Post by QPR Report on Oct 10, 2009 6:47:00 GMT
[Edit another year
Tommasi arrived at QPR "On This Day" in 2008 (A month after his signing was announced!).
One of a number of signings you almost forget was at QPR. Signed for the season. Left after a few months. Played a handful of games.
Goal.com/Adrian Del Monte - October 10, 2008 - Tommasi Arrives In London
- Former AS Roma midfielder Damiano Tommasi, who signed for English Championship side Queens Park Rangers just under a month ago on a one year deal, has arrived in London to meet his new club.
- Damiano Tommasi spent ten prolific years of his career in the Italian capital, and became an icon of Roma. He commenced his playing career with the capital club in 1996, following a five year stint at Verona. For the Giallorossi, Tommasi managed 262 appearances and became one of the most influential and hard-working midfielders in the Serie A.
- He went on to win a Scudetto with the Giallorossi in the 2000/01 season, where he proved to be a key figure throughout the season. It was also at this time that the midfielder consolidated his spot in the Italian national side, earning an eventual total of 25 caps.
- After a serious injury in 2004, many thought Tommasi’s career was finished. However, he defied the odds and returned to the Italian top flight to play for a minimum wage of €1500 a month. His loyalty and dedication to the club proved to be one of the most beautiful tales in Italian football.
- Restricted by this serious left knee injury over time, Tommasi who is now 34 years of age, has signed with the London club on a one-year contract, after he was released by Spanish side Levante, where he spent the last two seasons.
- “The signing of Damiano adds great experience to the team - said the coach Iain Dowie. “He has played at the highest level and a player of his caliber can only be beneficial for QPR.”
- The 34-year-old has now arrived in London to begin a new adventure alongside fellow Italian Flavio Briatore, who a year ago bought the Queens Park Rangers, a fallen English football club, with only one objective in mind: the Premier League." Adrian Del Monte - Goalcom
QPR Official Site - September 10, 2008
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: ITALIAN MIDFIELDER SIGNS
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of former Italian international midfielder Damiano Tommasi.
The 34 year-old has put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the 2008/09 campaign, after his release from Spanish side Levante at the end of last season.
Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, R's boss Iain Dowie revealed his delight at the arrival of the experienced midfield general.
"The signing of Damiano adds great experience to the squad," he said.
"He'll compliment what Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands provide in that area.
"He has played at the highest level for Club and country and to have a player of that calibre available can only be good for QPR.
"We've got some fantastic young talent in the squad, such as (Emmanuel) Ledesma, (Angelo) Balanta, (Daniel) Parejo and (Hogan) Ephraim, and training with someone of Damiano's stature will be of huge benefit to them I'm sure.
"In the short term, he could prove to be very useful to us."
A player with outstanding experience, Tommasi began his career at Serie B side Hellas Verona, before moving to AS Roma, for whom he won the Scudetto Championship in 2001.
He made over 250 appearances for the Italian giants, but his ten-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico came to an end in 2006, when he joined Levante.
Prior to his release from the then La Liga outfit, he made just shy of 50 appearances, scoring one goal.
On the international stage, Tommasi was part of the Italian Under-21 side that triumphed in the 1996 European Championships.
The combative central midfielder has made 25 starts for the Azzurri national side and played in all four of Italy's matches in the 2002 World Cup.
Tommasi will wear the number 18 shirt. QPR -- See Wikipedia Profile of Tommasi en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiano_Tommasi
Dave McIntyre assessing the Tommasi Signing
September 10, 2008
Dave McIntyre, BBC 606 - Exits likely as Tomassi arrives[/b]
It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that QPR’s signing of Damiano Tommasi – yet another midfielder – is likely to be followed by an exit from Loftus Road, with Adam Bolder expected to leave.
Bolder, who is now further down the pecking order, is being made available for a loan move.
Lee Camp could be too – a move that would annoy many of those who feel he was unfairly dropped in favour of Radek Cerny.
Rangers are open to the idea of Camp going out on loan now that Cerny is becoming established as the club’s number one keeper.
A long-term loan or a deal without a recall option look non-starters as either could leave Rangers without adequate cover should Cerny be unavailable, but the chances of Camp going elsewhere to play first-team football are growing.
And there shouldn’t be a shortage of clubs interested in Bolder given his experience and professionalism.
Youngster Romone Rose, who spent time with AFC Wimbledon last season, will almost certainly be loaned out again in the near
future in order to give him more experience.
