Davide Moscardelli

At 44 years old, Davide Moscardelli has this physical status:

Davide Moscardelli, a Belgian-born Italian footballer who plays for Pisa as a striker, was born on February 3rd. Moscardelli had been in Serie B for seven years and had scored 164 goals in total.

During his time with Serie B teams, he was compared to Gabriel Batistuta.

Early life

Moscardelli was born in Mons, Belgium, on February 3rd, 1980, as his father and his family were serving in Belgium for the Italian Air Force. Moscardelli then moved to Rome, Italy, his parents' hometown, where he took his first steps as a footballer.

Personal life

Moscardelli has an older brother who has competed as a forward at amateur level. He is married to Guendalina, with whom he has two children. The two people married in Verona on December 5, 2011. Francesco Valiani was witnesses at his wedding reception, as well as his friend and former Rimini colleague.

Moscardelli is best known for his beard, which has been dubbed the "most popular beard in football" due to his football skills. In fact, he hasn't stopped shaving his beard since February 2nd.

A YouTube video showcasing highlights of Moscardelli's plays titled Davide Moscardelli Is Too Good For Ballon d'Or—or in May 2019, saw more than 5 million views in less than two weeks.

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Club career

Moscardelli began his career with Maccarese, Fiumicino, Lazio, which competed in Promotionzione Lazio (1997–2000, seventh level) and Eccellenza Lazio (2000–01, sixth level). In 27 league games with his new team Guidonia Montecelio, he scored 20 goals in 27 league games. Despite being disqualified, his agent induced the team to miss ten points. Despite the heavy penalty, the team gained promotion in the Eccellenza national promotion play-offs as one of the 7 winners.

His performance attracted the attention of Serie A side Chievo, who gave him a lucrative contract, but he was eventually transferred to Sangiovannese in a co-ownership agreement. He scored an average of 0.5 goals per league game with the Tuscany-based team. Sangiovannese bought him outright in June 2003 but sold him to Triestina in a co-ownership contract for €250,000 per year on a 4-year deal.

He joined Denis Godeas as a member of Venezia Giulia's and scored 26 goals in total, more than half of the team's total points. In 42 Serie B games, Mose is the highest-scoring player ever. Triestina obtained the remaining 50% registration rights of Moscardelli in June 2004 for an additional €500,000 fee. He played less frequently (36 games) and scored 7 Serie B goals, while his coworkers scored 14 times and replacement Alessandro Tulli scored 5 times. Triestina's finished just above the relegation zone and into the play-off for a relegation tie-breaker, and the team defeated Vicenza 4–0 in aggregate. In the second half of the play-off, Moscardelli recalled Tulli, but he did not participate in the second leg.

In 2005–06 Coppa Italia's first match, Eder Baù joined Godeas in 2005–06 Coppa Italia's first match, and Moscardelli replaced Dino Baggio in the second half, when the Trieste based team lost 0–3 to Padova. He was sold near the start of the Serie B first round, and Inter Milan's Isah Eliakwu has been teaming him.

Moscardelli joined Rimini in 2005 as the youngest Serie B newcomer to have joined the country. He shifted with Simone Motta and Sergio Floccari for the two strikers' position until January Floccari departed. In his club debut against Catanzaro on September 10, he scored 1 goal in 90 and 95 minutes; after Moscardelli was suspended by Motta and Moscardelli scored 1 goal, Rimini defeated Catanzaro 42-0. In 31 games, he scored 6 goals in 31 games.

Rimini made a breakthrough this season, with strikers Jeda and Alessandro Matri (who later became regular in Serie A), while Moscardelli and Matri went back to back, with 11 and 10 starting respectively, with keeper Samir Handanovi, strikers Jeda and Alessandro Matri. Despite being limited to 11 starts, he scored 9 goals and Matri 4.

He appeared twice for Rimini during 2007–08 Coppa Italia, scoring one goal. He appeared in both games as second-half replacements. However, he was sold in August 2007 to Cesena (and another Romagna team) in another co-ownership agreement for €650,000 in 4-years. Moscardelli started 40 Serie B matches as starters at Cesena. He worked with Andrea Ferretti, Milan, and Daniele Paponi (since January) and scored 15 goals, but Cesena finished last and relegated with the fewest goals scored.

Rimini bought him back in June 2008 and re-sold him to Piacenza in another co-ownership agreement (also another Emilia-Romagna team) for an undisclosed fee. Daniele Cacia's absence was filled by his three-year contract. Moscardelli, who played for Emilia in the forward role, has been hired by Emanuele Ferraro, Mattia Graffiedi, Tomás Guzmán, and/or Jonathan Aspas in a 3 strikers role, with Moscardelli mostly as center forwards and others as wing forward/support strikers. Piacenza's season ended in mid-table, with no one scoring a double figure.

Moscardelli's one of the pair was often assigned to Simone Guerra in 2009–10, who had 14 league goals. Piacenza only scored 40 goals and finished 15th out of 22 teams for the first time in that season.

Rimini decided to give up the remaining 50% rights to Piacenza in June 2010. He started in the pre-season friendlies.

After Chievo failed to convince Riccardo Meggiorini and Matteo Ardemagni to collaborate with their flagship striker Sergio Pellissier, he was sold to Chievo in August 2010. Erjon Bogdani and Elvis Abbruscato had been released forwards by Chievo, but only Pablo Granoche and Marcos de Paula were available. Daniele Cacia, who had resigned, was fired by Piacenza, and Moscardelli's starting position became uncertain. Chievo loaned Alessandro Sbaffo (with a pre-set price to buy) and Cesare Rickler to the Emilia–Romagna; Chievo did not disclose the player's contract length; Chievo did not reveal the player's length.

Moscardelli got off to a promising start in his second spell with the Veneto team. On his debut in Serie A, he scored in a 2–1 victory over Catania on September 29, 2010. He scored a goal in an away match that beat Genoa 3-1. However, he regained possession with Cyril Thereau, another forward, shortly, despite Pellissier's absence. When Pellissier was missing, they became a partner on the front.

Chievo's former Chievo owners requested Chievo to pay "Premio alla carriera," but Chievo refused, but FIGC did award Maccarese €36,000 (2 seasons) and Romule a €18,000 (1 season). He extended his deal to 30 June 2013.

On January 30, 2013, Moscardelli signed for Bologna F.C. 1909 - 1909. He played two seasons with the club but was mostly used as a back-up, only to score two goals.

On July 31, 2014, he signed with Lega Pro Team Lecce on a free transfer. The club made it to the Promotion Play-offs-Finals in his second season with the club, but they were eliminated in the second round to US Foggia losing 4–2 on aggregate.

Moscardelli signed for Arezzo on a free transfer on July 11, 2016. Arezzo finished fourth place in their first season in their division and qualified for the promotion play-offs. Despite being leading the game with a goal from Moscardelli, the team went on to lose the first round to A.S. Lucchese Libertas 1905, who lost 1–2 at home.

After being released by Arezzo, he joined Pisa on July 3, 2018. Pisa's first season with the Pisa finished third in their group and qualified for the Serie C promotion playoffs. Moscardelli scored a crucial goal in the home game against Carrarese, which will see them advance to the next round of the tournament. Pisa will win their promotion match against Triestina, and Moscardelli will return to the Serie B for the first time in nearly a decade.

On August 29, 2020, Moscardelli announced his resignation on August 29, 2020, and then joined Pisa's staff.

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