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List of foreign Serie A players

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of foreign players (i.e. non-Italian players) in Serie A. The following players:

  1. Have played at least one Serie A game for the respective club (seasons in which and teams that a player did not collect any caps in Serie A for have NOT been listed).
  2. Have not been capped for the Italy national team on any level, independently from the birthplace, except for players born in San Marino and active in the Italy national team before the first official match of the San Marin national team played on 14 November 1990 and players of Italian formation born abroad from Italian parents (so called 'Oriundi').
  3. Have been born in Italy and were capped by a foreign national team. This includes players who have dual citizenship with Italy.

Players are sorted by the State, according to the FIFA eligibility rules:

  1. They played for in a national team on any level. For footballers that played for two or more national teams it prevails:
    1. The one he played for on A level.
    2. The national team of birth.
  2. If they never played for any national team on any level, it prevails the state of birth. For footballers born in dissolved states prevails the actual state of birth (e.g.: Yugoslavia -> Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, etc.).

These are all the teams that have had at least one foreign player while playing in a Serie A season. Teams in bold are the ones currently playing in the 2023–24 Serie A season:

Alessandria, Ancona, Ascoli, Atalanta, Avellino, Bari, Benevento, Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Carpi, Catania, Catanzaro, Cesena, Chievo, Como, Cremonese, Crotone, Empoli, Fiorentina, Foggia, Frosinone, Genoa, Hellas Verona, Internazionale, Juventus, Lazio, Lecce, Lecco, Legnano, Livorno, Lucchese, Mantova, Messina, Milan, Modena, Monza, Napoli, Novara, Padova, Palermo, Parma, Perugia, Pescara, Piacenza, Pisa, Pistoiese, Pro Patria, Reggiana, Reggina, Roma, Salernitana, Sampdoria, Sassuolo, Siena, SPAL, Spezia, Torino, Treviso, Triestina, Udinese, Varese, Venezia, Vicenza.

These are the only teams that have participated in Serie A but have not had at least one foreign player:

Casale, Pro Vercelli, Ternana.

In bold: Players still active in Serie A and their respective teams in the current season.

Oriundi and Naturalised players

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José Altafini playing for Milan

Africa (CAF)

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Algeria Algeria

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Angola Angola

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Burkina Faso Burkina Faso

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Cameroon Cameroon

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Samuel Eto'o, a protagonist of the 2010 treble by Inter, training. He also played 6 months for Sampdoria.

Cape Verde Cape Verde

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Central African Republic Central African Republic

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Congo Republic of the Congo

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DR Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Egypt Egypt

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Mohamed Salah playing for Fiorentina in 2015

Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea

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Eritrea Eritrea

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Gabon Gabon

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Gambia The Gambia

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Ghana Ghana

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Guinea Guinea

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Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau

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Ivory Coast Ivory Coast

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Gervinho with Roma in 2014

Kenya Kenya

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Liberia Liberia

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Libya Libya

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Mali Mali

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Mauritania Mauritania

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Morocco Morocco

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Mehdi Benatia training for Udinese

Nigeria Nigeria

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Obafemi Martins
Victor Osimhen was the first African player to win the Capocannoniere, scoring 26 goals in Napoli's title-winning 2022–23 campaign.

Réunion Réunion

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Senegal Senegal

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Alfred Gomis, the second African goalkeeper in Serie A after his brother Lys, and the first to be starter in the category.[1]
Kalidou Koulibaly made over 200 Serie A appearances for Napoli

Sierra Leone Sierra Leone

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Somalia Somalia

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South Africa South Africa

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Togo Togo

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Tunisia Tunisia

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Uganda Uganda

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Zambia Zambia

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Zimbabwe Zimbabwe

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Asia (AFC)

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Australia Australia

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Mark Bresciano, Australian player of Italian descent who played in European competitions with Parma and Palermo

Indonesia Indonesia

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Iran Iran

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Iraq Iraq

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Japan Japan

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Hidetoshi Nakata has been an important player for Roma's Scudetto in 2001

North Korea North Korea

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South Korea South Korea

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Kim Min-jae won a Serie A title with Napoli in 2023

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan

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Europe (UEFA)

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Albania Albania

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Elseid Hysaj made over 300 Serie A appearances for Empoli, Napoli and Lazio

Armenia Armenia

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Henrikh Mkhitaryan was the first Armenian to play in Serie A

Austria Austria

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Herbert Prohaska won a scudetto with Roma in 1983

Belarus Belarus

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Belgium Belgium

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Dries Mertens is Napoli's all-time top goalscorer.
Radja Nainggolan training with Roma

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Bulgaria Bulgaria

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Valeri Bojinov, the youngest foreign player to make his debut in Serie A at the age of 15 and 11 months.[3]

Croatia Croatia

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Mario Mandžukić, Croatian player appreciated with Juventus for his grit and determination.[4][5]
Marcelo Brozović made over 250 Serie A appearances for Inter Milan

