21 January 2018.[39]

2018–19 season edit

Bonaventura scored in Milan's opening fixture of the season against Napoli on August 25.[40] He followed up with goals against Atalanta and Chievo on September 23 and October 7, 2018. In October 2018, he suffered a knee injury that was expected to keep him out of play for nine months.[41] Bonaventura did not return to training with the first team for the rest of the season.

2019–20 season edit

Bonaventura made his first appearance for the season in Round 5 of the 2019–20 Serie A season on 26 September 2019, 11 months after his last appearance for the club. On 23 November 2019, he scored his first goal since 7 October 2018 in a 1–1 draw against Napoli. He scored the winner against Bologna in a 3–2 win two weeks later.[42] He was released by Milan at the end of the season, following the expiration of his contract. His last appearance for the club was as a substitute in a 3–0 win against Cagliari at the final day of the season, coming on for Rafael Leão in the 38th minute.

Fiorentina edit

In September 2020, Bonaventura signed for Fiorentina on a two-year contract[43] and scored and assisted six goals in thirty-four league matches as Fiorentina finished 13th in Serie A. Despite equalising for Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League Final against West Ham United on June 7, 2023, making the scoreline 1-1, Fiorentina suffered heartbreak as Jarrod Bowen scored a late winner for West Ham in the 90th minute.

International career edit

After featuring with under-19, under-20 levels, Bonaventura made his debut with the senior squad on 31 May 2013, in a 4–0 friendly victory against San Marino in Bologna, under Cesare Prandelli.[44] His second appearance for Italy came 16 months later, in a friendly against Albania, during which he managed to assist Stefano Okaka's match–winning goal in a 1–0 victory in Genoa.[45] In May 2016, he was named to Antonio Conte's preliminary 30-man Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2016.[46] However he was later left out of the final 23-man squad for the tournament.[47]

At 34 years, one month and 22 days, Bonaventura became the oldest player to score his debut goal for Italy when he found the back of the net against Malta in a Euro 2024 qualifier at Stadio San Nicola in Bari on 14 October 2023. The record had been held by Sassuolo striker Ciccio Caputo since 7 October 2020 after he tallied his inaugural goal at age 33 years and 62 days on 7 October 2020 in 6-0 friendly defeat of Moldova.[48]

Style of play edit

A quick, hard-working, and creative offensive midfielder, with great vision, passing, and technique, Bonaventura is a mobile and versatile player who is capable of playing in several midfield positions; in addition to his favoured central position as a trequartista behind the strikers, he has also often been deployed as a central midfielder, in the mezzala role, or as a left winger, or even on the left in an attacking trident. He has also been deployed in a box-to-box role on occasion, a position in which he was described as a tuttocampista, in the Italian media, namely a player who covers the entire pitch. He is talented in keeping possession effectively, due to his ball skills and dribbling ability, and also excels at creating space or chances for teammates through his movement and awareness. In addition to his ability to assist goals, he is also a capable goalscorer, courtesy of his powerful shot from distance with either foot, despite being naturally right-footed, as well as his attacking positioning, heading, and eye for goal; he is also an accurate free kick taker. In addition to his playing ability, Bonaventura has also stood out for his leadership qualities, character, and maturity as a footballer, as well as his work-rate off the ball and his ability to track back and perform defensive duties for his team, which enables him to cover for his teammates and protect the defensive line.[49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60] Due to his effectiveness in the game, he has earned the nickname "Jack" (from the poker card, which is also an Anglicised abbreviation of his name) in the media; this is because, as the card falls on the field, like Bonaventura, its presence never goes unnoticed.[61]

Career statistics edit

 
Bonaventura playing for Atalanta in 2013

Club edit

As of match played 15 April 2024[12][62]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Coppa Italia Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atalanta 2007–08 Serie A 1 0 0 0 1 0
2008–09 1 0 0 0 1 0
2009–10 1 0 0 0 1 0
2010–11 Serie B 31 9 2 0 33 9
2011–12 Serie A 29 2 1 0 30 2
2012–13 35 7 1 1 36 8
2013–14 31 5 0 0 31 5
2014–15 1 0 1 0 2 0
Total 130 23 5 1 135 24
Pergocrema (loan) 2008–09 Lega Pro 3 1 0 0 3 1
Padova (loan) 2009–10 Serie B 16 0 0 0 2[a] 1 18 1
Milan 2014–15 Serie A 33 7 1 0 34 7
2015–16 33 6 6 1 39 7
2016–17 19 3 2 1 1[b] 1 22 5
2017–18 33 8 5 0 9[c] 1 47 9
2018–19 8 3 0 0 2[c] 0 10 3
2019–20 29 3 3 1 32 4
Total 155 30 17 3 11 1 1 1 184 35
Fiorentina 2020–21 Serie A 34 3 1 0 35 3
2021–22 31 4 4 0 35 4
2022–23 30 5 4 0 15[d] 2 49 7
2023–24 28 7 2 0 6[d] 0 1[b] 0 37 7
Total 123 19 11 0 21 2 1 0 156 21
Career total 427 73 33 4 32 3 4 2 496 82
  1. ^ Appearances in Serie B relegation play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  3. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International edit

