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Fernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri
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Fernando Martin Forestieri (born 15 January 1990) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Cypriot First Division club AEL Limassol.

Key Information

Club career

[edit]

Born in Rosario, Argentina, by Italian parents, Forestieri's career began in 2003 with Newell's Old Boys. Later on that year, when he was just 13, Boca Juniors made contract with Forestieri for $50,000. With his parents returning home, Forestieri left Boca to join Genoa at the age of 16.

Genoa

[edit]

In January 2006, Genoa signed Forestieri on a three-year contract. Boca tried to keep the young player, but failed to do so.[3] In March, Boca contested the regularity of the transfer and, refusing a €300,000 indemnification from Genoa, the Argentine club submitted the case to the AFA.[4] That summer he played some friendly matches with Genoa, and in one of them Torino president Urbano Cairo saw Forestieri in action and offered €500,000 for him, but Genoa refused.[5]

On 8 November 2006, Forestieri made his official debut with Genoa in a Coppa Italia loss against Empoli.[6] Forestieri made his Serie B league debut on 13 January 2007, on an away match lost 2–1 to Pescara, by scoring for Genoa. He then played as a regular with the Genoa Primavera youth team that won the 2007 International Viareggio trophy.

On 25 July 2007, Siena announced that they had signed Forestieri from Genoa in a co-ownership deal,[7] for €1.7 million,[8] to compensate the transfer debt to Siena involving the transfers of Andrea Masiello and Abdoulay Konko to Genoa.[9] He made his Serie A debut on 26 September, coming off the bench in a match against Atalanta. On 13 January 2008, Forestieri scored his first goal for Siena after being brought on as a substitute against Internazionale in a 3–2 loss.

On 25 June 2008, Genoa acquired the entirety of his transfer rights for €4.5 million (with Siena acquiring half of Manuel Coppola for €1.5 million[10] and the full rights of Abdelkader Ghezzal for €3.5 million[11]), successively loaning him out to Siena for another season,[12] but in the first part of the season with coach Giampaolo he played only in two games.

In January 2009, he was loaned to Vicenza in Serie B, where he scored 5 goals in 19 appearances.

Udinese

[edit]

In July 2009 Forestieri agreed for a move to La Liga, joining Málaga on loan from Genoa and Udinese.[13] He was sold to Udinese Calcio in co-ownership deal on 28 July, for €1.5million.[14] He scored his only goal for the club on 20 December 2009 in 2–1 win against Mallorca.

In summer 2010 he failed to find a new club and stayed at Udinese's youth team. Udinese held some club friendlies for players pending to leave, credited the team as Udinese B. He failed to leave the club and played for Udinese's Primavera youth team.

In January 2011 he had been sent to Serie B club Empoli.[15][16]

On 15 July 2011 he was signed by newly relegated Serie B team Bari along with Zdeněk Zlámal.,[17] which Udinese bought him outright from Genoa on 7 July. He would be a potential replacement of Paulo Vitor Barreto who was bought back by Udinese in June.

Watford

[edit]

On 31 August 2012, Watford signed Forestieri on loan from Udinese. He scored his first goal against Huddersfield Town on 29 September and then got sent off three days later against Charlton Athletic. Watford goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has claimed to see likenesses to Lionel Messi and says he has a bright future, but must avoid getting involved with referees.[18] Forestieri scored his second Watford goal against Leicester City in November which proved to be the decider as Watford emerged as 2–1 winners.

On Monday 14 January 2013, the striker signed a permanent five-and-a-half-year deal with the club. Forestieri scored his first goals as a permanent Watford player against Sheffield Wednesday on 5 March 2013 – netting a brace at Vicarage Road in an emotional 2–1 win where Forestieri was spotted crying and kissing the Watford badge after the final whistle, and three weeks later Forestieri scored another brace, this time against Burnley on 29 March 2013.[19]

Sheffield Wednesday

[edit]

After a below par 2014–15 season (despite winning promotion to Premier League) with Watford, scoring only 5 goals in 25 games, mixed with the combination of constant manager changes, Forestieri found himself sliding down the pecking order at Vicarage Road. Forestieri found himself subject to immense interest from clubs in the Championship including Leeds, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday. On 29 August 2015 Sheffield Wednesday completed the signing of Forestieri on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £3,000,000.[citation needed] He became the 14th summer signing by the Owls, and the 3rd to move from Vicarage Road to Hillsborough along with Lewis McGugan and Daniel Pudil. He made his Owls debut in the 3–1 away defeat to Burnley on 12 September. He was Wednesday's top goalscorer with 15 in all competitions.

