Grammichele
—  Comune  —
Comune di Grammichele
Grammichele Location of Grammichele in Italy
Coordinates: 37°13′N 14°38′E / 37.217°N 14.633°E / 37.217; 14.633
Country	Italy
Region	Sicily
Province	Catania (CT)
Government
• Mayor	Giuseppe Compagnone (since June 27, 2003)
Area
• Total	30 km2 (10 sq mi)
Elevation	520 m (1,710 ft)
Population (31 December 2010)
• Total	13,404
• Density	450/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Demonym	Grammichelesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	95042
Dialing code	0933
Patron saint	San Michele Arcangelo
Saint day	May 8
Website	Official website

Grammichele (Sicilian: Grammicheli, Greek: Echetle (meaning "plowshare"); Latin: Echetla, Ochula; Medieval: Occhiolà) is a town and comune in the province of Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is located at the feet of the Hyblaean Mountains, some 13 km from Caltagirone.

History[link]

It was built in 1693, after the destruction by an earthquake of the old town of Occhialà. to the north; the latter, on account of the similarity of name, is generally identified with Echetla, a frontier city between Syracusan and Carthaginian territory in the time of Hiero II, which appears to have been originally a Sicel city in which Greek civilization prevailed from the 5th century onwards. On July 15, 1943, the 1st Canadian Infantry Division fought its first battle against German troops during the Battle of Sicily at Grammichele. The name of the town was later granted as a Battle Honour to three regiments of the Canadian Forces.

Saint Michael's church.

Main sights[link]

To the east of Grammichele a cave shrine of Demeter, with fine votive terracottas, has been discovered. Other sights include the Mother Church, dedicated to St. Michael, and the church of the Calvary.

Sources[link]

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

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Nicola Legrottaglie

Personal information
Full name	Nicola Legrottaglie
Date of birth	(1976-10-20) 20 October 1976 (age 35)
Place of birth	Gioia del Colle, Italy
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current club	Catania
Number	6
Youth career
	Bari
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1994–1998	Bari	17	(0)
1996–1997	→ Pistoiese (loan)	31	(3)
1997–1998	→ Prato (loan)	26	(0)
1998–2003	Chievo	66	(6)
2000	→ Reggiana (loan)	4	(1)
2000–2001	→ Modena (co-ownership)	32	(1)
2003–2011	Juventus	114	(8)
2005	→ Bologna (loan)	9	(0)
2005–2006	→ Siena (loan)	28	(0)
2011	Milan	1	(0)
2011–	Catania	31	(5)
National team
2002–2009	Italy	16	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 May 2012. † Appearances (Goals).

Nicola Legrottaglie (born 20 October 1976) is an Italian footballer who plays for Calcio Catania in Serie A, as a central defender.

Club career[link]

Early years[link]

Born in Gioia del Colle, Province of Bari, Legrottaglie began his career with A.S. Bari, having loan spells at A.C. Pistoiese and A.C. Prato. In two years, he made 17 total appearances for his hometown club.

Chievo[link]

Following his return to Bari in June 1998, Legrottaglie was sold to A.C. ChievoVerona in the Serie B.^[1] He appeared rarely in his second season with the team and, in January 2000, moved on loan to A.C. Reggiana 1919 in the third division. With his new club, he also found playing opportunities hard to come by and, after his return to Verona, moved to the same level and in the same predicament, now with Modena FC.

In his season on loan at Modena, Legrottaglie was a regular fixture in the starting XI, subsequently returning to ChievoVerona for the club's first ever season in the Serie A. In his first year, he only appeared in 15 games, as the club qualified to the UEFA Cup. In his second season, the defender established himself as top division player, netting four goals in 32 league appearances, with Chievo again finishing comfortably in mid-table (seventh).

Juventus[link]

In the 2003 off-season, Legrottaglie was rewarded with a move to Serie A powerhouse Juventus FC.^[2] Juve paid €7.55million for his services Chievo, €0.45 million being used in selling 50% of the rights to Giuseppe Sculli, Matteo Paro and Daniele Gastaldello.^[3]

Legrottaglie was a full member of the squad in the 2003–04 season, playing 21 games and scoring twice, under coach Marcello Lippi. However, new coach Fabio Capello did not provide him with any playing time the following year, and he made just two appearances in five months. Subsequently, he moved on loan to Bologna F.C. 1909 in the 2005 January transfer window, appearing 11 times - twice in the promotion playoffs - with the Emilia-Romagna side.

