| Michele di Piedi | |
| Nationality: | 
|
| Rovers apps (gls)1: | 5 (0) |
| Date of birth: | 4 December 1978 |
| Place of birth: | Palermo |
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in |
| Position: | Forward |
| Date joined: | February 2003 |
| Joined from: | Sheffield Wednesday |
| Date left: | March 2003 |
| 1 League appearances and goals only. | |
Michele di Piedi is an Italian forward who had a one-month loan spell at Rovers during the 2002-03 season. He was brought to the club towards the end of February 2003 from Division One side Sheffield Wednesday by manager Ray Graydon, and he went on to make three league starts and two substitute appearances without scoring.
Career[]
Sicilian-born Michele began his career playing for youth side Panormus in his home town of Palermo, before moving to follow Sicilian side Siracusa, where he joined the senior ranks in 1997. After a year there he was taken to the Italian mainland by Fiorentina, where he played youth football, and after another year he joined Perugia in 1999. He moved to England a year later when he was signed by Sheffield Wednesday manager Paul Jewell, and went on to make 39 league appearances for the Owls, scoring five goals in the process. While with the Yorkshire club he was twice sent out on loan, firstly to Norwegian side Odd Grenland in 2002, and secondly to Bristol Rovers in 2003.
After failing to establish himself as a first team regular at Hillsborough, di Piedi returned home to Italy due to his child being ill, where he joined AS Sora in 2004. After an unsuccessful trial with AFC Bournemouth, Michele moved to Cyprus to play for Nicosia side APOEL. After a season there he returned home to Sicily in 2005 to play for Gela, before returning to England a year later, where he signed for Doncaster Rovers. He was on the move again a year later, in 2007, when he returned to Italy to play for Sardinian side Nuorese, where he remained for two years. A further move came in 2009, when he signed for Castrovillari and he later played for Sapri (where he stayed for just twelve days), Vigor Lamezia, Mazara, Acireale, Viribus Unitis and Cittanova Interpiana.
In 2012 he made a surprising move to play for FK Tauras in Tauragė, Lithuania, playing in the top flight of Lithuanian football, but he returned home to Italy after playing just seven league games. He then played for Milazzo and Nardò before moving to Rende in time for the start of the 2013–14 season.
Career stats[]
| Season | Club | League | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | ||
| 1997–98 | Siracusa | ? | ? |
| 1998–99 | Fiorentina | 0 | 0 |
| 1999–00 | Perugia | ? | ? |
| 2000–01 | Sheffield Wednesday | 25 | 7 |
| 2001–02 | Sheffield Wednesday | 12 | 5 |
| 2002 | →Odd Grenland (loan) | 4 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | Sheffield Wednesday | 2 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | →Bristol Rovers (loan) | 5 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | AS Sora | 3 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | APOEL | 5 | 2 |
| 2005–06 | Gela | 9 | 0 |
| 2006–07 | Doncaster Rovers | 3 | 0 |
| 2007–08 | Nuorese | 14 | 1 |
| 2008–09 | Nuorese | 20 | 10 |
| 2008–09 | Castrovillari | 12 | 5 |
| 2009–10 | Sapri | 1 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | Vigor Lamezia | 16 | 2 |
| 2010–11 | Mazara | 13 | 4 |
| 2010–11 | Acireale | 19 | 3 |
| 2011–12 | Viribus Unitis | 2 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | Cittanova Interpiana | 10 | 4 |
| 2012 | FK Tauras Tauragė | 7 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | Milazzo | 0 | 0 |
| 2012–13 | Nardò | 9 | 1 |
Sources: Tutto Calciatori, Soccerway & Soccerbase