While it might be easy for some football fans to overlook an intelligent player like Davide Zappacosta, his story is far from ordinary. Remember his days at Chelsea, where he fiercely competed with Victor Moses? Despite facing criticism and being labelled a “Chelsea reject” by some fans, Zappacosta has consistently proven his doubters wrong. Most notably, he played a crucial right-back role in the match where Ademola Lookman scored a hat trick to secure the UEFA Europa League title for Atalanta BC in the 2023–24 season.
In this article, we delve into Davide Zappacosta’s journey from childhood to football success, exploring how he overcame challenges and made his mark on the game.
A Chelsea Forgotten Who Made It: Davide Zappacosta’s Story Beyond the Pitch
We present the full story of a football star famously nicknamed “Thunderbolt.”
Our detailed biography of Davide Zappacosta includes everything from his childhood to his rise to fame. This account covers his early years, family life, and lesser-known facts about him both on and off the pitch.
While many remember him as Victor Moses’ rival during his time with Antonio Conte’s Chelsea team and as a talented right-back with impressive skills, there’s much more to his story.
In our exploration of Italian football, we’ve noticed that Davide Zappacosta’s biography isn’t widely known, making it all the more intriguing. So, without further delay, let’s dive into his story.
Davide Zappacosta Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
The Childhood Years of Davide Zappacosta.
For Biographical starters, Davide Zappacosta was born on the 11th day of June 1992 in Sora town, Province of Frosinone, Italy, to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roberto Zappacosta.
He was raised in the same historical town of Sora, south-central Italy, in the commune of Lazio, where the famous SS Lazio football club is located.
Davide had supportive parents right from early childhood. He went through Sora’s elementary school system.
However, education wasn’t really his calling despite the importance placed by virtually every inhabitant of the community.
Davide’s love for football originated from close proximity advantages between his town and the SS Lazio football club.
He was one of the very few kids who not only visited the football club but took an interest in the club’s breeds of notable footballers.
Between the ages of 4 to 12 (the year 1996 – 2007), Davide not only witnessed but learnt a lot from notable names of SS Lazio. He was a great fan of following notables who played at SS Lazio at certain timelines.
They include; Alessandro Nesta (1993-2002), Jaap Stam (2001 – 2004), Hernán Crespo (2000–2002), Roberto Mancini, Salas Melinao (1998–2001), Sebastián Verón (1999 – 2001), Pavel Nedvěd (1996 – 2001), Claudio López (2000 – 2004) and Christian Vieri (1998 – 1999).
These names signified the reason for his interest in football. His mixture of love from his numerous idols who played different positions has defined his attributes today in the field of play.
His parents supported his decision to pursue his football dreams by registering him in Sora’s youth football system. ID Card is shown below.
Young Davide Zappacosta’s ID Card is from his childhood club.
Davide Zappacosta Biography – Career Summary:
Right from his youthful career days, Zappacosta chose to play a right-back utility role. Davide Zappacosta’s youth displays a man who loves to play close to the football flag (Right back).
This is Davide Zappacosta before he became famous.
He has always been one who would defend, attack, assist, shoot at long range and, above all, create goal chances.
Zappacosta’s Story of Grass to Grace.
At the age of 15, he joined the famed Atalanta Academy in 2011 after making a mark in youth football in his native region of Lazio, where his town, Sora, is located.
They loaned him to lower-league outfit Avellino. When the southern team won promotion to Serie B in the spring of 2013, Zappacosta tattooed his arm with the date of the triumph (5-5-2013). He was recalled by Atalanta and played 29 league games in 2014-15, scoring three times.
Torino was impressed by his good football at Atlanta, and in July 2015, they paid a combined £7m for him and midfielder Daniele Baselli. Thou, a reported £2.5m of the fee was for Zappacosta.
Toro’s wily owner, Urbano Cairo, couldn’t say no when Chelsea offered £25m for the buccaneering right-back. He signed a four-year contract deal with Chelsea at the same time as Danny Drinkwater.
Zappacosta’s wages at Chelsea were £45,000. This weekly wage is low compared to what the average Chelsea FC player receives. His transfer was completed minutes before the transfer window shut on the day of the deadline.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Davide Zappacosta Family Life:
The Davide Zappacosta family life is unique in Sora. It’s a family that has always believed in following their dreams with hard work.
Both of his parents once operated in the middle-income class. They survived in paper mill manufacturing for many years before retiring, thanks to their son’s success in football.
Davide Zappacosta’s Parents and Family Life – Mr. and Mrs. Roberto Zappacosta.
According to Wikipedia, The Davide Zappacosta family is the only notable Sora family that has seen their offspring excel most in football. He has an elder brother named Fabio Zappacosta, pictured below.
Davide Zappacosta’s brother- Fabio.
