Marco Amelia

Club career

Amelia grew up in the Roma youth system, initially playing as a forward before moving to goalkeeper. In 2001 he joined Livorno on loan, playing once in his first season. Livorno confirmed him in 2002–03 for €2.8 million as part of a deal involving Giorgio Chiellini's registration rights. He became regular under Roberto Donadoni during Livorno's Serie B comeback.

After unremarkable loans at Lecce and Parma, he returned to Livorno in June 2004 and became a mainstay. In the 2006–07 UEFA Cup he scored an injury-time header in a 1–1 draw against Partizan. In July 2008, after Livorno's relegation, he moved to Palermo for €6 million. Highlights included saving Ronaldinho's penalty in a 3–1 win over Milan; a low point was failing to handle Giuseppe Mascara's 49-yard strike in a 0–4 derby loss.

In August 2009 he went to Genoa in a swap deal with Rubinho, both valued at €5 million, and was first choice. On 23 June 2010 Milan signed him on loan with a purchase option. Milan exercised the option on 24 May 2011 for €3.5 million on a three-year contract. He made his Milan debut on 28 November 2011 against Chievo, replacing the injured Christian Abbiati, and made 14 appearances that season.

International career

Amelia debuted for Italy under-15 in March 1998. With the under-21 side he was starting goalkeeper in the squad that won the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Later that year he was back-up to Ivan Pelizzoli in the under-23 squad that won bronze at the 2004 Summer Olympics. His senior debut came on 16 November 2005 as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 friendly draw against Ivory Coast.

He was Italy's third goalkeeper at the 2006 World Cup, behind Gianluigi Buffon and Angelo Peruzzi, and did not play but won the tournament. He was called up for UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. His last appearance was on 10 June 2009 in a 4–3 friendly win against New Zealand. He made nine senior appearances.

Managerial career

After retiring, Marco Amelia earned his UEFA A coaching license in late 2017. He took over Serie D side Lupa Roma in July 2018, then moved to Vastese in June 2019, but was let go in January 2020 after a poor run. In March 2021, he returned to Livorno, replacing Alessandro Dal Canto, but could not keep the struggling Serie C team from dropping to Serie D; he left at the end of the season, and the club later folded due to financial troubles.

He managed Prato from September 2021 until his dismissal two months later in December. In August 2024, he was hired by newly relegated Serie D club Olbia, but was fired on 30 September 2024 after picking up just one point in four matches. Most recently, on 12 December 2024, he became head coach of Serie D amateur side Nuova Sondrio.