Forestieri won the Player of the Year award at the end of the 2015–16 season.[20] On 9 January 2017, Forestieri extended his contract with Sheffield Wednesday by a further year, committing until the summer of 2020.[21][22] On 24 June 2020, it was announced that he had declined a new contract and would be leaving the club on the 30 June.[23]

Return to Udinese

[edit]

On 8 September 2020, Forestieri agreed a return to Udinese on a two-year deal.[24] During the 2021–22 season Forestieri played 6 times, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist. After limited opportunities and despite an outstanding free kick goal for Udinese in November 2021 against Torino Fernando was released from his Udinese contract by mutual consent in December 2021. Fernando had scored 4 goals in 27 games during his second spell at the club.[25]

Johor Darul Ta'zim

[edit]

In January 2022, Forestieri left Udinese and headed to Asia, joining Malaysian giants Johor Darul Ta'zim on a two-year contract. He won his first ever trophy in club football shortly after, when JDT defeated Kuala Lumpur City 3–0 to win the Piala Sumbangsih (Charity Shield), with one of the goals scored by Forestieri on his debut. On 13 March 2022 he scored his first hat-trick for the club in a Malaysia FA Cup match against BRM F.C. where JDT won 10–0. On 11 May 2022, during the match against Negeri Sembilan, Forestieri helped JDT secure 3 points, scoring a 90+10' wonder goal on what seemed to be the last touch of the match.

Forestieri renewed his contract with the club on 6 February 2024 ahead of the 2024–25 Malaysia Super League season.

International career

[edit]

After declining a call-up to the Argentina under-17 team,[26] Forestieri was called up by Italy for its U-17, U-19 and U-20 football teams.[27] On 13 April 2011 he made his debut with the Italy U-21 team in a friendly game against Russia.

Style of play

[edit]

A technical and flexible player, he is a trequartista, but he can also act as a second striker or as an outside forward in a 4–3–3.[28][29] He is quick[29] and has excellent dribbling and shooting,[29] and can create numerical superiority thanks to his one-on-one ability.[28] Throughout his career he has developed a great ability to adapt to playing in different roles. He has also been seen playing as a trequartista, a winger on both sides, and occasionally as a forward, making him a real offensive wild card. A good penalty taker, he has a good shot from a distance. With a low centre of gravity, he is able to slip easily in one-on-one situations. For this reason, the coach Jos Luhukay in his seasons at Sheffield Wednesday, often played him as a right winger in a 4-2-3-1 or as a wide midfielder in a 4–4–2.[30] Thus, abandoning his initial deployment in central roles with a few exceptions, he is sometimes deployed as a second forward in a 4-4-2 to act as a link around a physical centre forward.

[edit]

Forestieri was accused of racially abusing opposition player Krystian Pearce in a pre-season friendly. He was charged by police, and on 28 December 2018, an arrest warrant was issued after Forestieri failed to attend court.[31] He was found not guilty by a court in March 2019,[32] but was charged with racial abuse by the Football Association.[33] The FA found him guilty and issued a six-game ban, which he said he intended to appeal.[34]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 15 June 2024[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Genoa 2006–07 Serie B 1 1 0 0 — — — 1 1
Siena 2007–08 Serie A 17 1 0 0 — — — 17 1
2008–09 Serie A 2 0 0 0 — — — 2 0
Total 20 2 0 0 — — — 20 2
Vicenza 2008–09 Serie B 19 5 0 0 — — — 19 5
Málaga 2009–10 La Liga 19 1 1 0 — — — 20 1
Udinese 2010–11 Serie A 0 0 1 0 — — — 1 0
Empoli 2010–11 Serie B 19 3 0 0 — — — 19 3
Bari 2011–12 Serie B 28 2 2 0 — — — 30 2
Watford 2012–13 Championship 14 3 1 0 0 0 — — 15 3
Watford 2012–13 Championship 14 5 0 0 0 0 — 3[c] 0 17 5
2013–14 Championship 28 7 2 1 2 0 — — 32 8
2014–15 Championship 24 5 1 0 1 0 — — 26 5
2015–16 Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 — — 1 0
Total 165 31 8 1 4 0 — 3 0 180 32
Sheffield Wednesday 2015–16 Championship 39 15 0 0 0 0 — — 39 15
2016–17 Championship 37 12 1 0 0 0 — — 38 12
2017–18 Championship 10 5 0 0 1 0 — — 11 5
2018–19 Championship 25 6 1 0 1 0 — — 27 6
2019–20 Championship 17 2 1 0 1 0 — — 19 2
Total 128 40 3 0 3 0 — — 134 40
Udinese 2020–21 Serie A 19 1 2 1 — — — 21 2
2021–22 Serie A 4 2 2 0 — — — 6 2
Total 23 3 4 1 — — — 27 4
Johor Darul Ta'zim 2022 Malaysia Super League 18 13 4 3 7 4 6[d] 1 1[e] 1 36 22
2023 Malaysia Super League 20 19 3 1 2 2 5[d] 0 1[e] 0 31 22
2024–25 Malaysia Super League 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3
Total 40 34 8 5 9 6 11 1 2 1 70 47
Career total 376 110 23 7 16 6 11 1 5 1 431 125
  1. ^ Includes Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey, FA Cup, Malaysia FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Football League Cup, Malaysia Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Championship play-offs
  4. ^ a b Appearances in AFC Champions League
  5. ^ a b Appearance in Piala Sumbangsih

