Marco Branca (born 6 January 1965) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a striker and was, until February 2014, sporting director of Serie A club Internazionale.

Marco Branca
Personal information
Full name Marco Branca
Date of birth (1965-01-06) 6 January 1965 (age 59)
Place of birth Grosseto, Italy
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1981–1982 Grosseto
1982–1984 Cagliari
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1986 Cagliari 52 (4)
1986–1987 Udinese 18 (2)
1987–1988 Sampdoria 9 (1)
1988–1990 Udinese 55 (13)
1990–1991 Sampdoria 20 (5)
1991–1992 Fiorentina 23 (5)
1992–1994 Udinese 58 (22)
1994–1995 Parma 25 (7)
1995–1996 Roma 7 (2)
1996–1998 Internazionale 52 (23)
1998–1999 Middlesbrough 12 (9)
1999–2000 FC Luzern 10 (2)
2000–2001 Monza 17 (7)
Total 348 (102)
International career
1996 Italy Olympic (O.P.) 3 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

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Early career

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Born in Grosseto, Branca started his playing career with Grosseto, the then-amateur local team of his native city, but was soon signed by Cagliari, where he made his professional debut. He then moved to Udinese, Sampdoria and then again to Udinese. Following another season with Sampdoria, he signed first for Fiorentina and then for Parma. In 1995, he transferred to Roma, who sold him in the 1996 winter transfer window to Internazionale in exchange for Marco Delvecchio.

Internazionale and Middlesbrough

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In his first season with the Nerazzuri, Branca scored an impressive 17 goals in 24 matches, but did not repeat in his next campaign and was sold to English second-tier side Middlesbrough. Branca scored nine goals in 12 league games for Middlesbrough, including two on his league debut in a 3–1 victory against Sunderland, a hat-trick versus Bury and another two in the 6–0 win over Swindon Town. In addition, he played two League Cup games, scoring the second goal against Liverpool in the semi-final second leg on his debut.[1] His nine goals aided in Boro's promotion to the Premiership, he was then injured and Middlesbrough claimed insurance on his value and he was released from his contract. He chased Middlesbrough through the courts, before signing for Swiss club FC Luzern. Branca made just one further appearance for Middlesbrough after the end of the 1997-98 season in a Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.[2]

Later career

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Branca saw out his playing days with FC Luzern and Italian lower-league club Monza before retiring in 2001.

International career

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Branca took part in the 1996 Summer Olympics as overage player.

Management career

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From 2002 until February 2014,[3] Branca was part of Internazionale's management, working in their transfer network. He helped organise the transfers of Lúcio, Diego Milito, Thiago Motta, Wesley Sneijder and Samuel Eto'o.

Honours

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Sampdoria

Parma

Middlesbrough

References

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  1. ^ Potts, Ian (18 February 1998). "Merson and Branca light Boro's way". The Independent. London. Retrieved 12 November 2009.
  2. ^ "Spurs 0-3 Middlesbrough". Premier League. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Inter Milan Fire Technical Director Marco Branca". Bleacher Report.
  4. ^ "The forgotten story of … Sampdoria's only scudetto". The Guardian. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Chelsea v Middlesbrough, 29 March 1998 - 11v11 match report". 11v11. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
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