Simone Padoin (Italian pronunciation: [siˈmoːnepadoˈin]; born 18 March 1984) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a wingback or midfielder.

After starting out in the Atalanta youth side, he later also represented Vicenza, before returning to Atalanta to play for the senior side in 2007. He then transferred to Juventus in January 2012, where he remained until 2016, winning five consecutive Serie A titles with the club, among other trophies. In July 2016, he moved to Cagliari. He joined Ascoli in 2019.

Club career

Vicenza and Atalanta

Padoin playing for Atalanta in 2010

A product of Atalanta's fruitful youth academy, Simone joined Vicenza from Atalanta in a co-ownership deal in 2003, which became full-ownership one year later.

At the beginning of the 2007–08 season, he returned to Atalanta for 1.9 million when the club bought back half of his registration rights from Vicenza (€1M cash plus Brivio). On 4 January 2008, Vicenza signed Zampagna (€1.9M) and Brivio (€0.75M) outright; with the remain 50% registration rights of Padoin was sold from Vicenza for €1.55 million. The overall transaction means Vicenza paid Atalanta €100,000 cash in net, plus Padoin, to acquire Brivio and Zampagna outright.

Padoin added three more years to his contract on 13 May 2009, which took his deal to June 2013.

After the end of the 2009–10 Serie A season, he was borrowed by Juventus for their US tour, along with four other players. He played a few games for Juventus in their post-season tour and then returned to Atalanta for their own preseason work.

Juventus

On 31 January 2012, he permanently moved to Juventus for a fee of €5 million in 4+1⁄2-year contract. On 17 March of the same year, he scored his first goal with Juventus in an away fixture against Fiorentina which ended in a 5–0 victory; he scored the 5th goal of the match.

On 22 December 2014, in the 2014 Supercoppa Italiana final against Napoli in Doha, Padoin came on as a substitute for Stephan Lichtsteiner after 79 minutes. In the resulting penalty shootout, which went to sudden death, he had the decisive spot-kick saved by Rafael, handing Napoli the victory.

On 8 November 2015, Padoin made his 200th Serie A appearance in a 3–1 away win over Empoli.

Cagliari

On 4 July 2016, Juventus confirmed that Padoin had been sold to newly promoted Cagliari for a fee of €600,000. He made his debut for the team in a 5–1 win against S.P.A.L. in the First Round Coppa Italia, and scored his first, and so far only goal for the club in a 2–1 home league win against Crotone.

Ascoli

On 2 September 2019, he signed a two-year contract with one-year extension option with Ascoli.

Managerial career

On 22 July 2021, Padoin became a technical collaborator of Massimiliano Allegri's staff in Juventus.

Style of play

Padoin has been praised by his managers for his work-rate, consistency, tactical intelligence, and versatility, as he is capable of playing in several positions, and adapting himself to different formations. Although he usually plays anywhere in midfield, throughout his career he has also been deployed in defence, as a full-back, as a central defender, and as a wing-back. A box-to-box player, he has also functioned as a central midfielder, as a mezzala, defensive midfielder, as an offensive midfielder, and as a winger.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vicenza2003–04Serie B23110241
2004–0531030340
2005–0635100351
2006–0737410384
Total1266501316
Atalanta2007–08Serie A31311324
2008–0936310373
2009–1036210372
2010–11Serie B34211353
2011–12Serie A19010200
Total156105216112
Juventus2011–12Serie A6110101
2012–13200203010260
2013–14211103000251
2014–15250504010350
2015–16121200000141
Total843110100201073
Cagliari2016–17Serie A31110321
2017–1837100371
2018–1930020320
Total9823000001012
Ascoli2019–20Serie B31000310
2020–21100010
Total320000000320
Career total496212421002053223

Honours

Atalanta

Juventus

External links

  • (in Italian)
  • (in Italian) at FIGC.it
  • (in Italian) at TuttoCalciatori.net
  • (in Italian) [dead link] at Footballnews24.it