Lewis Italiano

Lewis Italiano (born 10 December 1990) is an Australian professional footballer who is currently playing for Newcastle Jets in the A-League as a goalkeeper.

Lewis Italiano
Personal information
Full name Lewis Italiano
Date of birth (1990-12-10) 10 December 1990
Place of birth Perth, Australia
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Newcastle Jets
Number 20
Youth career
Stirling Lions
2006–2007 Balcatta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2010 Inglewood United 3 (0)
2011 Balcatta 22 (0)
2011–2012 Perth Glory 0 (0)
2012 Balcatta 2 (0)
2012 Oakleigh Cannons 18 (0)
2012–2013 Perth Glory 0 (0)
2013 Oakleigh Cannons 12 (0)
2013–2017 Wellington Phoenix 6 (0)
2014–2017 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 21 (0)
2016 → ECU Joondalup (loan) 19 (0)
2017 Bulleen Lions 7 (0)
2017–2018 Wellington Phoenix 13 (0)
2017–2018 Wellington Phoenix Reserves 2 (0)
2018 Stirling Lions 6 (0)
2018– Newcastle Jets 17 (0)
2019 → Balcatta (loan) 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 April 2019

Club career

Italiano played his junior football at Stirling Lions and later Balcatta. He moved to Inglewood United and, aged 18, gained his league debut in May 2008 against Floreat Athena. Despite an impressive start with the club, first team opportunities were scarce across three seasons with Inglewood.

Italiano returned to Balcatta in 2011 and quickly became the clubs' first choice goalkeeper. In 22 league appearances he tallied up eight clean sheets to play a key role in Balcatta lifting their first Premier League title.

A summer deal with A-League club Perth Glory followed, however, Italiano's involvement throughout the 2011–12 campaign was restricted to watching from the bench. That was offset by regular appearances for the clubs' youth team which finished the home and away series in second place.

After a short spell with Balcatta, Italiano headed east where he played an important role in Oakleigh Cannons finishing the Victorian Premier League in second spot. By October he was back with Glory having agreed a season-long deal as an injury replacement for Neil Young.

Released by Perth without making a first team appearance, Italiano re-joined Oakleigh where he caught the eye of the then new Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick. He signed with Wellington in June 2013 and was handed the number 20 shirt for the coming A-League season.[1]

On 23 July 2014, Italiano played part of the second half of his club's friendly with London side West Ham United F.C. at Eden Park, making a notable save late on in an eventual 2–1 win for Wellington.[2]

Italiano made his A-League debut on 26 April 2015, playing the full match for Wellington Phoenix in a 2–1 loss against Sydney FC, instead of the injured Glen Moss.[3][4]

In May 2016, Italiano joined ECU Joondalup on loan for the remainder of the NPL WA season to get more game-time.[5] In September 2016, after ECU Joondalup lost to Inglewood United in the preliminary final, Italiano returned to Wellington Phoenix after playing 17 games with ECU Joondalup and keeping 10 clean-sheets.[6]

In March and April 2017, Italiano played back to back matches for the Phoenix for the first time, in a 5-0 win over Newcastle Jets FC and a 3-0 win over Melbourne Victory FC.[7][8]

Italiano left the Phoenix in May 2017, joining National Premier Leagues Victoria side Bulleen Lions.[9] He returned to the Phoenix one month later on a new one-season contract after strong performances for Bulleen and the appointment of new Wellington coach Darije Kalezić.[10]

After his contracted ended at the Wellington Phoenix, Italiano returned to his youth club Stirling Lions for the rest of their season.[11]

References
  1. Worthington, Sam (18 June 2013). "Merrick Makes First Signing As Phoenix Coach". Stuff.co.nz.
  2. "Wellington Phoenix Shock West Ham In New Zealand Friendly". The Guardian. 24 July 2014.
  3. Bidwell, Hamish (29 April 2015). "Phoenix keeper Glen Moss confident of playing A-League elimination final against Melbourne City". Stuff.co.nz.
  4. "Lewis Italiano (Wellington Phoenix) :: Ultimate A-League". ultimatealeague.com. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  5. "NPL WA: Wellington Phoenix keeper Lewis Italiano joins ECU Joondalup". Joondalup Times. 3 May 2016.
  6. "Italiano heading back to Phoenix after impressive loan spell". Wellington Phoenix. 8 September 2016.
  7. "Ernie Merrick magic in Phoenix goal rush as A-League team reverts to early season blueprint". Stuff. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  8. "Lewis Italiano (Wellington Phoenix) :: Ultimate A-League". ultimatealeague.com. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  9. "Bulleen land Phoenix keeper Italiano". TheCornerFlag.com.au. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
  10. "Phoenix name their No. 1". FourFourTwo. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  11. Inferrera, Breanna (18 July 2018). "Stirling: Keeper Lewis Italiano rejoins Lions, the club where it all began". Stirling Times.
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