Legrottaglie returned to Juventus in the summer of 2005, but was instantly loaned out to A.C. Siena for the 2005–06 season, alongside teammate Igor Tudor and some youth players. While at Siena, he was again a first-team regular, appearing in nearly 30 matches as his club finally avoided relegation. He again returned to Juventus in the summer of 2006 and, as an experienced player, was expected to play a role in the club's attempt to return to the top level following the Calciopoli scandal. However, he would only feature in ten games out of 42, with the addition of a red card, with the Turin outfit eventually gaining promotion, as champions.

Under new coach Claudio Ranieri, and after a failed transfer away from Juventus, Legrottaglie started 2007–08 where he left off, on the substitutes' bench, being behind Jorge Andrade, Domenico Criscito and Jean-Alain Boumsong in the pecking order. However, after the serious injury suffered by the Portuguese, he was promoted to the starting eleven for the game against Reggina Calcio on 26 September, scoring the opener in a 4–0 routing.^[4] Until the season's end, he paired with Giorgio Chiellini in central defense, as Juventus allowed only nine goals in 14 games since Andrade's injury (and 37 overall), finishing in third place; his contract ran originally run until the 2008 summer but, in October 2007, due to his excellent form, he was awarded a two-year extension.

In the 2008–09 season, Legrottaglie continued to be first-choice, despite the arrival of Swede Olof Mellberg (Andrade suffered a second serious knee injury). In September 2008, one month shy of his 32nd birthday, he signed another contract, until June 2011, and featured in 27 league matches as Juventus finished second, thus qualifying to the UEFA Champions League.

In the following seasons, veteran Legrottaglie was used mostly as backup. In late May 2010, he was injured during club training, missing Juventus' United States tour.^[5]

AC Milan / Later years[link]

On 31 January 2011, after Juventus signed Andrea Barzagli, who played in his position, 34-year old Legrottaglie left on a free transfer for fellow top division team A.C. Milan, signing a six-month contract,^[6] but was only able to make one league appearance for the eventual champions due to injury,^[7] before being released in June.

On 24 August 2011, he joined Sicilian outfit Calcio Catania on a two-year contract. He scored on his official debut, a 3–3 away draw against Novara Calcio.^[8]

International career[link]

On 20 November 2002, Legrottaglie made his Italy debut, in a friendly match with Turkey in Pescara, and went on to appear in a further six matches in a one-year span, mostly friendlies.

Following solid performances at Juventus, he received his first cap in four years, appearing in a friendly against Austria, filling in for injured teammate Chiellini in an 18 August 2008 contest held in Nice. His former Juventus coach Lippi was then in charge of the national team.

On 2 May 2010, 33-year old Legrottaglie was included in a 29-men provisional list for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, attending training camp in Rome,^[9] being then dropped from the 30-player list submitted to FIFA on the 11th, with Villarreal CF's Giuseppe Rossi and A.S. Roma's Daniele De Rossi taking his place.^[10]

Legrottaglie's only major international tournament was the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, with Italy exiting in the group stage.

International goals[link]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	30 April 2003	Geneva, Switzerland	Switzerland	2–1	Win	Friendly

Honours[link]

• Juventus:
  • Second Division: 2006–07
  • Italian Supercup: 2003
  • Italian Cup: Runner-up 2003–04

• Milan:
  • Italian League: 2010–11

Personal[link]

Legrottaglie is one of the most religious Italian footballers, quoting the Bible as his favorite book, which he credits with having him helped rediscover the joy of living and love for his fellow man.

He has come out strongly against homosexuality, calling it a "sin".^[11]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Juventus profile (Italian)
• Stats at Tutto Calciatori (Italian)
• National team data (Italian)
• Nicola Legrottaglie at National-Football-Teams.com
• Fan club (Italian)

v t e Italy squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup 1 Buffon 2 Santon 3 Grosso 4 Chiellini 5 Cannavaro (c) 6 Legrottaglie 7 Pepe 8 Gattuso 9 Toni 10 De Rossi 11 Gilardino 12 De Sanctis 13 Gamberini 14 Amelia 15 Iaquinta 16 Camoranesi 17 Rossi 18 Palombo 19 Zambrotta 20 Montolivo 21 Pirlo 22 Dossena 23 Quagliarella Coach: Lippi

Ciro Capuano (born 10 August 1981 in Naples, Italy) is an Italian footballer presently playing for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A.

