Domenico Criscito has had a wonderful farewell as a professional football player. The 36-year-old left back announced in November last year that he was working on his last season and played his last game on Friday, on behalf of Genoa. The already promoted number two in Serie B ended the season against Bari. Criscito came deep into stoppage time and made the winning 4-3 with his first and last ball contact as a footballer.
Criscito was a basic player this season i Rossoblu, but was injured in early May. He was actually not fit enough to be in the game selection on Friday, but was still part of it. Genoa led 2-1 and 3-2, but still had to swallow the equalizer five minutes before the end. Deep into stoppage time, however, the visitors gave away a penalty, after which Genoa coach Alberto Gilardino decided to bring in Criscito and let the penalty be taken. The latter sent goalkeeper Pierluigi Frattali into the wrong corner: 4-3.
Domenico Criscito scores a 94th minute penalty with the last kick of his professional playing career sealing the win for Genoa who gained promotion to Serie A a few weeks prior ?? ????????#TFCLive pic.twitter.com/fcwsb24HQR
— Daniel Ayik (@ayik_daniel) May 20, 2023
Criscito can look back on a very rich career. Genoa’s youth product moved to Juventus in 2004 and made his Serie A debut on behalf of that club. In 2008 he returned to Genoa, after which he signed for Zenit St. Petersburg in 2011. With the Russian top club he became national champion twice, won the cup once and won the Russian Super Cup twice.
In 2018 he returned to Genoa, after which he moved to Toronto FC for six months in 2022. The last six months of his career he played again for Genoa. In addition, Criscito has played 26 times for the Italian national team since his debut in 2009. The club icon wore Genoa’s shirt 291 times.
??? #Mimmo4Ever ???? pic.twitter.com/UBwxdU57CY
— Genoa CFC (@GenoaCFC) May 20, 2023