Gianluca Festa
| Date of birth | 15 March 1969 |
| Place of birth | Cagliari |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Weight | 85 kg |
| Height | 1.83 m |
| Position | Defender |
With Middlesbrough, FA Cup runner-up 1997, League Cup runner-up 1997.
This experienced central defender has a tough no-nonsense tackling style with an almost mischievous sense of adventure going forward, often leaving a mountain to climb when he needs to get back into position quickly.
The big Italian has now completed five seasons with Middlesbrough where the fans adore him, while from the club viewpoint he remains one of the best buys Bryan Robson ever made. It was good news for all at the club when he declared himself to be settled on Teesside thus ruling out a bid from his old boss Claudio Ranieri at Chelsea.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cagliari | 01 Jul 1986 | 01 Jul 1993 | |
| Fersuicis | 01 Jul 1987 | 01 Jul 1988 | L |
| Internazionale | 01 Jul 1993 | 18 Jan 1997 | |
| AS Roma | 01 Aug 1993 | 31 May 1994 | L |
| Middlesbrough | 18 Jan 1997 | 29 Aug 2002 | |
| Portsmouth | 23 Aug 2002 | 28 Aug 2002 | L |
| Portsmouth | 29 Aug 2002 | 01 Jul 2003 | |
| Cagliari | 01 Jul 2003 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | Middlesbrough | FA Cup | 5 | 1 |
3
|
||
| 1996-97 | Middlesbrough | League Cup | 4 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Middlesbrough | Premier League | 13 | 1 |
5
|
||
| 1997-98 | Middlesbrough | FA Cup | 1 |
1
|
|||
| 1997-98 | Middlesbrough | League Cup | 4 |
1
|
|||
| 1998-99 | Middlesbrough | League Cup | 2 | 1 |
|||
| 1998-99 | Middlesbrough | Premier League | 25 | 2 |
9
|
||
| 1999-00 | Middlesbrough | FA Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Middlesbrough | League Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Middlesbrough | Premier League | 27 | 2 |
2 |
6
|
1
|
| 2000-01 | Middlesbrough | FA Cup | 3 |
1
|
|||
| 2000-01 | Middlesbrough | League Cup | 3 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Middlesbrough | Premier League | 21 | 4 |
2 |
3
|
|
| 2001-02 | Middlesbrough | FA Cup | 3 | 1 |
|||
| 2001-02 | Middlesbrough | Premier League | 8 | 1 |
2
|
||
| 2002-03 | Portsmouth | League Cup | 2 |
1
|
|||
| 2002-03 | Portsmouth | League Division 1 | 27 | 1 |
5
|
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jan 1997 | Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 4-2 | Premier League | |
| 25 Jan 1997 | Middlesbrough v Hednesford Town | W | 3-2 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 01 Feb 1997 | Wimbledon v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 15 Feb 1997 | Manchester City v Middlesbrough | W | 0-1 | FA Cup | 5th round |
| 22 Feb 1997 | Middlesbrough v Newcastle United | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 26 Feb 1997 | Stockport County v Middlesbrough | W | 0-2 | League Cup | Semi-final 1st leg |
| 01 Mar 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough | L | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 05 Mar 1997 | Middlesbrough v Derby County | W | 6-1 | Premier League | |
| 08 Mar 1997 | Derby County v Middlesbrough | W | 0-2 | FA Cup | Quarter-final |
| 12 Mar 1997 | Middlesbrough v Stockport County | L |
0-1 Agg: 2-1 |
League Cup | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 19 Mar 1997 | Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 22 Mar 1997 | Middlesbrough v Chelsea | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 24 Mar 1997 | Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 06 Apr 1997 | Leicester City v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | League Cup | Final |
| 09 Apr 1997 | West Ham United v Middlesbrough | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 13 Apr 1997 | Middlesbrough v Chesterfield | D | 3-3 | FA Cup | Semi-final |
| 16 Apr 1997 | Leicester City v Middlesbrough | L | 1-0 | League Cup | Final replay |
| 03 May 1997 | Middlesbrough v Aston Villa | W | 3-2 | Premier League | |
| 05 May 1997 | Manchester United v Middlesbrough | D | 3-3 | Premier League | |
| 08 May 1997 | Blackburn Rovers v Middlesbrough | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 11 May 1997 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 17 May 1997 | Chelsea v Middlesbrough | L | 2-0 | FA Cup | Final |
| 15 Oct 1997 | Middlesbrough v Sunderland | W | 2-0 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 18 Nov 1997 | Middlesbrough v Bolton Wanderers | W | 2-1 | League Cup | 4th round |
| 24 Jan 1998 | Middlesbrough v Arsenal | L | 1-2 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 18 Feb 1998 | Middlesbrough v Liverpool | W |
