Leonardo Colucci was born in Cerignola (Bari), on December 29,1972.
He started his career with his hometown of Cerignola. The Gialloblu were in Promozione (5th tier) and he played three seasons, finishing 3rd (promoted to Interregionale- 4th tier), 2nd and 2nd again. He played 103 league games with 12 goals.
In 1993-94 he played a season with Siracusa in Serie C1. The manager was first Paolo Lombardo and then Giuliano Sonzogni and the Leoni finished 15th. Colucci played 41 league games with 8 goals. One of his teammates was future manager Marco Giampaolo (Sampdoria, Milan, Torino amongst others).
In 1994-95 he was with Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Zdeněk Zeman and the Biancocelesti finished 2nd and reached the UEFA Cup quarterfinals. Colucci played 2 league games with 1 goal (winner against Brescia) and 1 game in Coppa Italia.
In 1995 he joined Reggiana in Serie B. The Granata were promoted in 3rd place under Carlo Ancelotti. Colucci played 35 league games with 3 goals (Cosenza, Avellino, Fidelis Andria) and 3 games in Coppa Italia. His teammates included Lazio connections Marco Ballotta (1997-2000, 2005-08), Fabrizio Di Mauro (1993-1994), Angelo Gregucci (1986-1993), Antonio Rizzolo (1986-89) and Eugenio Sgarbossa (1986).
In 1996 he joined Verona in Serie A. He stayed with Hellas six seasons. The Gialloblu finished 17th (relegated), 7th, 1st (promoted), 9th, 14th and 15th (relegated). His managers were Luigi Cagni, Cagni then Sergio Maddė, Cesare Prandelli for two seasons, Attilio Perotti and finally Alberto Malesani. Colucci played 163 matches (149 in A) with 10 goals (6 in A, Atalanta, Lecce, Parma, Juventus, Lazio twice). His teammates included Lazio connections Roberto Bacci (1990-95), Sebastiano Siviglia (2004-10), Marco Piovanelli (1995-97), Antony Šeric (2004-05), Massimo Oddo (2002-07).
In 2003 he moved to Bologna in Serie A. He stayed four seasons and the Felsinei finished 11th, 12th, 18th (relegated) and 8th (in B). His managers were Francesco Guidolin, Carlo Mazzone for two seasons and then Renzo Ulivieri. His teammates included Lazio connections Julio Cruz (2009-10), Giuseppe Signori (1992-97), Mourad Meghni (2007-11) and Igli Tare (2005-08 player, 2008-2023 sports director). Colucci played a total of 130 games (114 in A) with 5 goals (1 in A- Udinese and2 in the Intertoto Cup-Teplice x2 and 2 in Coppa Italia-Ternana x2).
In 2006-07 he played a season in Sardinia with Cagliari in Serie A. The manager was Marco Giampaolo, then Franco Colomba and then Giampaolo again. The "Casteddu" finished 17th and Colucci played 26 league games with 1 goal (Inter).
In 2007 he joined Cremonese in C1. The manager was Emiliano Mondonico. The Tigers finished 2nd but lost the promotion playoff final to Cittadella 2-3 on aggregate. Colucci played 26 league games and 4 in the playoffs.
The following year he stayed in Cremona in the new Lega Pro 1 (still 3rd tier). The Grigiorossi had three different managers: Ivo Iaconi (1-16), Emiliano Mondonico (17-26) and finally Roberto Venturato (27-34). The Cremonesi finished 9th but reached the Coppa Italia Lega Pro final, losing to Sorrento 0-1 on aggregate. Colucci only played 7 league games.
His last two years of playing career were spent in Modena in Serie B. The manager was Luigi Appolloni in the first season and then, Lazio legend, Cristiano Bergodi in the second. The Canaries finished 13th and 10th. Colucci played 55 league games.
At 38 he retired.
At International level he won one cap for Italy U21's with 1 goal.
He then became a manager. He started in 2011 at Cesena in Serie A as assistant to Marco Giampaolo but they were both replaced after ten games. The Bianconeri were eventually relegated. His squad included future Lazio, Antonio Candreva (2012-16) and Marco Parolo (2014-21).
Colucci then worked for Bologna's youth set up for four years (two years with U19's).
In 2016-17 he was manager of Reggiana in Lega Pro (3rd tier) until he was replaced on January 22.
He then took on the job at Pordenone in Serie C but was replaced after 25 games with the Neroverdi in 10th place.
In 2018-19 he spent a season at Vis Pesaro in Serie C. The Vissini finished 15th.
In 2020-21, after 11 games, he took over at Ravenna in Serie C. He was unable to avoid the "Leoni" getting relegated.
In 2021-22, in November, he became manager of AZ Picerno (Potenza- Basilicata) in Serie C. The Melandrini finished 10th.
In 2022-23 he started at Juve Stabia (Napoli) in Serie C but was replaced after 23 games.
He is currently at SPAL (Ferrara) in Serie C where after six games he took over from Domenico Di Carlo.
Colucci was a midfielder. He usually played centrally as a low playmaker. He was not a quick player but moved the ball well. His best years were with Verona and Bologna. He played 213 games in Serie A with 9 goals and 168 in B with 7 goals.
At Lazio he only stayed one season. In midfield the Biancocelesti had Aron Winter, Roberto Di Matteo, Roberto Bacci and Diego Fuser so Colucci was a reserve. He played three games and had the satisfaction of scoring Lazio’s winner in the last game of the season to help Lazio clinch a prestigious 2nd place.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1994-95 | 3 (1) | 2 (1) | 1 |
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