Perhaps this time a League club might be tempted to take him. Rose has made good progress in recent months and hasn’t looked out of place at reserve level or during pre-season, when he was involved with the first-team squad.
One player seemingly out of the running for a first-team place is summer signing Matteo Alberti, who hasn’t impressed at all since arriving at the club and whose prospects look bleak following the return of Akos Buzsaky and Hogan Ephraim. Expect him to be moved on pretty swiftly if the chance arises.
Tommasi’s arrival means Flavio Briatore has finally – after several attempts - managed to bring a well-known former Italy international to the club.
Tommasi, now 34, is far from match-fit having been released by Spanish side Levante during the summer.
He won’t feature for the first team immediately and has been pencilled in for a reserve match against Reading on Monday.
It is hoped Tomassi’s influence and experience will benefit Rangers' other players as well as offer another defensive midfield option later in the season.
He does speak some English, which means he should be able to quickly fit in with the bulk of the squad as well as the Italian contingent.
It will certainly be interesting to see how he fares - starting on Monday afternoon.
Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/6611/years-ago-today-tommasi-signs#ixzz3lJltNa1v
Veni Vidi Vici
Yet another of the Paladini or Briatore brief signings, departs.
January 9, 2009 - QPR Official Site - TOMMASI LEAVES
- Damiano Tommasi has had his contract terminated by mutual consent with immediate effect.
The 34-year-old midfielder joined the R's in September 2008 on a free transfer
following his release from Spanish side Levante at the end of last season.
He made seven appearances for QPR in total, including two as a substitute.
Tommasi told http://www.qpr.co.uk: "I have enjoyed my time here very much but I understand football,
and things change. This is normal.
"Now I have the opportunity to look for another team. I want to carry on playing -
I'm not sure for how long - but I feel there is more in me to give.
"I have the enthusiasm to continue.
"I now consider myself to be a QPR fan and I believe the Club is capable of winning promotion.
"They have a strong squad, and I don't think we will have to wait too long before
we see them playing in the Premier League."
The Club would like to place on record its thanks to Damiano for his contribution
and wish him every success for the future." QPR Official Site
Tommasi arrived at QPR "On This Day" in 2008 (A month after his signing was announced!).
One of a number of signings you almost forget was at QPR. Signed for the season. Left after a few months. Played a handful of games.
Goal.com/Adrian Del Monte - October 10, 2008 - Tommasi Arrives In London
- Former AS Roma midfielder Damiano Tommasi, who signed for English Championship side Queens Park Rangers just under a month ago on a one year deal, has arrived in London to meet his new club.
- Damiano Tommasi spent ten prolific years of his career in the Italian capital, and became an icon of Roma. He commenced his playing career with the capital club in 1996, following a five year stint at Verona. For the Giallorossi, Tommasi managed 262 appearances and became one of the most influential and hard-working midfielders in the Serie A.
- He went on to win a Scudetto with the Giallorossi in the 2000/01 season, where he proved to be a key figure throughout the season. It was also at this time that the midfielder consolidated his spot in the Italian national side, earning an eventual total of 25 caps.
- After a serious injury in 2004, many thought Tommasi’s career was finished. However, he defied the odds and returned to the Italian top flight to play for a minimum wage of €1500 a month. His loyalty and dedication to the club proved to be one of the most beautiful tales in Italian football.
- Restricted by this serious left knee injury over time, Tommasi who is now 34 years of age, has signed with the London club on a one-year contract, after he was released by Spanish side Levante, where he spent the last two seasons.
- “The signing of Damiano adds great experience to the team - said the coach Iain Dowie. “He has played at the highest level and a player of his caliber can only be beneficial for QPR.”
- The 34-year-old has now arrived in London to begin a new adventure alongside fellow Italian Flavio Briatore, who a year ago bought the Queens Park Rangers, a fallen English football club, with only one objective in mind: the Premier League." Adrian Del Monte - Goalcom
QPR Official Site - September 10, 2008
QPR Official Site - EXCLUSIVE: ITALIAN MIDFIELDER SIGNS
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is pleased to announce the signing of former Italian international midfielder Damiano Tommasi.
The 34 year-old has put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the 2008/09 campaign, after his release from Spanish side Levante at the end of last season.
Speaking to www.qpr.co.uk, R's boss Iain Dowie revealed his delight at the arrival of the experienced midfield general.