Cyprus Cyprus

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Czech Republic Czech Republic

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Pavel Nedvěd playing for Juventus in 2007, he is one of the best players in the history of the Turin team. He won the 2003 Ballon d'Or and he has been an important player also for the Sergio Cragnotti's Lazio
Marek Jankulovski

Denmark Denmark

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Preben Elkjær in 2011; he played a vital role in Verona's scudetto win in 1985
Michael Laudrup in 2006

England England

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David Beckham playing for AC Milan in 2009
Fikayo Tomori won the scudetto with AC Milan in 2021–22

Estonia Estonia

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Finland Finland

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France France

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Georgia Georgia (country)

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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

Germany Germany

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Oliver Bierhoff scored 112 goals in Serie A
Andreas Brehme, Jürgen Klinsmann, Lothar Matthäus have been extremely important for Inter
Miroslav Klose
Rudi Völler

Greece Greece

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Kostas Manolas playing for Roma

Hungary Hungary

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István Nyers

Iceland Iceland

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Israel Israel

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Kazakhstan Kazakhstan

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Kosovo Kosovo

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Latvia Latvia

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Liechtenstein Liechtenstein

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Lithuania Lithuania

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Luxembourg Luxembourg

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Moldova Moldova

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Monaco Monaco

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Montenegro Montenegro

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Dejan Savićević, one of the stars of the '90 AC Milan

Netherlands Netherlands

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Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Marco Van Basten have been extremely important for Milan
Clarence Seedorf playing for Milan
Wesley Sneijder, a protagonist of the 2010 treble by Inter
Aron Winter

North Macedonia North Macedonia

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Goran Pandev was part of Inter's treble success in 2010.

Norway Norway

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John Arne Riise

Poland Poland

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Zbigniew Boniek in 2015
Wojciech Szczęsny with Juventus in 2019
Piotr Zieliński with Napoli in 2019

Portugal Portugal

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Fernando Couto in 2011
Luís Figo
Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Juventus in 2020

Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland

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Romania Romania

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Cristian Chivu
Gheorghe Hagi
Adrian Mutu
Ștefan Radu

Russia Russia

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San Marino San Marino

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Scotland Scotland

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Graeme Souness in 2001

Serbia Serbia

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Aleksandar Kolarov played for both of the Capital teams
Siniša Mihajlović as Fiorentina head coach in 2010. As player he was a free kick specialist.[6][7] He scored a record 28 goals from free kicks in Serie A.[8]
Dejan Stanković with Inter. He won five championships with Inter and one with Lazio, also lifting the treble with Inter in 2010.
Sergej Milinković-Savić made over 250 Serie A appearances for Lazio

Slovakia Slovakia

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Marek Hamšík was formerly Napoli's all-time top goalscorer
Milan Škriniar playing for Inter

Slovenia Slovenia

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Samir Handanović training with Inter
Srečko Katanec in 2015, he had an important role in the Sampdoria team that won the 1990–91 Scudetto.

Spain Spain

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José Callejón playing for Napoli in 2014
Luis Alberto playing for Lazio in 2018
Luis Suárez, a legend of Inter, club where he played and that he trained

Sweden Sweden

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Switzerland Switzerland

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Valon Behrami playing for Napoli
Stephan Lichtsteiner won 7 consecutives leagues with Juventus between 2011 and 2018

Turkey Turkey

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Ukraine Ukraine

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Andriy Shevchenko won the Ballon d'Or while at Milan in 2004

Wales Wales

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John Charles

North, Central America and Caribbean (CONCACAF)

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Canada Canada

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Costa Rica Costa Rica

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Dominican Republic Dominican Republic

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El Salvador El Salvador

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Guadeloupe Guadeloupe

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Honduras Honduras

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Jamaica Jamaica

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Martinique Martinique

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Mexico Mexico

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Panama Panama

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Saint Martin Collectivity of Saint Martin

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Suriname Suriname

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United States United States

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Weston McKennie playing for Juventus in 2021

Oceania (OFC)

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New Zealand New Zealand

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South America (CONMEBOL)

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Argentina Argentina

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Bolivia Bolivia

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Brazil Brazil

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Chile Chile

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Alexis Sánchez
Arturo Vidal, an important player for Juventus between 2011 and 2015 for the rise of the club

Colombia Colombia

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Juan Cuadrado
Luis Muriel
Duván Zapata

