Fabio Quagliarella is only the fifth outfield player to reach 550 Serie A appearances, following in the footsteps of Paolo Maldini and Francesco Totti.
The centre-forward came off the bench for Sampdoria during today’s match against Salernitana at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
It was his 550th Serie A game, having turned 40 in January and still looking for his first goal of the season.
Only four outfield players had reached 550 before, Pietro Vierchowod on 562, Javier Zanetti on 615, Francesco Totti with 619 and Paolo Maldini on 647 games.
Quagliarella represented Torino, Udinese, Ascoli, Sampdoria, Napoli, Juventus and Sampdoria in his club career.
His Serie A debut was on May 14, 2000 in Torino’s 2-1 home victory over Piacenza, when he was only 17 years, three months and 13 days old.
The veteran now has 181 goals in 550 Serie A appearances, along with 52 assists.
His first top flight goal was the Ascoli winner against Treviso on December 21, 2005.