"The signing of Damiano adds great experience to the squad," he said.
"He'll compliment what Gavin Mahon and Martin Rowlands provide in that area.
"He has played at the highest level for Club and country and to have a player of that calibre available can only be good for QPR.
"We've got some fantastic young talent in the squad, such as (Emmanuel) Ledesma, (Angelo) Balanta, (Daniel) Parejo and (Hogan) Ephraim, and training with someone of Damiano's stature will be of huge benefit to them I'm sure.
"In the short term, he could prove to be very useful to us."
A player with outstanding experience, Tommasi began his career at Serie B side Hellas Verona, before moving to AS Roma, for whom he won the Scudetto Championship in 2001.
He made over 250 appearances for the Italian giants, but his ten-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico came to an end in 2006, when he joined Levante.
Prior to his release from the then La Liga outfit, he made just shy of 50 appearances, scoring one goal.
On the international stage, Tommasi was part of the Italian Under-21 side that triumphed in the 1996 European Championships.
The combative central midfielder has made 25 starts for the Azzurri national side and played in all four of Italy's matches in the 2002 World Cup.
Tommasi will wear the number 18 shirt. QPR -- See Wikipedia Profile of Tommasi en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damiano_Tommasi
Dave McIntyre assessing the Tommasi Signing
September 10, 2008
Dave McIntyre, BBC 606 - Exits likely as Tomassi arrives[/b]
It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that QPR’s signing of Damiano Tommasi – yet another midfielder – is likely to be followed by an exit from Loftus Road, with Adam Bolder expected to leave.
Bolder, who is now further down the pecking order, is being made available for a loan move.
Lee Camp could be too – a move that would annoy many of those who feel he was unfairly dropped in favour of Radek Cerny.
Rangers are open to the idea of Camp going out on loan now that Cerny is becoming established as the club’s number one keeper.
A long-term loan or a deal without a recall option look non-starters as either could leave Rangers without adequate cover should Cerny be unavailable, but the chances of Camp going elsewhere to play first-team football are growing.
And there shouldn’t be a shortage of clubs interested in Bolder given his experience and professionalism.
Youngster Romone Rose, who spent time with AFC Wimbledon last season, will almost certainly be loaned out again in the near
future in order to give him more experience.
Perhaps this time a League club might be tempted to take him. Rose has made good progress in recent months and hasn’t looked out of place at reserve level or during pre-season, when he was involved with the first-team squad.
One player seemingly out of the running for a first-team place is summer signing Matteo Alberti, who hasn’t impressed at all since arriving at the club and whose prospects look bleak following the return of Akos Buzsaky and Hogan Ephraim. Expect him to be moved on pretty swiftly if the chance arises.
Tommasi’s arrival means Flavio Briatore has finally – after several attempts - managed to bring a well-known former Italy international to the club.
Tommasi, now 34, is far from match-fit having been released by Spanish side Levante during the summer.
He won’t feature for the first team immediately and has been pencilled in for a reserve match against Reading on Monday.
It is hoped Tomassi’s influence and experience will benefit Rangers' other players as well as offer another defensive midfield option later in the season.
He does speak some English, which means he should be able to quickly fit in with the bulk of the squad as well as the Italian contingent.
It will certainly be interesting to see how he fares - starting on Monday afternoon.
Read more: qprreport.proboards.com/thread/6611/years-ago-today-tommasi-signs#ixzz3lJltNa1v
Veni Vidi Vici
Yet another of the Paladini or Briatore brief signings, departs.January 9, 2009 - QPR Official Site - TOMMASI LEAVES
- Damiano Tommasi has had his contract terminated by mutual consent with immediate effect.
The 34-year-old midfielder joined the R's in September 2008 on a free transfer
following his release from Spanish side Levante at the end of last season.
He made seven appearances for QPR in total, including two as a substitute.
Tommasi told http://www.qpr.co.uk: "I have enjoyed my time here very much but I understand football,
and things change. This is normal.
"Now I have the opportunity to look for another team. I want to carry on playing -
I'm not sure for how long - but I feel there is more in me to give.
"I have the enthusiasm to continue.
"I now consider myself to be a QPR fan and I believe the Club is capable of winning promotion.
"They have a strong squad, and I don't think we will have to wait too long before
we see them playing in the Premier League."
The Club would like to place on record its thanks to Damiano for his contribution
and wish him every success for the future." QPR Official Site