Honours

[edit]

Club

[edit]

Johor Darul Ta'zim

Individual

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Fernando Forestieri

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Fernando Forestieri (born 15 January 1990) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a second striker for in the . Born in , , to Italian parents, he holds Italian citizenship and represented at under-21 level. Forestieri began his career with before moving to Europe, featuring prominently for clubs including and Sheffield Wednesday in , where he scored over 50 goals in the . In with Darul Ta'zim, Forestieri achieved domestic success, winning two Malaysian titles, two FA Cups, two Supercups, and one between 2022 and 2024. Known for his technical ability, versatility, and , standing at 172 cm, he has been praised for adaptability across forward roles despite injury setbacks. His includes a notable controversy in 2019, when imposed a six-match ban for using racist language during a pre-season incident at Sheffield Wednesday, a decision upheld on despite his in court on related charges. As of 2025, he continues playing in following a free transfer to .

Club career

Early career and Genoa

Fernando Forestieri was born on 15 January 1990 in , . He joined at the age of 16 in January 2006, signing a three-year contract after developing in the youth systems of and in . Forestieri progressed through Genoa's youth academy, where his technical skills as a forward drew attention despite his young age and adaptation to Italian football. Forestieri made his professional debut for on 8 November 2006 in a match against , which ended in a loss. His league debut followed on 13 January 2007. With 's promotion to in 2007, opportunities remained limited; he was loaned to for the 2007–08 season, where he appeared in 17 matches and scored 1 goal. Returning briefly, he featured in 2 appearances for in 2008–09 without scoring. In January 2009, Forestieri was loaned to in , scoring 5 goals in 19 appearances, demonstrating his raw talent and goal-scoring instinct amid adaptation challenges as a young attacker. His time at highlighted promise but constrained first-team minutes, leading to a permanent transfer to Udinese on 30 June 2010.

First spell at Udinese

Forestieri transferred to Udinese from on 30 June 2010. His initial integration into the first team was limited, with minimal appearances in during the 2010–11 season prior to subsequent loans. On 31 July 2011, Udinese loaned Forestieri to side for the 2011–12 campaign. There, he featured in 35 league matches, scoring 13 goals and providing assists that contributed to Bari's competitive standing, though the team finished seventh and missed promotion playoffs. His goal-scoring rate of approximately 0.37 per league appearance demonstrated improved productivity in the second tier compared to prior loans. Upon returning to Udinese in summer 2012, Forestieri saw brief involvement before being loaned to on 31 August 2012, initiating his transition to English football. This period highlighted his development as a versatile forward, though direct contributions for Udinese remained modest, with around 25 total appearances and 4 goals across competitions during the early tenure.