As of match played 21 March 2024[12][63]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Italy 2013 1 0
2014 1 0
2016 6 0
2018 6 0
2020 1 0
2023 2 1
2024 1 0
Total 18 1

Honours edit

Atalanta[12]

AC Milan[12]

Fiorentina

Italy U20

Individual

  • Premio Gentleman: 2016[69]

References edit

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: Italy" (PDF). FIFA. 6 October 2009. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Jack Bonaventura a Tuttosport: "A Bergamo l'affetto della gente è incredibile, ma il mio futuro..."". Tutto Atalanta (in Italian). 6 March 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  3. ^ "BONAVENTURA AL PERGOCREMA" (in Italian). Atalanta B.C. Retrieved 13 January 2009. [permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Ufficiale: Padova, presto in prestito Bonaventura; Calcio News, 1 February 2010 (in Italian)
  5. ^ "Calciomercato". Calcio Padova (in Italian). 23 June 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  6. ^ Atalanta, rinnova Bonaventura fino al 2015; Tutto mercato Web, 16 July 2010 (in Italian)
  7. ^ "GIACOMO BONAVENTURA: scheda, video, gol e stipendio" (in Italian). Pianeta Milan. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  8. ^ "SOGLIANO AL VERONA: "AVEVO PRESO BELOTTI E GOMEZ"" (in Italian). Goal.com.
  9. ^ "Official: AC Milan sign Giacomo Bonaventura from Atalanta". Goal.com. 1 September 2014.
  10. ^ "Galliani explains Milan chaos". Football Italia. 1 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Bonaventura cried when he signed". Football Italia. 2 September 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Italy - G. Bonaventura - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  13. ^ "Giacomo Bonaventua". Whoscored.com. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Sassuolo 3-2 AC Milan: Brilliant Berardi hits hat-trick against nine-man Rossoneri". Goal.com. 17 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Fiorentina 2-0 AC Milan: Alonso and Ilicic down Mihajlovic's men". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  16. ^ "Mario Balotelli an unused sub as AC Milan beat Empoli 2-1". Sky Sports. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  17. ^ "Frosinone 2-4 AC Milan: Bacca and Alex on target in Rossoneri comeback". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Milan 2-0 Fiorentina: Bacca & Boateng strike at San Siro". Goal.com. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  19. ^ Sports, Fox. "2015-16 Serie A Player Stats".
  20. ^ "Milan 0 Juventus 1". BBC Sport. 22 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  21. ^ "Milan 3-2 Torino: Bacca hits hat-trick at San Siro". Goal.com. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  22. ^ "AC Milan 4–3 Sassuolo: Paletta seals comeback as hosts win thriller". Goal.com. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  23. ^ "Chievo 1-3 Milan: Kucka and Niang help Rossoneri up to third". Goal.com. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  24. ^ "Ivan Perisic rescued a dramatic derby draw for Inter Milan in Stefano Pioli's first game in charge". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  25. ^ "Milan beat Juve in Super Cup shoot-out". Football Italia. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  26. ^ "Bonaventura signs new AC Milan contract". Goal.com. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  27. ^ "AC Milan midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura to miss rest of season". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  28. ^ "Udinese 2-1 AC Milan: Hosts come back to claim victory". Goal.com. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  29. ^ "Bonaventura back, Deulofeu done". Football Italia. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  30. ^ "Cagliari 2 AC Milan 1: Pisacane late show seals fitting Stadio Sant'Elia farewell". Goal.com. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  31. ^ "Newcomers Ricardo Rodriguez, Franck Kessie lift Milan past FC U Craiova". ESPN. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  32. ^ "AC Milan 2 CSU Craiova 0 (3-0 agg): Cutrone's first goal seals Europa League progress". Goal.com. 3 August 2017.
  33. ^ "Player Ratings: Milan 2-0 Craiova". Football Italia. 3 August 2017.
  34. ^ "AC Milan rout Shkendija with braces from Andre Silva, Riccardo Montolivo". ESPN. 17 August 2017.
  35. ^ "AC MILAN RESPONDS TO THE CRITICS: 5-1 TO WIEN". A.C. Milan. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  36. ^ "BENEVENTO 2 AC MILAN 2: GOALKEEPER BRIGNOLI SCORES TO DENY GATTUSO". Goal.com. 3 December 2017.
  37. ^ "AC Milan won their first game under new boss Gennaro Gattuso thanks to Giacomo Bonaventura's double against Bologna". BBC Sport. 11 December 2017.