Who is Morena Urzini? Davide Zappacosta’s Wife:
The Zappacosta biography isn’t complete without his love life. He has a girl whom he takes as his responsibility from day one. Davide Zappacosta’s girlfriend, Morena Urzini (pictured below) has been the love of his life since his childhood days.
Unlike Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Davide doesn’t feel the choice of a wife-to-be should come just at the age of 30. He has been in love with her right from his teens.
Davide Zappacosta and his partner.
Davide Zappacosta’s life outside the football field is spent solely with his girlfriend, Morena Urzini. According to The Sun, Zappacosta is now living his dreams.
He lives the Zappa Life with his dream girlfriend/wife-to-be (Morena) in his dream club (Chelsea FC) and dream coach (Antonio Conte).
Davide Zappacosta’s Love Story is similar to that of Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Marcus Rashford. Very much opposite to that of Anthony Martial, Edinson Cavani, and Cesc Fabregas.
Debut Goal Fact:
He made his full debut and scored his first goal for Chelsea on 12 September 2017, in a 6–0 home win against Qarabağ FK, in the opening group C match of that memorable UEFA Champions League match.
This was the 100th goal ever scored by an Italian player in the competition.
Love for Chelsea and Antonio Conte:
The Chelsea new boy of 31st August 2017 may have been a Plan B buy for the blues, but he could have hinted at his desire to move to the London club with a Chelsea FC victory tweet he re-tweeted in May.
He also said it was “a dream for me to join Chelsea” after his deal was finalized.
Antonio Conte’s relationship with Zappacosta – The Italian Affair.
It could have also simply been a nod to the man (Antonio Conte) who gave him his first taste of senior international football. Antonio Conte named the defender to his provisional 30-man squad for Euro 2016.
He was one of the three reserve players who typically head home after the opening match, but Conte requested he stay to absorb his first experience as a senior international. Since the opportunity, he has become a regular in the country.
This also explained why he reunited with Antonio Conte in London to get his first sample of the Premier League.
Strength:
Crossing the ball is his calling card. Davide might not be in namesake David Beckham’s class, but his whip-curling crosses are no doubt reminiscent of the England legend.
More so, he doesn’t deliver advanced techniques like Ousmane Dembele and Gabriel Jesus but has shooting similarities with Leroy Sane. This is why he is nicknamed ‘Thunderbolt’.
His shooting and crosses like manna from heaven. Zappacosta is one who is willing to gamble with the ball and get between the most powerful central defenders. Andrea Belotti was the beneficiary at Torino, and to this day, Alvaro Morata benefits.
Zappacosta also has bags of energy like Johan Bakayoko and a good shot. He can play on either flank in a four or five-man defence – similar to Ivan Perisic and Victor Moses.
Those options and his hard-working approach make him an excellent acquisition for the Blues. He’s got the work ethic of a superstar but the ego of a foot soldier.
Weakness:
Although, this is a general cliché about attacking full-backs. Zappacosta is one whose overlapping tendencies can make his team suffer when an opposite side does the counterattack.
This is why he prefers a team like Conte’s Chelsea, which plays the five-man defence.
According to Zappacosta: “When you play in a four-man backline, you need to use more intelligence and concentrate more.
I prefer a five-man defence because it suits my play. There isn’t as much cover. In it, you have to pay attention in every situation except running down the opponent’s flank.”
To give him credit, the Italian has shown signs of progress at Chelsea. Conte, indeed, is a master of transforming promising defenders into world-beaters. Leonardo Bonucci‘s line of development is what Zappacosta is following.
Davide Zappacosta Competition for Victor Moses:
When Davide Zappacosta delivered an impressive display in his first start for Chelsea in their win over Qarabag, Victor Moses was quickly reminded of the Italian’s performance by his own teammates.
This happened when Zappacosta appeared to score the goal of that evening as his shot from 30 yards flew into the net.
Zappacosta vs. Moses. Who is a better player?
And during the wild celebrations in the Chelsea dugout, David Luiz and Willy Caballero were seen joking with Moses, presumably telling him that his days on Conte’s right flank may be numbered after Zappacosta’s thunderbolt.
The Italy international took the shine off the goal by admitting that his effort was a cross. Now the question (food for thought) goes like this: Between Zappacosta and Moses, who is better?
Zappacosta Vs Victor Moses – Who is better?
The Sora Sporting Hero:
Finally, on our Davide Zappacosta Facts is his recognition as a sporting hero in his hometown, Sora. On Saturday, June 14, at 11:00 a.m., the Conservatory Hall of the City of Sora had a ceremony for the heroes of the town.
They presented a Sports Merit Award to Davide Zappacosta in acknowledgement of his ever-growing talent. The award was presented to Zappacosta by Roberto Cirelli, his former Sora Calcio Youth Manager.
Davide Zappacosta’s Township Award.
