Fabio Calcaterra was born in Magenta (Milan), on May 13, 1965.
He started playing football in the Inter youth set up and in 1983-84 joined the first team squad.
The manager was Luigi Radice but Calcaterra never made his debut. The Nerazzurri finished 4th (UEFA Cup).
In 1984-85 he was loaned to Siena in Serie C1. It was a good season for "Robur" under former Lazio player Ferruccio Mazzola which ended in promotion, in 1st place. Calcaterra played 32 league games and scored 2 goals. His teammates included, former Lazio, Pietro Ghedin (1974-79, 1980-81) and, past and future Lazio keeper, Mario Ielpo (1980-84, 1985-87).
In 1985-86 Calcaterra joined Lazio on loan in Serie B. It was a difficult season with financial uncertainty and President Chinaglia leaving in February. Lazio finished a disappointing 11th (but it could have been worse) under manager Gigi Simoni. Calcaterra played 33 league games.
In 1986 he returned to his mother club Inter. The manager was Giovanni Trapattoni and the Nerazzurri finished 3rd (UEFA Cup). Calcaterra played 14 league games. The squad included, his former Lazio teammates, Oliviero Garlini (1984-86) and Astutillo Malgioglio (1985-86).
In 1987-88 Calcaterra stayed at Inter, still under Trapattoni. They finished 3rd (UEFA Cup) and Calcaterra again played 14 league games.
In 1988 he was sold to Cesena in Serie A. He stayed three seasons and the Bianconeri finished 10th, 12th and 17th (relegated). His managers were Alberto Bigon (Lazio 1980-82) in the first year, Marcello Lippi (future World Cup winner) in the second and Lippi, Giampiero Ceccarelli and Alberto Battistoni in the third. Calcaterra played a total of 96 league games with 1 goal (Torino) plus 10 games in Coppa Italia. His teammates included former Lazio Vincenzo Esposito (1986-88) and, future Lazio Sergio Domini (1990-91).
In 1991 Calcaterra joined Bari in Serie A. The "Galletti" (The Cockerels) started off with Gaetano Salvemini (1-5) and finished with Zbigniew Boniek (6-34). The Biancorossi were relegated in 15th position despite having Zvonimir Boban and David Platt in the squad. Calcaterra played 18 league games with 1 goal (Verona).
He then stayed on in Serie B for another season. First, under Sebastiăo Lazaroni (1-18) and then, former Lazio Giuseppe Materazzi (1988-90). Bari finished 10th and Calcaterra played 20 league games.
In 1993 he returned to Cesena in Serie B. The "Cavalluccio" (Seahorse) manager was Bruno Bolchi and they finished 5th, then losing in the promotion playoffs (Padova 1-2).
In 1994-95 he stayed in Romagna with the Bianconeri. Still under Bolchi they finished 8th. In his two seasons with Cesena, he played 63 league games with 4 goals.
In 1995-96 he played for SPAL in nearby Ferrara, in Serie C1. First under manager Vincenzo Guerini (1-3) and then Salvatore Bianchetti, the Estensi finished 2nd but lost the promotion playoff (Como 3-6 on aggregate). Calcaterra played 24 league games with 4 goals.
In 1996 he first joined Gualdo in Serie C1 but then left before playing any games and moved to Forli in Serie D. The Biancorossi got relegated under Franco Bonavita and Calcaterra played 20 league games.
In 1997-98 he played for Catania in Serie C2. The "Elefanti" manager was first Angelo Busetta and then Giovanni Mei and they finished 4th and then lost in the playoff semi-final (Turris 0-1 on aggregate). Calcaterra played 14 league games.
In 1998-99 he played a season with Cremapergo in Serie C2 but under four different managers the "Cannibali" were relegated. Calcaterra played 15 league games.
Calcaterra then played two more seasons at amateur level with Atletico Milan before retiring at 36.
After retiring he went into coaching at youth level. He started at Cesena in 2002-03 and then spent four seasons with various Inter age levels. In 2009-10 he was with the Modena youth sector.
In 2010 he was assistant at Benevento in Lega Pro (3rd tier), first to former Cesena teammate Agatino Cuttone and then to, former Lazio, Giuseppe Galderisi (1987-88). The Giallorossi finished 2nd but lost the semi-final playoff (Juve Stabia 2-3 on aggregate).
In 2012-13 he was still at Benevento but back in the youth set up.
He then started to work as a sports director for A.S Crespi Morbio, an amateur club in Milan. In 2015 he began to work for Sampdoria at youth level but not as a coach.
He returned to coaching in 2021 with Riozzese Como female team in Serie B and then as Technical Director with Sedriano men's team at amateur level in Milan.
Calcaterra was a central defender. He was a physically strong, gritty player but not overly technical. The beginning of his career was promising, playing 28 games in Serie A for Inter, but he was unable to remain at those high levels. He did however play four more seasons in Serie A with Cesena and Bari, reaching a total of 142 games.
He never won any trophies but only a promotion up to C1 with Siena in 1984-85.
At Lazio he had a solid season but was unlucky with his timing. It was a negative year for the club in general and he was only on loan anyway. He played regularly however and did well enough to be called back to Inter.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1985-86 | 37 | 33 | 4 |
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