Fabrizio Miccoli looks like anything but a player who is finished. His stunning treble on Sunday against Chievo was an emphatic reminder of this fact. It was also a statement; that he is not yet ready to retire just yet.
Palermo’s president, Maurizio Zamparini, recently commented that the striker could only manage 20 minutes per match. The striker was quick to disagree, “It seems to me that I am able to do that pretty well,” he told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
A little upset about the decision to hold off on contract renewal discussions until June, Miccoli understands the nature of football, “I still want to give my best with the remaining two years I have left in my career. I’m 33, not 40,” he said.
In the previous two games he has started from the bench, but said he respects the decision of the manager. Palermo lost both games 1-0, but with Miccoli returned to the starting lineup against Chievo on Sunday he was ready to show his worth.
In fact, this wasn’t the first time Miccoli has made this kind of statement. During his six seasons with Palermo, he has single handedly saved his team from defeat many times with some truly impressive performances.
In his first season with the Rosanero, after arriving from Juventus for a fee of €4.3 million, he demonstrated his worth against AC Milan – He scored the winner in added time. His late goal completing a comeback launched in the second half, and gave the Rosanero a 2-1 victory over the Milanese giants.
In the 2009/10 season, Miccoli scored his first hat-trick in a Palermo shirt giving them a 3-1 victory over Bologna, which went on to help them finisg fifth in Serie A that year.
Perhaps one of his most impressive performances came in the second week of the 2011/12 season against Inter. Palermo recorded a 4-3 win thanks to two goals and an assist by Miccoli. Diego Milito scored two for the Nerazzurri in that match. In the winter of that same season, Miccoli and Milito faced off again. This time, the battle and the match ended in a stalemate – 4-4. Milito with four goals, and Miccoli with three goals and an assist.
In a dismal 2011/12 season for Palermo, Miccoli came to the rescue once again. His three goals and an assist confirmed his value. A 10th minute penalty kick, and 19th minute goal put the Rosanero 2-0 up against Chievo, who then tied the match up before the break. They then went 3-2 up, and in the 72nd minute went 4-2 ahead. But with things were looking grim, Miccoli led the resurgence, scoring again two minutes later, before grabbing an assist to level the match and earn a valuable point for his side.
Miccoli’s brilliance over the last six years with Palermo has definitely proven his value. He’s not yet too old to end his career, and he knows it. That’s exactly what his recent hat trick against Chievo demonstrated. He showed his ability to take control of a game. With his never-give-up attitude, he can carry his team to victory. Come June, we’ll be waiting to see what comes of his renewal. You can be sure of one thing: Miccoli still has more to say.
