Vince Grella

Vince Grella

Grella in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Vincenzo Grella[1]
Date of birth	(1979-10-05) 5 October 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Dandenong, Victoria, Australia
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Catania (vice-president & CEO)
Youth career
	Springvale City
1996–1997	AIS
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1995–1996	Springvale City	16	(0)
1996–1997	Canberra Cosmos	14	(1)
1997–1998	Carlton	23	(1)
1998–2004	Empoli	60	(1)
1999–2001	→ Ternana (loan)	27	(0)
2004–2007	Parma	92	(2)
2007–2008	Torino	28	(1)
2008–2012	Blackburn Rovers	38	(0)
2012–2013	Melbourne Heart	1	(0)
Total		299	(6)
International career
1996–1999	Australia U-20	11	(0)
1996–2000	Australia U-23	17	(0)
2003–2010	Australia	46	(0)
Medal record Representing  Australia Men's Association football OFC Nations Cup Winner 2004 Australia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Vincenzo Grella (born 5 October 1979) is an Australian former footballer who played as a midfielder. Born in Dandenong to Italian immigrants, Antonio and Maria, Grella began his senior career in Australia before moving to Italy, where he spent over ten years, playing for Empoli, Ternana, Parma and Torino. He moved to Blackburn Rovers of the Premier League in 2008 where he spent four seasons, before returning to Australia in 2012 to play for Melbourne Heart.

He retired from professional football in January 2013, after a long-standing struggle with injuries. Grella represented the Australian national team on 46 occasions, and played at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. His 2010 FIFA World Cup profile describes him as a possessing the "ability to mop up loose balls and halt opposition counter-attacks."^[3]