Name: Sebastian Giovinco
Born: January 26, 1987 in Turin, Italy
Position: Midfielder
Nickname: La Formica Atomica, Italian for The Atomic Ant
Pro club: Juventus (for now, but will join Toronto FC in July)
Why is he in the news?
Because Giovinco recently signed a multi-year deal with Major League Soccer club Toronto FC that makes him one of the highest paid players in the league ($7 million per year, for four seasons sources told Sportsnet).
Okay, so what? This is just another European player past his prime coming to MLS to cash in before he retires, right?
Not exactly. For starters, Giovinco—it’s pronounced “Joe-vin-ko,” NOT “Gee-oh-vin-ko”—turns 28 later this month, which means TFC is getting a player with plenty of game still left in his legs. He plays in Serie A, Italy’s topflight, which is one of the best soccer leagues in the world. What’s more he plays for Juventus, one of the biggest and most prestigious clubs in world soccer.
Giovinco is a European player with top-level and Champions League experience who is still in his prime years, the likes of which usually don’t come to MLS at this stage in their careers
Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said Giovinco was being pursued by many top clubs from around the world, and called the signing of the Italian as “an important moment in the growth of Major League Soccer.”
“Over the next 10 years you’re going to see an exponential growth in our league. This will not be the first big-name player that you’ll see (in MLS). He’s being a trailblazer,” Bezbatchenko stated.
Giovinco’s current contract with Juventus expires at the end of the Serie A season. He won’t join TFC until July and there was no transfer fee paid by the MLS club.
He’s special because
Giovinco is a versatile player who can play as a striker, winger or attacking midfielder. Nicknamed the La Formica Atomica (The Atomic Ant)—he stands five-feet-five—Giovinco is a talented playmaker, renowned for his dribbling skills, passing range and free kick prowess. TFC has historically been missing a dynamic attacker of Giovinco’s calibre, which makes his arrival in Toronto all the more significant for the struggling soccer franchise.
The Italians have many words for the term playmaker, the best one being the wonderfully descriptive fantasista. In its simplest definition, a fantasista refers to a player who finds open space on the field, creates and scores goals, and provides his team with a touch of playmaking genius.
But it means so much more: a fantasista is someone who can invent something out of nothing, who can offer a bit of magic. Toronto FC has long been lacking a creative spark in attack. Giovinco should provide that spark and a bit of fantasy.
Watch more on Giovinco: Bez: TFC roster taking shape || Vanney: Giovinco a big addition || Giovinco signing historic for MLS || Molinaro: TFC getting a fantasy maker in Giovinco || Forrest: Giovinco not just another big name Giovinco’s great, but not enough for TFC
Club career
Giovinco joined Juventus’ youth system at nine years of age, and quickly progressed through the ranks to help the Bianconeri win back-to-back titles at the prestigious Viareggio Tournament.
With Juventus relegated to Serie B as part of their punishment for the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, Giovinco was promoted from the youth side to the first team, and made his debut in 2007. Juventus won promotion at the first time of asking, but Giovinco was sent on loan the following season to Empoli where he became a regular starter for the Tuscan club in Serie A.
He returned to Juventus for the next two seasons, and although he showed flashes of brilliance he found starting opportunities few and far between. Another loan move was arranged at the start of 2010-11 Serie A campaign. This time he was sent to Parma, and it was with the Gialloblu that Giovinco reinvented himself as a winger and would enjoy his greatest success. He scored a career-high 15 goals during the 2011-12 season with Empoli, after bagging seven goals the previous campaign.
Once again he was recalled from his loan by Juventus, and scored seven goals in 31 league appearances in 2011-12. His playing time has been reduced over the last two seasons thanks to the arrivals of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, and the emergence of Paul Pogba.
International career
Giovinco represented Italy at youth level, including at the U-21 European Championships in 2009 (Italy lost to Germany in the semifinals). He also participated at the famous Toulon Tournament youth tournament in France in 2008, helping Italy defeat Chile in the final and being named tournament MVP. That same year he played at the Beijing Olympics, as Italy bowed out in the quarterfinals.
He made his senor team debut for Italy in a friendly versus Germany on Feb. 9, 2011 and was part of the Azzurri side that reached the final of Euro 2012, appearing in Italy’s opening two group stage games.
Giovinco started in the first game of Italy’s 2014 World Cup Qualification campaign against Bulgaria, a 2-2 draw on Sept. 7 2012. He scored his first goal for Italy at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup group stage match against Japan. Giovinco also scored for Italy in a penalty shootout in the semifinals, a game the Italians ended up losing to Spain. Due to his lack of playing time for Juventus during the 2013-14 season, Giovinco was not named to Italy’s squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
In total, Giovinco has one goal and 21 caps for his country.
Does his signing with Toronto end his chances of continuing to represent Italy? We don’t know for sure, but probably. It’s not so much that coming to MLS is perceived as a “lower league” in Europe (although that certainly won’t help his cause with Antonio Conte), but has more to do with the fact that Azzurri managers have historically ignored and overlooked Italian players who ply their trade outside of Serie A, be it in La Liga, the Premier League, Bundesliga, or wherever.
His most famous moment
He prodded home a goal from 25 yards out to cap off a 3-0 win for Juventus over Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League on Nov. 20, 2012.
Here’s a few interesting facts
Giovinco has the same birthday as hockey legend Wayne Gretzky—January 26.
Turin is his hometown, but he was born into a family of AC Milan supporters.
He earned the nickname ‘The Atomic Ant’ after the eponymous cartoon character created by Hanna-Barbera.
His senior team debut for Juventus came on May 12, 2007 in a Serie B match against Bologna. He entered the game and set up David Trezeguet for an easy tap-in.
He scored two goals for Parma in a 4–1 win against his parent club Juventus in 2011.
He said it
Giovinco was not in attendance for Monday’s event in Toronto announcing his signing with TFC, but he did record the below video message from Italy that was played during the news conference:
What they’re saying about him
“This is a moment and time in Major League Soccer where we’ve never signed a player from a top league and a top team that has come over at 27.” – Toronto FC general manager Tim Bezbatchenko.
“We looked at our roster as we moved into the offseason, and we all thought we need a player who can help us create in the attacking third, a player who can set other players up and give other players opportunities, but also create opportunities of his own. We had a very, very short list of players who fit that mould, and Giovinco was right at the top of it.” – Toronto FC coach Greg Vanney
“Adding a player like Sebastian Giovinco will be a major addition to our club. Having played against him many times in Italy, I know what he is capable of. We have added a great playmaker and true talent and I cannot wait for him to join us.” – Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley
“Sebastian Giovinco may not be the biggest star, but his signing represents a coup for both Toronto and MLS as a whole, one which could prove hugely beneficial for all concerned.” – Adam Digby, author of Juventus: A History In Black And White.
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