Gaetano De Rosa

(BARI)

Blond, blue eyes, 1.85 m. tall. He was born in Dusseldorf, Germany, the 10th of May 1973. If not for the name, Gaetano De Rosa, wouldn't seem an italian. He has grown up playing for Napoli, where he faced the biggest upset of his career. The 16th of May 1993 he played his first SERIE A game (PESCARA-NAPOLI-3-0),before playing other 3 games until the end of the season. He was still young,and the next year was sent to Palermo (SERIE B) to make some experience. That was a great season for Gaetano who played 28 games scoring 2 goals,but shortafter an ordeal began.

His comeback to Napoli(1994-95) wasn't a good one. He immediately realized that his coach,Vincenzo Guerini, didn't believe in him. The blond defender asked to be traded and his Club agreed. Genoa made a bid for him , proposing a trade with forward Ciocci. Unfortunately Ciocci's knee was injured and the deal went awry. De Rosa, in spite of even being obseved by the italian under 21 national team coach Cesare Maldini, saw his own destiny signed. A full season without playing is very long to face and Gaetano started reading the Holy Bible and a Pope John Paul 28 's volume. It was a radical change.

By praying, De Rosa found insde himself the strength to stay on the bench watching his teammates play. He began to go about with the "Evangelization and family Movement" which operate at the "Holy Spirit's Church" of Arzano. He also involved his family and football gradually became less important. Finally in the 1995-96 season he was traded to Pistoiese(SERIE B). Just the time to see the city and he was traded again to Savoia(SERIE C1).

He spent two seasons there, playing 53 games and scoring 1 goal, which allowed him to be acquired by Bari where he found coach Eugenio Fascetti and where he is finally showing his potential deserves to play in SERIE A.His experience with Napoli, however, signed him forever, learning the Catholic faith and the participation in other people sorrows.Gaetano De Rosa now is a man persuaded that there is just one God, and It's not Football.

torna indietro