Matteo Vitaioli
.jpg) Vitaioli with San Marino in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matteo Giampaolo Vitaioli | ||
| Date of birth | 27 October 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Fiorentino, San Marino | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | La Fiorita | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1998 | Montevito | ||
| 1998–1999 | Tre Fiori | ||
| 1999–2005 | San Marino Calcio | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2006 | San Marino Calcio | 2 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Empoli (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | San Marino Calcio | 2 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | → ASD Cagliese (loan) | 26 | (1) |
| 2008–2009 | → Real Montecchio (loan) | 30 | (6) |
| 2009–2010 | San Marino Calcio | 1 | (0) |
| 2010 | → P.D. Castellarano (loan) | 17 | (2) |
| 2010–2012 | San Marino Calcio | 18 | (0) |
| 2012 | F.C. Fiorentino | 1 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Sammaurese | 49 | (18) |
| 2014–2021 | Tropical Coriano | 175 | (102) |
| 2021 | Pennarossa | 3 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Tropical Coriano | 17 | (3) |
| 2022– | La Fiorita | 77 | (20) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007– | San Marino | 97 | (1) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2024 | |||
Matteo Giampaolo Vitaioli (born 27 October 1989) is a Sammarinese footballer who plays for La Fiorita as a midfielder. In 2007, he became the youngest ever player for the San Marino national football team. In 2022, he became the most capped footballer for the country.
Club career
[edit]Born in Fiorentino, San Marino, Vitaioli has represented four clubs on a permanent basis: San Marino Calcio, F.C. Fiorentino, Sammaurese and Tropical Coriano and has played for four clubs on loan: Empoli (although he failed to make a single league appearance in the second half of 2005–06 Serie A), ASD Cagliese, Real Montecchio and P.D. Castellarano.[1]
International career
[edit]At the age of 17 years-old, he became San Marino's youngest ever international player in 2007.[2] He played for the San Marino national football team as they secured a 0-0 draw against Estonia in 2014. He scored his first goal on 8 September 2015, in a 2-1 defeat in a European Championship qualifier away to Lithuania. It was San Marino's first away goal in 14 years.[3][4]
He was considered to be one of the most promising young talents in the San Marino national football team, often regarded as a key member of the squad, partnering with Andy Selva and Nicola Ciacci in a three-pronged San Marino attack. By 2024, he had become the captain of the San Marino national team, and in 2022, he became the most capped player in his country’s history with his 74th international appearance against Estonia, overtaking the 73 caps earned by Selva.[5][4][6]
On November 18, 2024, he played as San Marino secured promotion from the fourth and bottom tier of the UEFA Nations League with a 3-1 win away against Liechtenstein.[2]
He wears the number 7 shirt for both club and country.[7]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2024) |
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
International
[edit]International goals
[edit]- Scores and results list San Marino's goal tally first.[8]
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 2015 | LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania |  Lithuania |
1–1 | 1–2 | UEFA Euro 2016 Qualification |
Personal life
[edit]Vitaioli works as a graphic designer.[9] He has one daughter.[4] His brother Fabio Vitaioli also played alongside him for the San Marino national football team.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ NORZ. "Matteo Vitaioli - Carriera - stagioni, presenze, goal - TuttoCalciatori.Net - Schede calciatori con carriera, gol, della serie A, serie B, serie C, serie C1 e serie C2, lega pro, serie D". tuttocalciatori.net. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ a b Walker, Ron (2 January 2025). "San Marino: The inside story of the world's worst football team winning Nations League promotion in 2024". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "LITHUANIA VS. SAN MARINO 2 - 1". Soccerway. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ a b c Poole, Harry (18 March 2024). "San Marino: 'The ultimate dream' - world's worst national football team chase first win for 20 years". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Matteo Vitaioli record of appearances with the National Team". Sanmarinortv. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "'Dream with no limits' - world's worst team bid to make history". BBC Sport. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "Matteo Vitaioli". zimbio.com. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ "Matteo Vitaioli". Soccerway. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
- ^ "San Marino haven't won since 2004 and are world's worst team, but they're not giving up". ESPN. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ Poole, Henry (8 October 2014). "England v San Marino: Simoncini - cheating death to facing Rooney". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 April 2025.