| Intro | Italian footballer |
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | Italy |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 19 September 1987, Varese |
| Age: | 32 years |
Ignazio Cocchiere (born 19 September 1987) is an Italian footballer who plays for Belgian First Division Amateurs club FCV Dender EH. He signed for FCV Dender EH in 2016 after having previously been one of the crowd favourites for the club Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, having played an integral part in their promotion to the Belgian Second Division in season 2014 – 2015. Quickly after his arrival at FCV Dender EH he started making his impact at his new club and with his goals he contributed to a good start of the season 2016 – 2017. Cocchiere was born in Varese in Italy and signed his first professional contract at the age of 18 for Internazionale.
Biography
Youth career
Born in Varese, Lombardy, Cocchiere started his career in Lombardy team Legnano, where he played for its Berretti under-20 reserve since 2004–05 season. Cocchiere also played for a local club in Azzate, the Province of Varese before 2001.
In mid-2006 he signed his first professional contract for top Serie A club Internazionale, where he joined the reserve team. Like most of his new Primavera under-20 reserve team-mates, Cocchiere received a first-team shirt number of no.56. At the Inter reserves he played in a very strong youth team, featuring Mario Balotelli and Leonardo Bonucci among others, resulting in winning the Primavera league.
Lega Pro
After graduation from the Reserves, Cocchiere left for Pizzighettone in late-August 2007. As the club also signed Eros Bagnara and Michele Piccolo, as well as experienced Marcello Campolonghi, Cocchiere was only able to play 2 matches that season. In 2008–09 Lega Pro Prima Divisione, he was signed by Pro Patria. Cocchiere did not play any game for the first team and was released in February 2009.
Switzerland
Cocchiere was signed by Swiss Challenge League club Nyon in 2010, but as a result of the Swiss maximum number of foreign players he was initially loaned out to Swiss 1. Liga club Baulmes. Here he had a successful run of games playing a an attacking right-back and contributed to the club’s great form with an impressive number of 7 goals in 12 games. His goal scoring record attracted the attention of a number of first league clubs and this contributed to the decision of Nyon to call him back to the club and add him to the squad in summer of 2010. However, after a handful appearances, Cocchiere was released in summer of 2011, when he decided to return to Italy to finish his University degree.
Serie D
Cocchiere then returned to Italy for Serie D club Gallaratese. Here he scored 5 goals in 11 games. On 4 January 2012 he was signed by Caronnese. Both clubs are located in the Province of Varese.
Belgium
Cocchiere moved to Brussels where he signed for Royal Union Saint-Gilloise and combined his football career with a career working for the European Parliament. After some very successful seasons playing for Union, Cocchiere featured less in the starting eleven during season 2015-2016, much to the disliking of many of the fans. This eventually lead to his departure and Cocchiere found a new challenge at FCV Dender EH, signing a one-year contract with an option of one more year. He quoted the reputation and great infrastructure of the club as some of the reasons for signing. Here he quickly found his rhythm and form; being voted as ‘Man of the Match’ by Dender fans on frequent occasions and scoring 12 goals in his first 16 official games.
European Parliament
Ignazio Cocchiere has always combined his professional football career with academic activities, studying at University in many of the countries he played. Having successfully combined his studies with practicing his sport fulltime, he continued combining both careers also after graduation. In Brussels he found a job working at the European Parliament, where he has worked for more than three years now. As a result of playing for local cult club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise and working in the so-called ‘Brussels Bubble’ made him a well-known and respected figure in the local scene, resulting regularly in a lot of media coverage.