2-0 Agg: 3-2 |
League Cup | Semi-final 2nd leg |
| 29 Mar 1998 | Chelsea v Middlesbrough | L | 2-0 | League Cup | Final |
| 23 Aug 1998 | Aston Villa v Middlesbrough | L | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 29 Aug 1998 | Middlesbrough v Derby County | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 09 Sep 1998 | Leicester City v Middlesbrough | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 13 Sep 1998 | Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough | W | 0-3 | Premier League | |
| 16 Sep 1998 | Middlesbrough v Wycombe Wanderers | W | 2-0 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 19 Sep 1998 | Middlesbrough v Everton | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 26 Sep 1998 | Chelsea v Middlesbrough | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 03 Oct 1998 | Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 4-0 | Premier League | |
| 17 Oct 1998 | Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 24 Oct 1998 | Wimbledon v Middlesbrough | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 28 Oct 1998 | Middlesbrough v Everton | L | 2-3 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 01 Nov 1998 | Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 07 Nov 1998 | Southampton v Middlesbrough | D | 3-3 | Premier League | |
| 14 Nov 1998 | Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 21 Nov 1998 | Middlesbrough v Coventry City | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 19 Dec 1998 | Manchester United v Middlesbrough | W | 2-3 | Premier League | |
| 26 Dec 1998 | Middlesbrough v Liverpool | L | 1-3 | Premier League | |
| 28 Dec 1998 | Derby County v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 09 Jan 1999 | Middlesbrough v Aston Villa | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 16 Jan 1999 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 30 Jan 1999 | Middlesbrough v Leicester City | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 06 Feb 1999 | Liverpool v Middlesbrough | L | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 14 Mar 1999 | Middlesbrough v Southampton | W | 3-0 | Premier League | |
| 20 Mar 1999 | Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough | W | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 05 Apr 1999 | Middlesbrough v Wimbledon | W | 3-1 | Premier League | |
| 10 Apr 1999 | Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 14 Apr 1999 | Middlesbrough v Chelsea | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 07 Aug 1999 | Middlesbrough v Bradford City | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 10 Aug 1999 | Wimbledon v Middlesbrough | W | 2-3 | Premier League | |
| 14 Aug 1999 | Derby County v Middlesbrough | W | 1-3 | Premier League | |
| 21 Aug 1999 | Middlesbrough v Liverpool | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 24 Aug 1999 | Middlesbrough v Leicester City | L | 0-3 | Premier League | |
| 19 Sep 1999 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | L | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 25 Sep 1999 | Middlesbrough v Chelsea | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 Oct 1999 | Newcastle United v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 20 Nov 1999 | Arsenal v Middlesbrough | L | 5-1 | Premier League | |
| 27 Nov 1999 | Middlesbrough v Wimbledon | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 30 Nov 1999 | Middlesbrough v Arsenal | W | 2-2 (3-1) | League Cup | 4th round |
| 04 Dec 1999 | Bradford City v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 11 Dec 1999 | Wrexham v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 14 Dec 1999 | Tranmere Rovers v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | League Cup | Quarter-final |
| 18 Dec 1999 | Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur | W | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 26 Dec 1999 | Sheffield Wednesday v Middlesbrough | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 15 Jan 2000 | Middlesbrough v Derby County | L | 1-4 | Premier League | |
| 22 Jan 2000 | Liverpool v Middlesbrough | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 29 Jan 2000 | Manchester United v Middlesbrough | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 05 Feb 2000 | Leicester City v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 14 Feb 2000 | Middlesbrough v Aston Villa | L | 0-4 | Premier League | |
| 19 Feb 2000 | Middlesbrough v Coventry City | W | 2-0 | Premier League | |
