Being asked to pick a greatest XI isn’t an easy task and it’s obviously open to interpretation but I’ve gone with what I believe is the heart and soul of the Neroverdi: players willing to fight for the club and their own survival.
These players aren’t the most talented, gifted, or most skilful to have donned the Sassuolo jersey, but it’s a team of fighters and a side willing to defy all odds on and off the field.
I’ve assembled this team in a 4-3-3 formation and it’s jam packed with Francesco’s – no coincidence that this team is about the collective. Also, there’s a moat in the stadium, how can I not mention that? This greatest XI side wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the moat.
Goalkeeper: Andrea Consigli
Who else but the Milan born Consigli who has been the Sassuolo number one, or rather number 47, since he joined the Reggio Emilia club from Atalanta in 2014? He has over 300 appearances for the Neroverdi and famously made his Sassuolo Serie A debut in a 7-0 loss to Inter Milan.
Having played under Eusebio Di Francesco, Roberto De Zerbi and Alessio Dionisi, Consigli has been there for the highs and the lows, and despite the odd howler, will be considered a club icon.
Moat Break
Did you know the ball boys and girls scoop the ball out with an extended pole with a net attached? It’s true. Poles are positioned at either corner flag and two on either side of the pitch for any balls that end up in the drink.
Right fullback: Marcello Gazzola
The defender joined Sassuolo when they were in Serie B, spending six seasons in Reggio Emilia after joining the club from Ascoli.
Gazzola went on to become a regular for Eusebio Di Francesco during his time with Sassuolo and went from debuting against Vicenza in Serie B to a few seasons later playing in the Europa League.
After leaving Sassuolo, having made 126 appearances for the club, Gazzola went on to join his youth club Parma spending two more seasons ‘at home’.
Centre back: Francesco Acerbi
To say that Acerbi had an eventful spell at Sassuolo would be an understatement of epic proportions. Joining the newly promoted Sassuolo in 2013, the defender went on to achieve legendary status for the club given the courage and fight he displayed during his off-field battle with testicular cancer.
Blessed with fantastic technique when on the ball, Acerbi wasn’t scared to throw himself into a tackle and physically impose himself on his opposition, quickly endearing himself to the Neroverdi faithful.
Acerbi had an eventful spell with Sassuolo, on and off the field. Not only did Acerbi defeat testicular cancer but he underwent chemotherapy, failed a doping test, made over 150 appearances for the club, was awarded the Pallone d’Argento in 2014-15 and was first capped by the Azzurri as a Sassuolo player. And that’s just in the five years.
A true lion on and off the field.
Centre Back: Marco Piccioni
I could’ve gone with Gian Marco Ferrari – the one game I watched him live, he was very impressive, or even Paolo Cannavaro for his contribution to the Neroverdi on loan for a free transfer, however it’s hard to overlook Marco Piccioni.
The former Lazio Primavera player started with Sassuolo in Serie C and then Serie B, was signed as a midfielder and was converted to a central defender by now AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli in 2009-10.
Piccioni unfortunately missed the club’s ascension into the top flight of Italian football but his contribution across eight seasons – in 2010-11 playing for three different managers – with over 200 appearances, has him still held in high regard by the locals.
Left fullback: Federico Peluso
The 38-year-old Peluso was one of the most celebrated and successful Sassuolo players of late having been capped by Italy and winning the Scudetto twice during his two year spell at Juventus and winning the Serie B title with Atalanta, co-incidentally with now teammate Andrea Consigli.
The evergreen Federico Peluso.
Peluso made over 150 appearances with Sassuolo, playing both as a central defender and a left fullback, and despite being towards the tail end of his career, Peluso was still a regular as a part of the matchday squad right up to his retirement in 2021.
Moat Break
The moat was built included in the original stadium design to prevent fans from jumping onto the field and utilise the space for excess water from the stands and the pitch.
Central Midfield: Manuel Locatelli
Locatelli arrived at Sassuolo looking for a second chance – deemed surplus at AC Milan with the club showing little faith, trust and patience in the midfielder – and he more than took his opportunity with both hands in Emilia-Romagna in 2018.
A regular of the Roberto De Zerbi era, Locatelli went on to make 99 appearances for the Neroverdi and quickly established himself as one of the best young Italian midfielders in Serie A.
Call it recency bias, but Locatelli proved to be an essential part of the Sassuolo midfield, comfortable dropping deep to gain possession, drifting wide to make space in the channels, find a killer pass to his more acclaimed forwards or just sit centrally spraying passes all over the field as a quarterback playmaker, Locatelli could, and did, do it all for the Neroverdi.
Locatelli was first capped by the Azzurri as a Sassuolo player, before eventually leaving for Juventus in 2021.
Central Midfield: Simone Missoli
The midfielder joined Sassuolo from Reggina in 2012 playing in a central attacking midfield role amassed 189 league appearances for the Neroverdi, with 16 goals and 19 assists, across a 7-year spell with the club.
Missoli spent most of his career at Sassuolo under the guidance of Eusebio Di Francesco and went on to form a fruitful relationship with fellow Calabrian Domenico Berardi across two seasons, in particular during the 2012-13 campaign, which ultimately ended in the Neroverdi winning the Serie B title.
Francesco Magnanelli
The hard working, recently retired central midfielder joined Sassuolo, who at the time were in Serie C from Sangiovannese 1927 in 2006-07, and went on to become the longest serving player in the clubs history going on to make 481 appearances in all competitions.
Magnanelli, who had short lived spells with A.C Chievo and Fiorentina – yet failed to register an appearance for both – won both the Serie C and B titles with Sassuolo in 2008 and 2013 respectively, and played under 15 different managers during his time at the club.
Sassuolo’s longest serving player, Francesco Magnanelli.
In his prime, Magnanelli’s ability to read the play, disrupt the opponents passing and always offer a vocal and passionate display of leadership, not only for his team-mates, but for the home fans, was a classic example of a player working hard and giving an all-out effort in everything he did to make up for areas where natural talent was lacking.
Moat Break
Not sure if I have mentioned this before?
In recent memory forward Francesco Caputo has come the closest to falling in the moat, when he slipped after jumping the advertising signage to celebrate a goal against SPAL in 2019.
Forward: Domenico Berardi
The Calabrian is the greatest player in Sassuolo’s history, that’s it. Nothing I can say will add to his legacy, let’s just enjoy him while we can.
Forward: Francesco Caputo
‘Ciccio’ hit the headlines amidst the COVID pandemic outbreak, after scoring the first of two goals against Brescia on April 3, holding up a handwritten note saying ‘Everything will be fine. Stay at home’.
But it’s more than medical advice he’s offered up in Reggio Emilia.
The cult-like Caputo only played 64 games for Sassuolo however scored 32 goals in a prolific two-year spell at the club. A late bloomer, Caputo ‘arrived’ on the scene during his time with Empoli prior to joining the Neroverdi and his time at Sassuolo will be fondly remembered.
Forward: Gaetano Masucci
The Neroverdi haven’t been blessed with a long line of prolific strikers, and perhaps Masucci’s inclusion into the team suggests so, however the Torino Primavera player made his mark at the club in Serie B playing as a striker and wide forward.
Masucci, who played under both Stefano Pioli and Max Allegri with Sassuolo, like a few others on the list rose through the ranks with the club from Serie C to Serie A and his mantlepiece is now occupied with Serie C title and Serie C Coppa Italia winners medals as a result of his efforts. In 2021 Masucci was still playing at the ripe age of 37 with Serie B side Pisa S.C.