Ecuador Ecuador

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Paraguay Paraguay

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Peru Peru

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Uruguay Uruguay

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Venezuela Venezuela

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^
    Born in Albania
  2. ^
    Born in Angola
  3. ^
    Born in Angola (then Portuguese Angola)
  4. ^
    Born in Argentina
  5. ^
    Born in Australia
  6. ^
    Born in Austria
  7. ^
    Born in Austria (then Austria-Hungary)
  8. ^
    Born in Belgium
  9. ^
  10. ^
  11. ^
    Born in Bosnia and Herzegovina (then part of the SFR Yugoslavia)
  12. ^
    Born in Brazil
  13. ^
    Born in Burundi
  14. ^
    Born in Cameroon
  15. ^
    Born in Canada
  16. ^
    Born in Cape Verde
  17. ^
  18. ^
    Born in Colombia
  19. ^
    Born in Croatia (then part of the SFR Yugoslavia)
  20. ^
  21. ^
  22. ^
    Born in England
  23. ^
    Born in France
  24. ^
    Born in Georgia (then part of the Soviet Union)
  25. ^
    Born in Germany
  26. ^
    Born in Greece
  27. ^
    Born in Guinea
  28. ^
  29. ^
    Born in Hungary
  30. ^
    Born in Italy
  31. ^
    Born in Ivory Coast
  32. ^
    Born in Jamaica
  33. ^
    Born in Kosovo (then part of the Kingdom of Serbia)
  34. ^
    Born in Kosovo (then part of the SFR Yugoslavia)
  35. ^
    Born in Kosovo (then part of the FR Yugoslavia)
  36. ^
    Born in Luxembourg
  37. ^
    Born in Moldova (then part of the Kingdom of Romania)
  38. ^
    Born in Morocco
  39. ^
  40. ^
    Born in the Netherlands
  41. ^
    Born in Nigeria
  42. ^
    Born in the North Macedonia (then part of the SFR Yugoslavia)
  43. ^
  44. ^
    Born in Poland
  45. ^
    Born in Portugal
  46. ^
    Born in Romania
  47. ^
    Born in Romania (then Austria-Hungary)
  48. ^
    Born in Russia
  49. ^
    Born in Russia (then part of the Soviet Union)
  50. ^
    Born in Serbia (then FR Yugoslavia)
  51. ^
    Born in Sierra Leone
  52. ^
    Born in South Africa
  53. ^
    Born in Spain
  54. ^
    Born in Suriname
  55. ^
    Born in Suriname (then part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
  56. ^
    Born in Sweden
  57. ^
    Born in Switzerland
  58. ^
    Born in Turkey
  59. ^
    Born in Uganda
  60. ^
    Born in Ukraine (then part of the Kingdom of Romania)
  61. ^
    Born in Ukraine (then part of the Soviet Union)
  62. ^
    Born in the United States
  63. ^
    Born in Uruguay
  64. ^
    Born in Uzbekistan (then part of the Soviet Union)
  65. ^
    Born in West Germany (now part of Germany)
  66. ^
  67. ^
  68. ^
  69. ^
  70. ^
  71. ^
  72. ^
  73. ^
  74. ^
  75. ^
  76. ^
  77. ^
  78. ^
  79. ^
  80. ^
  81. ^
  82. ^
  83. ^
  84. ^
  85. ^
  86. ^
  87. ^
  88. ^
  89. ^
  90. ^
  91. ^
  92. ^
  93. ^
  94. ^
  95. ^
  96. ^
  97. ^
  98. ^
  99. ^
  100. ^
  101. ^
  102. ^
  103. ^
  104. ^
  105. ^
  106. ^
  107. ^
  108. ^
  109. ^
  110. ^
  111. ^
  112. ^
  113. ^
  114. ^
  115. ^
  116. ^
  117. ^
  118. ^
  119. ^
  120. ^
  121. ^
  122. ^
  123. ^
  124. ^
  125. ^
  126. ^
  127. ^
  128. ^
  129. ^
  130. ^
  131. ^
  132. ^
  133. ^
  134. ^
  135. ^
  136. ^
  137. ^
  138. ^
  139. ^
  140. ^
  141. ^
  142. ^
  143. ^
  144. ^
  145. ^
  146. ^
  147. ^
  148. ^
  149. ^
  150. ^
  151. ^
  152. ^
  153. ^
  154. ^
  155. ^
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  157. ^
  158. ^
  159. ^
  160. ^
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  168. ^
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  183. ^
  184. ^

References

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  1. ^ "Alfred Gomis: «Io, l'unico italiano al Mondiale per gli schiavi neri e per mio padre>>". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Serie A: Roma's Edin Dzeko wins top scorer prize". Goal. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Soccer-Bojinov joins Levski to resurrect career". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  4. ^ Verschueren, Gianni. "Ranking the Greatest Free-Kick Takers of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  5. ^ "The art of free-kick masters: Juninho, Mihajlović and Chilavert". These Football Times. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  6. ^ Verschueren, Gianni. "Ranking the Greatest Free-Kick Takers of All Time". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  7. ^ "The art of free-kick masters: Juninho, Mihajlović and Chilavert". These Football Times. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Pirlo raggiunge Mihajlovic a quota 28". Retrieved 23 August 2018.