| 26 Feb 2000 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 18 Mar 2000 | Sunderland v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 25 Mar 2000 | Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 10 Apr 2000 | Middlesbrough v Manchester United | L | 3-4 | Premier League | |
| 15 Apr 2000 | Coventry City v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 22 Apr 2000 | Chelsea v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 29 Apr 2000 | West Ham United v Middlesbrough | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 02 May 2000 | Middlesbrough v Newcastle United | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 06 May 2000 | Middlesbrough v Watford | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 14 May 2000 | Everton v Middlesbrough | W | 0-2 | Premier League | |
| 06 Sep 2000 | Derby County v Middlesbrough | D | 3-3 | Premier League | |
| 09 Sep 2000 | Middlesbrough v Everton | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 17 Sep 2000 | Manchester City v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 19 Sep 2000 | Middlesbrough v Macclesfield Town | W | 2-1 | League Cup | 2nd round 1st leg |
| 23 Sep 2000 | Middlesbrough v Aston Villa | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 26 Sep 2000 | Macclesfield Town v Middlesbrough | W |
1-3 Agg: 2-5 |
League Cup | 2nd round 2nd leg |
| 30 Sep 2000 | Southampton v Middlesbrough | W | 1-3 | Premier League | |
| 16 Oct 2000 | Middlesbrough v Newcastle United | L | 1-3 | Premier League | |
| 21 Oct 2000 | Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 28 Oct 2000 | Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 31 Oct 2000 | Wimbledon v Middlesbrough | L | 1-0 | League Cup | 3rd round |
| 04 Nov 2000 | Middlesbrough v Arsenal | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 18 Nov 2000 | Middlesbrough v Leicester City | L | 0-3 | Premier League | |
| 25 Nov 2000 | Middlesbrough v Bradford City | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 02 Dec 2000 | West Ham United v Middlesbrough | L | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 16 Dec 2000 | Middlesbrough v Chelsea | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 26 Dec 2000 | Middlesbrough v Liverpool | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 30 Dec 2000 | Middlesbrough v Coventry City | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 01 Jan 2001 | Leeds United v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 08 Jan 2001 | Bradford City v Middlesbrough | W | 0-1 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 13 Jan 2001 | Middlesbrough v Derby County | W | 4-0 | Premier League | |
| 20 Jan 2001 | Liverpool v Middlesbrough | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 31 Jan 2001 | Everton v Middlesbrough | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 06 Feb 2001 | Middlesbrough v Wimbledon | D | 0-0 | FA Cup | 4th round |
| 10 Feb 2001 | Aston Villa v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 13 Feb 2001 | Wimbledon v Middlesbrough | L | 3-1 | FA Cup | 4th round replay |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Middlesbrough v Southampton | L | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 Mar 2001 | Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 17 Mar 2001 | Newcastle United v Middlesbrough | W | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 31 Mar 2001 | Chelsea v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 09 Apr 2001 | Middlesbrough v Sunderland | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 01 Jan 2002 | Middlesbrough v Everton | W | 1-0 | Premier League | |
| 08 Jan 2002 | Wimbledon v Middlesbrough | D | 0-0 | FA Cup | 3rd round |
| 12 Jan 2002 | Fulham v Middlesbrough | L | 2-1 | Premier League | |
| 15 Jan 2002 | Middlesbrough v Wimbledon | W | 2-0 | FA Cup | 3rd round replay |
| 29 Jan 2002 | Sunderland v Middlesbrough | W | 0-1 | Premier League | |
| 03 Feb 2002 | Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic | D | 0-0 | Premier League | |
| 09 Feb 2002 | Middlesbrough v Leeds United | D | 2-2 | Premier League | |
| 06 Mar 2002 | Southampton v Middlesbrough | D | 1-1 | Premier League | |
| 10 Mar 2002 | Middlesbrough v Everton | W | 3-0 | FA Cup | Quarter-final |
| 16 Mar 2002 | Middlesbrough v Liverpool | L | 1-2 | Premier League | |
| 14 Apr 2002 | Middlesbrough v Arsenal | L | 0-1 | FA Cup | Semi-final |
| 20 Apr 2002 | Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers | L | 1-3 | Premier League | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.