Luca Marrone (born 28 March 1990) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or defensive midfielder for Serie C Group A club Lecco.

Luca Marrone
Marrone with Monza in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-03-28) 28 March 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Turin, Italy
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Lecco
Number 4
Youth career
1995–1998 Lascaris
1998–2009 Juventus
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2013 Juventus 15 (1)
2010–2011Siena (loan) 18 (1)
2013–2014 Sassuolo 15 (0)
2014–2019 Juventus 0 (0)
2015–2016Carpi (loan) 9 (1)
2016Hellas Verona (loan) 12 (0)
2016–2017Zulte Waregem (loan) 25 (0)
2017–2018Bari (loan) 34 (1)
2018–2019Hellas Verona (loan) 24 (0)
2019–2020 Hellas Verona 0 (0)
2019–2020Crotone (loan) 31 (3)
2020–2021 Crotone 21 (0)
2021–2023 Monza 24 (1)
2023– Lecco 13 (1)
2024Cremonese (loan) 2 (0)
International career
2006–2007 Italy U17 4 (0)
2007 Italy U19 1 (0)
2009–2013 Italy U21 32 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 December 2024

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Bosconero, a comune in the Province of Turin, Marrone began playing football with local club Lascaris in 1995 at the age of five and was scouted by provincial giants Torino and Juventus. A childhood Juventus fan, he chose the latter and joined their youth system at age eight.[2]

Juventus

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At age eight, Marrone joined the Juventus youth system,[2] and made his way through the ranks of the youth sector all the way through to the Primavera (under-20) youth squad for the 2007–08 season. After impressing in the Primavera side for a couple of seasons, then-Juve head coach and former youth director at the club Ciro Ferrara called Marrone to join the first team squad for the 2009–10 Serie A pre-season. After taking part in a number of friendly matches and pre-season tournaments, including the Peace Cup and the TIM Trophy, Marrone was called up to the Juventus bench for the season opener against Chievo. He went on to make his Serie A debut as a 70th-minute substitute for Tiago.[3] He also received a yellow card later in that match. In September, he made his second appearance against Livorno as a late substitute for Mauro Camoranesi and was named on the bench for a number of important Serie A and European matches.[4] In February 2010, he captained the Primavera team to a successful defence of the Viareggio Tournament title.[5] He was once again called up for the summer training camp with the first team prior to the 2010–11 Serie A season under new head coach Luigi Delneri.[6]

On 1 July 2010, Marrone was sent to Siena with former Primavera teammate Ciro Immobile on a season-long loan deal in order to gain regular first-team playing time. He had a relatively successful spell with the Serie B side under former Juventus player Antonio Conte and helped the side reach second-place and gain automatic promotion back to Serie A.

Marrone returned to Juventus on 30 June 2011 upon the expiration of the loan deal. He was to be loaned out again until Conte, who had been recently appointed new Juventus manager, blocked the move and included the youngster in his plans for the upcoming season.[7] He made his first start for the club in the Coppa Italia fixture against Bologna and first appearance of the season away at Lecce in January. His first assist came in an away victory against Atalanta. He started his first Serie A match and scored his first top-flight goal in the return leg against the club from Bergamo on the last matchday of the season, as Juventus won the Scudetto undefeated.[8][9]

Marrone started in the opening match of the 2012–13 Serie A season against Parma in a 2–0 win, replacing the injured Giorgio Chiellini in an unfamiliar position as centre back but managed to help keep a clean sheet.[10] Throughout the remainder of the 2012–13 Serie A campaign, he was regularly utilized in central defence after that match. For the second season running, Marrone and Juventus finished the campaign as champions of Italy.

Sassuolo

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Initially part of the first-team plans for Juventus prior to the start of the 2013–14 Serie A season, Marrone was sold to newly promoted Serie A side Sassuolo on 2 September 2013 on a co-ownership deal. The deal served as an exchange for 50% of the contract of Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi, who joined Juventus on a co-ownership deal but remained at Sassuolo on loan for the 2013–14 campaign.[11] Marrone's season with the neroverdi began well, but was ultimately hampered by injuries that limited the midfielder to just 15 league appearances. On 20 June 2014, the co-ownership deal was renewed between Sassuolo and Juventus, with Sassuolo retaining the playing rights for the player.[12]

Return to Juventus

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On 3 July 2014, however, Marrone returned to Juventus once more after Juventus bought out the remaining 50% of his contract from Sassuolo in a deal worth €5 million (€500,000 plus the transfer of Federico Peluso). He also signed a five-year contract that binds him to Juventus until 30 June 2019.[citation needed]

Hellas Verona (loan)

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Marrone joined Hellas Verona on loan from Juventus on 28 January 2016. He made his debut on 7 February 2016 against Internazionale for the club where Verona were fighting from relegation. Marrone provided three assist to all three goals which ended as draw.

Zulte Waregem (loan)

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In August 2016, Marrone was loaned out to Zulte Waregem.[13] In January 2023, Zulte Waregem offered a two-and-a-half-year contract to bring Marrone back but was rejected for personal reasons.[14][15]

Bari (loan)

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On 26 August 2017 Marrone joined Bari.[16]

Second loan to Hellas Verona

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On 4 August 2018, Marrone re-joined Verona on another season-long loan with an obligation to buy.[17]

Loan to Crotone

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On 29 August 2019, Marrone joined Crotone on loan until 30 June 2020.[18]

Monza

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On 31 August 2021, Marrone joined Serie B side Monza on a permanent deal.[19] He made his debut on 11 September, in a 1–1 league draw against SPAL.[20]

Lecco

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On 30 August 2023, Marrone signed a two-year contract with Lecco.[21] On 1 February 2024, he was loaned to Cremonese, with an option to buy.[22]

International career

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Marrone made his debut with the Italy under-21 squad on 13 October 2009, under coach Pierluigi Casiraghi, in a qualifier match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.[23] In March 2010, he scored his first goal for the Azzurrini, a 20-yard volley in a 2–0 victory over Hungary to put them second in their qualifying group.[24] Under former Primavera coach Ciro Ferrara, he continued to be a regular.