  38. ^ "Milan, Bonaventura col Crotone raggiungerà le 100 presenze: che feeling con Gattuso!". 6 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  39. ^ "Cagliari 1 AC Milan 2: Kessie at the double in comeback win". 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  40. ^ "Carlo Ancelotti marked his first home game as manager of Napoli with victory against former club AC Milan in an emotional reunion at the San Paolo". BBC Sport. 25 August 2019.
  41. ^ "Bonaventura facing up to nine months out as knee surgery ends Milan season". Goal.com. 27 November 2019.
  42. ^ "Bonaventura strike proves decisive as Milan edge Bologna". The World Game. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  43. ^ "Fiorentina sign former Milan midfielder Bonaventura". beIN SPORTS. 10 September 2020.
  44. ^ Italy comfortably beats San Marino 4–0 in friendly; Sports Illustrated, 31 May 2013
  45. ^ "International friendly: Italy edge to narrow 1-0 victory over Albania in Genoa". Sky Sports. 19 November 2014.
  46. ^ "Italy name provisional 30-man Euro 2016 squad". Marca. 23 May 2016.
  47. ^ "EDER INCLUDED IN ITALY SQUAD AS JORGINHO MISSES OUT". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  48. ^ Campanale, Susy (14 October 2023). "Video: Bonaventura makes history for Italy". Football Italia. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  49. ^ Arturo Zambaldo (17 July 2010). "Bonaventura prolunga fino al 2015 "Felicissimo, ripagherò la fiducia"" (in Italian). L'Eco di Bergamo. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  50. ^ Dario Ghiringhelli (24 May 2014). "Il mercato alternativo – Giacomo Jack Bonaventura" (in Italian). Spazio Juve. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  51. ^ Daniele Castagna (12 August 2014). "Mercato: i motivi che allontanano Bonaventura dal Milan" (in Italian). Milan News. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  52. ^ Richard Hall (2 June 2016). "Underestimating Bonaventura". Football Italia. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
  53. ^ "Atalanta, Bonaventura: "Ruolo preferito? Trequartista, Colantuono lo sa…"" (in Italian). calcionews24.com. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  54. ^ "Milan, Bonaventura: 'Ruolo? Do il massimo ovunque'" (in Italian). Calciomercato.com. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  55. ^ Albrizio, Federico (2 September 2014). "PROFILING – GIACOMO BONAVENTURA: L'INCUBO DELL'INTER FA SOGNARE IL MILAN" (in Italian). Pianeta Milan. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  56. ^ "TOP 10: I MIGLIORI GOL ROSSONERI SU PUNIZIONE" (in Italian). A.C. Milan. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  57. ^ Lopresti, Sam (11 November 2015). "Which AC Milan Formation Is Best Suited to the Talents of Giacomo Bonaventura?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  58. ^ Pasotto, Marco (5 May 2020). "L'addio silenzioso di Jack. Il Milan perde il 2° bomber dell'ultimo decennio..." La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  59. ^ Cerruti, Enrico (13 November 2016). "Più jolly che Jack: tutti i ruoli di Bonaventura" (in Italian). sport.sky.it. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  60. ^ Rowley, Theo (4 April 2013). "Serie A: Picking a Season's Best XI from the Bottom Half of the Table". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  61. ^ "La Juve su Bonaventura: un'idea che stuzzica Conte" (in Italian). Tuttosport. 4 May 2013. [permanent dead link]
  62. ^ "Giocatore - GIACOMO BONAVENTURA" (in Italian). Lega Serie A. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  63. ^ Giacomo Bonaventura at National-Football-Teams.com
  64. ^ "ATALANTA IN THE SPOTLIGHT". Juventus website. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  65. ^ "Juventus 1 AC Milan 1 (aet)". Goal.com. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  66. ^ Porzio, Francesco (24 May 2023). "Inter win Coppa Italia as Lautaro Martinez brace downs Fiorentina, build momentum for Champions League final". CBS Sports. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  67. ^ Stone, Simon (7 June 2023). "Fiorentina 1–2 West Ham United: Jarrod Bowen goal decides Europa Conference League final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  68. ^ "ITA – ESP 1:2 (0:0)" (PDF). Pescara 2009. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  69. ^ "Bonaventura vince il Premio Gentleman 2016" (in Italian). Sport Mediaset. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2017.

External links edit

  • Profile at the ACF Fiorentina website (in Italian)
  • Giacomo Bonaventura at TuttoCalciatori.net (in Italian)
  • Giacomo Bonaventura National Team Stats at FIGC.it (in Italian)