Daniel Caligiuri: Pokal winner and Bundesliga runner-up with plenty of experience
First Team
30.06.2020, 11:15
Expierenced wide man Daniel Caligiuri has joined FC Ausgburg from FC Schalke 04 on a free transfer.
Daniel Caligiuri’s football career began at his hometown clubs BSV 07 Schwenningen and SV Zimmern. The German-Italian then moved to SC Freiburg’s youth academy, initially playing for their U19s. He made his Bundesliga debut for SC as a 21-year-old in November 2009. His first Bundesliga goal came two years later. Caligiuri became a key player for Freiburg and was also their first-choice penalty taker, never missing one.
Bundesliga runner-up, DFB-Pokal winner and Supercup winner in one season
The winger then moved to Wolfsburg in the summer of 2013. He made 97 Bundesliga appearances for the Wolves, contributing 12 goals and 14 assists. The midfielder also enjoyed the best spell of his career to date in Wolfsburg. His side finished second in 2014/15 and also won the DFB-Pokal and Supercup. He was then rewarded with a call-up to the Italian national side, although he never made an appearance.
The next move in his career came in the winter of 2017, as he signed for Schalke. Caligiuri played 108 times for the Royal Blues and finished second again in the German top flight in 2017/18. With his contract up at the end of June, the midfielder has now made the move to Augsburg.
The experienced Caligiuri is extremely versatile and has played most of his career down the right-hand side. He has played almost 300 times in the Bundesliga, with 40 goals and 50 assists to his name so far. Football runs in the Caligiuri family: His grandfather Karl-Heinz Wöhrlin played for Karlsruher SC and KFC Uerdingen, while his older brother Marco also currently plays for SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
[su_quote cite="Daniel Caligiuri"] I’m happy to be part of this club, and I’m sure that Augsburg are still on the way up in the Bundesliga.[/su_quote]
After completing his medical, Caligiuri signed a three-year deal at FC Augsburg. “Playing against FCA has always been difficult, whether it was for Freiburg, Wolfsburg or Schalke. I was convinced by the conversations I had with Heiko Herrlich and Stefan Reuter. I immediately had the feeling that my qualities were in demand here. I’m happy to be part of this club, and I’m sure that Augsburg are still on the way up in the Bundesliga,” commented FCA’s new signing. Michael Gregoritsch, who has spent the second half of this season on loan at Schalke, will be one familiar face for Caligiuri.