Style of play

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A central midfielder skilled in retrieving balls and restarting plays, Marrone is also gifted with a good shot.[25] He prefers the role of playmaker in front of the defense, however he can be used if necessary as a centre-back.[26][27]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 30 August 2022[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Juventus 2009–10 Serie A 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2010–11 Serie A 0 0
2011–12 Serie A 3 1 3 0 6 1
2012–13 Serie A 10 0 4 0 1[b] 0 0 0 15 0
2013–14 Serie A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 15 1 7 0 1 0 0 0 23 1
Siena (loan) 2010–11 Serie B 18 1 1 0 19 1
Sassuolo 2013–14 Serie A 15 0 15 0
Juventus 2014–15 Serie A 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Serie A 0 0
2016–17 Serie A 0 0 0 0
2017–18 Serie A 0 0
2018–19 Serie A 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Carpi (loan) 2015–16 Serie A 9 1 4 0 13 1
Hellas Verona (loan) 2015–16 Serie A 12 0 12 0
Zulte Waregem (loan) 2016–17 First Division A 25 0 3 1 28 1
Bari (loan) 2017–18 Serie B 34 1 34 1
Hellas Verona (loan) 2018–19 Serie B 24 0 2 0 26 0
Hellas Verona 2019–20 Serie A 0 0 0 0 0 0
Crotone (loan) 2019–20 Serie B 31 3 31 3
Crotone 2020–21 Serie A 21 0 1 0 22 0
Monza 2021–22 Serie B 18 0 4[c] 1 22 1
2022–23 Serie A 2 0 1 0 3 0
Total 20 0 1 0 0 0 4 1 25 1
Career total 224 7 19 1 1 0 4 1 248 9
  1. ^ Includes Coppa Italia, Belgian Cup
  2. ^ Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  3. ^ Appearances in play-offs

Honours

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Siena

Juventus

Zulte Waregem

References

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  1. ^ "Luca Marrone". A.C. Monza. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Marrone, un ostinato juventino:Un posticino me lo guadagnerò" (in Italian). La Stampa. 23 January 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012. Alternate lnk
  3. ^ "Juventus win the first of 38". juventus.com. 23 August 2009. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Juve nelle mani di Buffon, Livorno ko". La Stampa. 20 September 2009.
  5. ^ "Juve, non-solo Immobile: protagonisti i ragazzi del '91". Tuttosport. 16 February 2010.
  6. ^ "Bianconeri al raduno, si parte!". juventus.com (in Italian). 1 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Marrone a La Gazzetta: "Felice di essere rimasto alla Juve, mi ha voluto Conte. Spero di meritarmi qualche chance. Pirlo punto di riferimento"" (in Italian). tuttojuve.com. 10 October 2011.
  8. ^ "Juve da record, Udinese in Champions" (in Italian). UEFA. 13 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Champions of Italy: Luca Marrone". juventus.com. 28 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Marrone, the dream continues". juventus.com. 28 August 2012.
  11. ^ "Juventus News e Ultimissime Notizie". Juventus.com. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Accordi con il Sassuolo per Zaza, Marrone e Berardi - Juventus.com". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
  13. ^ "Juve loan Marrone to Zulte Waregem". Football Italia. 30 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Zulte Waregem looking to bring Monza's Luca Marrone back to the club - Get Belgian & Dutch Football News". getfootballnewsbene.com. 18 January 2023.
  15. ^ "TMW - Monza, dietrofront Marrone: no allo Zulte Waregem - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com". www.tuttomercatoweb.com (in Italian). 19 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Luca Marrone è biancorosso" (in Italian). F.C. Bari 1908. 26 August 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  17. ^ "UFFICIALE: MARRONE È UN NUOVO CALCIATORE DELL'HELLAS VERONA" (in Italian). Verona. 4 August 2018.
  18. ^ "UFFICIALE: Crotone, preso Marrone per rinforzare la difesa". Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  19. ^ "Luca Marrone è del Monza - Associazione Calcio Monza S.p.A." www.acmonza.com (in Italian). Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Serie B, Spal-Monza finisce 1-1: pareggio a Ferrara, la riprende Carlos Augusto - VIDEO Il mister". www.ilcittadinomb.it (in Italian). 11 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Ufficiale: arriva Luca Marrone a titolo definitivo" [Official: Luca Marrone arrives outright] (in Italian). Lecco. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Luca Marrone nuovo calciatore della Cremo" [Luca Marrone new player for Cremo] (in Italian). Cremonese. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  23. ^ "Per Italia-Bosnia Under 21 convocati Marrone e Ariaudo" (in Italian). Tuttosport. 5 October 2009.
  24. ^ "Italy keep Wales in their sights". UEFA. 3 March 2010.
  25. ^ "La vetrina dei giovani talenti: Luca Marrone, il metronomo della Juventus". ilpallonaro.com. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  26. ^ "Ju29ro.com - Conte: A vicenda chiusa, parlerò io. De Laurentiis, ora basta!". www.ju29ro.com. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  27. ^ "Juve: Toh, Marrone sa difendere". Calciomercato.com | Tutte le news sul calcio in tempo reale (in Italian). Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  28. ^ Luca Marrone at Soccerway. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  29. ^ "Zulte Waregem win second Belgian Cup". uefa.com. 18 March 2017.
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