Vincenzo Montella

Date of birth: 18 June 1974
Nationality: Italian
Playing career: Empoli FC, Genoa CFC, UC Sampdoria (twice), AS Roma, Fulham FC (loan)
Coaching career: AS Roma (caretaker), Calcio Catania, ACF Fiorentina, UC Sampdoria, AC Milan, Sevilla FC

• A quick and opportunistic striker, Montella played for Roma from 1999 to 2009, scoring 84 goals in 192 Serie A games and winning the 2001 Scudetto and the 2007 Coppa Italia. He managed three goals in 20 caps for Italy, appearing in the UEFA EURO 2000 final and at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

• Made his name at Empoli, scoring 17 league goals in the 1994/95 Serie C1 campaign. Moved to Genoa, scoring 21 Serie B goals before joining city rivals Sampdoria in 1996. In three years in Serie A with the Blucerchiati, Montella registered 54 goals to earn a switch to Roma.

• After 18 goals during his first season in the Italian capital, he fell behind Gabriel Batistuta and Marco Delvecchio in Fabio Capello's plans. However the Aeroplanino – 'The Little Airplane' in reference to his small stature and trademark goal celebration – finished the season strongly, his 13 goals instrumental as the Giallorossi won their third Scudetto, the first since 1983.

• With the exception of two loan spells at Fulham and Sampdoria, Montella continued to play for Roma until his retirement in 2009. Promptly moved into coaching within Roma's youth system, taking charge of the Under-15 side before temporarily stepping up to the first team in February 2011 following Claudio Ranieri's resignation.

• Spent 2011/12 in charge of Catania before three years at Fiorentina, whom he took to the 2014 Coppa Italia final and the semi-finals of the 2014/15 UEFA Europa League. Led Sampdoria between November 2015 and his departure for Milan in June 2016; won the Italian Super Cup that December but dismissed in November 2017 after a slow start to that season. Resurfaced in Spain with Sevilla, succeeding Eduardo Berizzo on 28 December 2017.