Club Career[link]

Empoli F.C.[link]

Capuano started his professional career with Empoli F.C. when he was promoted from their youth squad in 1999. In his first and only first team season with the club, however, he would not make a single appearance. In 2000 Capuano moved north to play his football with Pisa Calcio.

Pisa Calcio[link]

In his first full season with the western Italian club, who, at the time were playing in the Italian Serie C1, Capuano instantly broke into the club's first team and managed and impressive 28 appearances, also scoring 2 goals. His second season with the club was again a successful one, as the left full back, managed an additional 30 league appearances and scored a career high 4 goals, during the 2002–03 Serie C1 season. He was linked with a host of Serie B clubs, following the season, but decided to remain for the 2003–04 season. His 2003–04 season was, hampered by injury, however, and the player made just 19 league appearances. From 2000–2004 Capuano managed 7 goals in an impressive 99 league appearances, before he was purchased by Serie A side Bologna F.C. 1909, following his impressive spell in Pisa.

Bologna F.C.[link]

In his first season with Bologna, Capuano managed to make his Serie A debut, and made 18 league appearances, also appearing for the club in the Coppa Italia. At the conclusion of his first season, the club was relegated, following a play-out loss to Parma F.C.. Despite the club's relegation, Capuano remained with the Emilia-Romagna based club, hence, spent the next season with them in Serie B. During the 2005–2006 Serie B season, Bologna wound up finishing in 8th position, and Capuano made nearly 40 appearances for the club, in all competitions. His performances for the club, managed to find him as a sought after defender by many Serie A clubs, including newly promoted Calcio Catania, as well as Sicilian rivals U.S. Città di Palermo, and Chievo Verona. In 2006 he was snapped up by Palermo.

U.S. Città di Palermo[link]

Capuano officially transferred to the Sicilian capital during the 2006 summer transfer window. In his first season with the club, Capuano made just 7 appearances, and scored a single Serie A goal. He was behind Italian international Fabio Grosso, at the left wing back position. Following the sale of Fabio Grosso, Capuano had hope to be the club's starting left back, and made 12 appearances during the first portion of the 2007–2008 Serie A campaign, before the January purchase of former Juventus star, Federico Balzaretti. Capuano again dropped to the bench, for the remainder of the season. His third season started off in the same fashion, and the player eventually transferred to Sicilian rivals, Calcio Catania, on loan for the second portion of the 2008–09 campaign.

Calcio Catania[link]

Capuano started his new adventure on a high, as he instantly surpassed Rocco Sabato, for the left back starting spot. He maintained his status for the entirety of his loan, and managed 18 league appearances, out of a possible 18 games. He also managed 1 goal. Catania also notably defeated, former club, Palermo, 4–0, at the Stadio Renzo Barbera in the Sicilian derby in May 2009. During the 2009 summer transfer window, Catania chief, Pietro Lo Monaco, made the deal permanent and Capuano remained at the eastern Sicilian club, after displaying impressive form during his loan period. In two and a half seasons with Palermo, Capuano made just 19 appearances for the club, scoring one goal, ironically, the same total appearances he made in just half a season with Catania, if his solo Coppa Italia appearance is noted.^[1] Following his permanent transfer to Calcio Catania, Capuano maintained his starting place for the 2009–10 Serie A season, making 30 appearances, helping his side to a record points total for the club, in Serie A, which led to a 13th place finish in the table, as well as a quarter final position in the Coppa Italia. Capuano held his starting left back position for the 2010-11 season, albeit injury, and scored one of the goals of the season in a 1-1 drw with Milan in October 2010. In his three seasons with Catania, the club has obtained three consecutive record points totals in the top flight.

References[link]

1. ^ http://www.transfermarketweb.com/?action=read&idsel=30430

External links[link]

• Capuano's profile (from US Palermo official website)