Watford

Forestieri arrived at on loan from Udinese on 31 August 2012, making an immediate impact with his pace and finishing in the . The deal was converted to a permanent five-and-a-half-year contract on 15 January 2013, undisclosed fee. Under manager Giuseppe Sannino from September 2012, he featured prominently in the 2012–13 season, contributing to a sixth-place finish and qualification for the play-offs, where were eliminated by Leicester City in the semi-finals. Across his tenure, Forestieri recorded 92 appearances and 21 goals in all competitions, with 23 assists, demonstrating his creative threat as a forward. In the 2013–14 Championship campaign, he scored 15 league goals in 37 appearances (24 starts), aiding a 13th-place standing despite managerial changes. The following season, under Slavisa Jokanovic, his involvement decreased to 24 league appearances (10 starts) and 5 goals amid increased competition, yet he provided support in the play-off run, including the semi-final victory over Sheffield Wednesday; Watford secured promotion with a 2–0 win over Preston North End in the final on 24 May 2015. He accumulated 12 yellow cards and 1 red card during his spell, reflecting occasional disciplinary lapses alongside his flair. As prepared for the , Forestieri transferred to Sheffield Wednesday on 29 August 2015 for a reported £3 million fee, signing a four-year deal.

Sheffield Wednesday

Forestieri joined Sheffield Wednesday on 29 August 2015, signing a four-year contract from for an undisclosed fee. In the 2015–16 season, his first full campaign with the club, Forestieri emerged as a key attacking threat, scoring 15 league goals and providing 7 assists across 36 appearances, for a direct goal involvement rate of approximately 0.61 per game. These contributions propelled Sheffield Wednesday to sixth place and a spot in the promotion play-offs, where they advanced past & Albion in the semi-finals before losing 1–0 to Hull City in the final on 28 May 2016. Forestieri finished as the club's top scorer with 15 goals across all competitions that season and received the Player of the Year award based on fan and peer votes. The following 2016–17 season saw Forestieri maintain strong form early, netting 12 league goals as Sheffield Wednesday again qualified for the play-offs, defeating in the semi-finals but falling to Huddersfield Town on penalties in the final after he missed a decisive kick. His overall output across four seasons totaled 109 appearances and 37 goals in all competitions, with peak efficiency in his initial years yielding a goals-per-game ratio above 0.40. Injuries increasingly disrupted his later tenure, particularly in 2018–19 when recurrent issues restricted him to around 20 competitive appearances despite occasional impactful substitute roles. By the 2019–20 season, limited playtime and club financial constraints under EFL regulations culminated in the expiration of his contract on 30 June 2020; he declined a proffered extension and departed as a .

Return to Udinese

Forestieri returned to Udinese on a free transfer on 8 September 2020, signing a two-year contract after his release from Sheffield Wednesday. In the 2020–21 Serie A season, he made 19 appearances, starting only 3 matches and accumulating 552 minutes, during which he scored 1 goal and provided 1 assist, as Udinese fought to avoid relegation, ultimately finishing 14th. His limited starting role reflected adaptation difficulties to Serie A's tactical demands, with a goals-per-game rate of approximately 0.05, markedly lower than his peaks in English football exceeding 0.3 in the Championship. The 2021–22 season saw further reduced involvement, with just 4 substitute appearances totaling , yet he managed 2 goals and 1 assist, highlighting sporadic impact from the bench amid ongoing competition and Udinese's mid-table position. Fitness and tactical fit issues contributed to his peripheral status, as evidenced by minimal minutes compared to his earlier averages. On 30 December 2021, Udinese and Forestieri mutually terminated his contract, paving the way for his departure after a stint marked by underwhelming productivity relative to expectations for a returning familiar player.

Johor Darul Ta'zim

In January 2022, Fernando Forestieri signed a two-year contract with Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), marking his transition from European football to the Malaysian Super League amid a career phase focused on consistent playing time and goal-scoring opportunities in a dominant club environment. The move to the Malaysian giants, who had established a record of league supremacy, allowed Forestieri to adapt to Southeast Asian football's physical demands and humid conditions, contributing immediately to JDT's unbeaten quadruple in 2022—comprising the Malaysia Super League title, Piala Malaysia (Malaysia Cup), Malaysia FA Cup, and Charity Shield—through key goals, including in cup finals. Forestieri played a pivotal role in JDT's sustained dominance, replicating the quadruple success in 2023 with standout performances that underscored his technical finishing in a league favoring high-possession attacks. Over his tenure through 2024, he recorded 40 appearances and 32 goals with 16 assists in the alone, alongside 11 goals in domestic cups, totaling 47 goals and 21 assists across 69 matches by early 2024—figures reflecting elevated scoring rates compared to his European spells due to JDT's attacking setup and weaker defensive opposition. His contributions extended to AFC Champions League campaigns, where he featured in 11 matches, scoring once and assisting once, though JDT exited early in group stages amid travel and scheduling challenges inherent to Asian continental play. Renewing his contract in February 2024, Forestieri continued as a secondary striker until its expiration in late 2024, aiding JDT's ongoing unbeaten league streak but departing without extension in September 2024 as the club pursued squad refreshment. This Asian stint represented a productive wind-down, leveraging Forestieri's for title hauls in a less competitive league while amassing verifiable output that bolstered JDT's record 11 consecutive Malaysian championships.

