Iacopo La Rocca

Right in the feels. He'll always be a Wanderer....well, a fictional one.

so who will be the first wanderers player to cop a la rocca special "accidental" follow through tackle?

so who will be the first wanderers player to cop a la rocca special "accidental" follow through tackle?

That's assuming he's in the line-up. He wasn't always first choice at Wanderers during his 3 years here.

Technically the Reds signed a WSW reject. Time will tell if this move works out better for the club or the player. Good luck to him!

For those that love a punt, I'd put my house on the Reds having the most yellow cards next season....

Technically the Reds signed a WSW reject. Time will tell if this move works out better for the club or the player. Good luck to him!

No such thing.... Expired used by date for a better term... 

One of our originals, he gave us all, The Rock will always be loved by our supporters, he has gone to a club that plays a good style of football, I don't mind him going to Adelaide.

All the best Iacoppo, always a Wanderer.

The guy did westside to the cove and cracked Antonis.

Forever a wanderers legend.

thanks and good luck.

I am looking forward to him belting abbas again and flicking up a cheeky 'westside' signal just for old times sake.

You see that Spira?

Hi five!

I still have the picture of him standing there with Abbas on the ground in agony.

It'll stay on my computer so I can look at it everyday.

No words can be enough for how much I enjoyed that.

One of our originals, he gave us all, The Rock will always be loved by our supporters, he has gone to a club that plays a good style of football, I don't mind him going to Adelaide.

All the best Iacoppo, always a Wanderer.

Great post! 

Saw iacopo a couple of hours ago at the shops.

Doesn't seem in a great hurry to get down to adelaide

Saw iacopo a couple of hours ago at the shops.

 

Doesn't seem in a great hurry to get down to adelaide

I don't blame him. What a hole.

I will just leave this article here. No offer?

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/asian-champions-league-glory-within-the-reds-reach-says-super-recruit-iacopo-la-rocca/story-fnibbvew-1227427132846

Can you copy and paste for us non subscribers pleeeaaasssseee?

SEPTEMBER 18, 2008, and Swiss side Bellinzonza trails Turkish superpower Galatasary 3-2 in a UEFA Cup first round tie at Basel’s St Jakob-Park.

Goals to Socceroos star Harry Kewell and a brace to former Liverpool striker Milan Baros have given the visitors a slender first leg advantage.

With 90 minutes up, Bellinzonza wins a corner and piles numbers forward in a final roll of the dice.

As Gurkan Sermeter swings the ball in, Italian Iacopo La Rocca rises high to head home the equaliser and give his side hope in its debut European campaign.

“It was a special experience,†La Rocca, now 31, says.

“Kewell was there but I really remember Baros.

“He was one of the best players that I’ve ever played against.

“I improved a lot playing in big games in the UEFA Cup and it’s a good memory for me.â€

Six years on and La Rocca again proves he is the man for the big occasion.

After helping Western Sydney win the Premier’s Plate in the club’s debut A-League season, he plays a major role in steering the Wanderers to the Asian Champions League final.

The defensive midfielder is typically dogged in the two-legged decider, inspiring his side to a 1-0 aggregate victory over Saudi millionaires Al-Hilal.

“Winning the Asian Champions League was the best achievement of my career.

“It was something that no one expected in Australia.

“In the end everyone remembers when you win something.â€

Winning is a habit La Rocca hopes to continue at the latest stop on his soccer odyssey.

The lion-hearted enforcer was last week unveiled as Adelaide United’s first recruit ahead of the 2015/16 A-League campaign.

“I’m really excited because for me they play the best football in Australia,†says La Rocca, who will begin training with the Reds on Monday.

“I know every single player there is happy and they have fun when they play for Adelaide because they have a different style of game.

“My goal here is to win the grand final.

“I’ve lost two grand finals (with Western Sydney) and that’s why I want to win one.â€

La Rocca, who is equally adept screening the back four or at the heart of defence, is renowned for his tough-tackling and no-nonsense attitude on the field.

But the politely spoken Roman has been sent off just once in 58 A-League appearances and has successfully completed more than 75 per cent of passes in each of the past three seasons.

He does not believe Reds coach Josep Gombau sought his services solely to add steel to United’s well-documented flair.

