| Intro | Italian footballer | ||
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
||
| From | Italy | ||
| Type | Sports | ||
| Gender | male | ||
| Birth | 17 February 1984, Rome, Province of Rome, Lazio, Italy | ||
| Age: | 36 years | ||
| Stats |
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Iacopo La Rocca (born 17 February 1984) is an Italian-Australian footballer, who plays as a defensive midfielder and Central defender in the A-League for Adelaide United.
Club career
La Rocca started his youth career at Lazio, before moving to his first club Pro Vercelli. He since played various clubs in Italy, likes of Chieti, Fermana, Sassari Torres before moving to Switzerland, where he joined AC Bellinzona and Swiss Super League club Grasshopper.
On 11 September 2012, he signed a one-year deal with A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers. La Rocca scored his first goal for Western Sydney Wanderers on 18 November 2012 in just his second game, to defeat Perth Glory. In February 2013, he signed a new two-year deal with the Wanderers.
On 23 March, La Rocca was sent off in the last minute of stoppage time in the third Sydney Derby of the season for elbowing Sydney midfielder Terry Antonis in the temple. The subsequent ban meant La Rocca missed the semifinal and the final. His club nonetheless won the title in their debut season, and then won the 2014 AFC Champions League, with La Rocca starting both legs of their triumph over Al-Hilal in the final.
At the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco, La Rocca opened the scoring against Cruz Azul of Mexico in an eventual 1–3 loss after extra time.
In June 2015, La Rocca signed a two-year contract with Adelaide United. After overcoming injury, he featured heavily for Adelaide in the second half of the season and played a crucial role in the central defensive position along with teammate Dylan McGowan in the club’s successful attempt at the Premier’s Plate and inaugural Championship title.
In November 2016, La Rocca became an Australian citizen, allowing him to be called up to the Australian national team and to be considered as a domestic player for his club.
Honours
- A-League Premiers: 2013
- AFC Champions League: 2014
Adelaide United FC
- A-League Premiers: 2016
- A-League Championship: 2015-16
Individual
- Joe Marston Medal: 2014