“I’m not just this (physical) type of player.

“Every time I play for a team I give my everything and try my best to help my teammates.

“But every player has their own style and I cannot change how other people play.â€

Born in the Italian capital, La Rocca joined Serie A giant Lazio aged nine.

He rose through the club’s youth ranks, playing against the likes of Fiorentina and Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani, but was released at 18.

La Rocca cut his professional teeth in the lower leagues of Italian football and made his senior debut for third-tier Pro Vercelli in 2001.

His break came when he joined Swiss second division club Bellinzonza.

In four seasons, he helped the minnow win promotion to the top flight and a place in the 2008 Swiss Cup final.

La Rocca’s impressive displays caught the eye of Zurich giant Grasshopper, who signed him in 2011.

“It was fantastic because it is one of the best clubs in Switzerland.

“It was a big difference because the facilities and everything else was really professional.â€

Looking for a “new challengeâ€, La Rocca’s agent made contact with several Australian clubs, including the newly-formed Western Sydney.

He went on to become a cult figure at Wanderland, driving the fledgling squad to two A-League grand finals.

“I came here (Australia) three years ago and it was my best decision,†says La Rocca, who was named man-of-the-match in the 2014 decider.

“I was happy after being here only two months because I started to learn English and the team was very good.â€

Western Sydney’s dream run came to a grinding halt last season.

The club finished second bottom of the A-League and its ACL defence ended in the group stage.

The disappointment led to a clear-out of star names including goalkeeper Ante Covic, Socceroos striker Tomi Juric and La Rocca.

“We didn’t achieve anything and for me it was a bad season.

“I was not happy there any more and if you are not happy when you play football it’s the worst.

“It was not easy (to leave) but they didn’t offer me a new contract.

“It was something that I didn’t expect but after three or four days I moved forward.â€

La Rocca has signed a two-year deal with United and hopes to remain in Australia beyond that with his wife, Grazia, who is expecting the couple’s first child in September.

First he is targeting silverware as the Reds return to Asia in next season’s Champions League playoffs.

“For the boys it would be really special to win something like the ACL.

“Why not? We have the team to achieve it.â€

IACOPO LA ROCCA

Born: Rome, Italy, February 17, 1984

Position: Defensive midfielder / centre back

Height: 188cm

Junior club: Lazio (Italy)

Senior clubs: Pro Vercelli, Treviso, Chieti, Fermana, Sassari Torres (Italy), Bellinzona, Grasshopper (Switzerland), Western Sydney Wanderers

Honours: A-League Premier’s Plate 2012/13, Asian Champions League 2014

I'm going to miss the big lug! In bocca al lupo Iacopo!

He'll be forever remembered for this quote, 

'Sydeneya isa reda and a black'

la Roc has broken his foot. As an integral part of our initial years i wish him all the best for a speedy recovery

Source?

Iaccopo scoring in the first derby of the 2013/14 season...class work off a free:

Manfred, you're digging up the emotional express train with these!

Manfred, you're digging up the emotional express train with these!

I still have all the finals, ACL, Santa and Tomi goals to upload...then it's season 3.

he will get a red card because he will have a shin first studs up tackle on Graham Arnold the first minute of the match

he will get a red card because he will have a shin first studs up tackle on Graham Arnold the first minute of the match

Didn't know Arnie was invited? Would seriously pay to see it though.

 

he will get a red card because he will have a shin first studs up tackle on Graham Arnold the first minute of the match

Didn't know Arnie was invited? Would seriously pay to see it though.

 

he is like a virus he turns up no matter what

Congrats to Iacopo for becoming an Aussie Citizen...!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM2_JpJBjfu/?taken-by=3iacopo

Congrats to Iacopo for becoming an Aussie Citizen...!

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM2_JpJBjfu/?taken-by=3iacopo

 

Congrats to Iacopo for becoming an Aussie Citizen...!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM2_JpJBjfu/?taken-by=3iacopo

 

Good for Adelaide, opens up a visa spot for them

Congrats to Iacopo for becoming an Aussie Citizen...!

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BM2_JpJBjfu/?taken-by=3iacopo

 

 I just joined Instagram.... so I could like his post. 

What have I done??