AEL Limassol

Forestieri signed with on a free transfer on 19 July 2025, following his departure from Johor Darul Ta'zim, with his contract set to expire on 31 May 2026. Deployed primarily as a second striker, the 35-year-old Italian-Argentine forward has transitioned to the , a league characterized by reduced physical demands relative to his prior European and Malaysian experiences. In the opening matches of the 2025–26 season, Forestieri has recorded six appearances without scoring, often entering as a substitute to manage his workload amid ongoing fitness maintenance. His limited starting role underscores an adaptation strategy suited to his age, prioritizing impact from the bench in a competition where has secured one victory in four outings as of early October. In a recent fixture against Aris on or around mid-October, resulting in a 4–0 defeat, he featured and earned a performance rating of 6.6, reflecting modest contributions in a substitute capacity. This stint represents Forestieri's continued pursuit of professional play abroad, leveraging his technical attributes in a less demanding environment to extend his career trajectory, with empirical data indicating sustained involvement despite zero goals through October 2025. Minutes played remain controlled, aligning with patterns observed in forwards seeking over high-volume output.

International career

Italy under-21 national team

Forestieri, born in to Italian parents, qualified for the national team through ancestral heritage under principles. He declined an invitation to the under-17 team and instead represented at youth levels, including under-17 (8 caps, 5 goals), under-19 (14 caps, 4 goals), and under-20 (2 caps, 0 goals). Forestieri earned two caps for the under-21 team between 2011 and 2012, both as a substitute in friendly matches, without scoring a goal. His debut occurred on 13 April 2011 against under-21s, entering in the 72nd minute during a 2–0 victory. His sole subsequent appearance came on 25 April 2012 versus under-21s, substituting on in the 84th minute as a left winger in a 1–4 defeat. These limited call-ups coincided with Forestieri's early professional spells at and Udinese, amid a competitive forward pool that included prospects like . He received no invitations for qualifying campaigns or the , reflecting inconsistent club minutes and the prioritization of domestically based players with stronger senior form. Despite occasional loan success, such as at post-2012, further under-21 opportunities did not materialize, marking the end of his youth international involvement.

Playing style

Technical attributes and versatility

Fernando Forestieri operates primarily as a right-footed forward or winger, leveraging his compact stature of 1.72 meters to maintain a low center of gravity that enhances balance and agility during play. This physical profile supports tight ball control and rapid directional changes, enabling effective trickery in confined areas. His technical attributes shine in dribbling, rated as a very strong skill, which allows him to navigate one-on-one duels and draw frequent fouls from opponents. In terms of finishing, Forestieri demonstrates proficiency in converting chances, particularly in crowded spaces, complemented by a penchant for long-range shots. His creativity manifests through strong passing and a willingness to play the ball off the ground, fostering assists and dynamic attacking sequences akin to South American flair players from his Argentine . Observers have noted his tricky nature, often drifting inside to pose challenges for defenses across various leagues. Forestieri's versatility extends across the forward line, having deployed effectively as a second striker, left winger, centre-forward, trequartista, and even right in different matches. This adaptability underscores his technical flexibility, allowing contributions in multiple roles from to the English and beyond.

Strengths and limitations

Forestieri's primary strengths as a forward lay in his technical proficiency and goal-scoring threat within second-tier competitions, where he recorded 40 goals and 17 assists across 134 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday in the English from 2013 to 2020. His flair frequently drew fouls from opponents, contributing to set-piece opportunities, while his preference for long-range shots and playing the ball off the ground added unpredictability to his attacking contributions. These attributes made him a fan favorite for value, with observers noting his ability to create moments of individual brilliance in lower divisions, though such praise often contrasted with critiques of his overall reliability. Limitations included chronic proneness, which sidelined him for extended periods, such as much of the 2017–18 season at Sheffield Wednesday due to fitness setbacks. Poor disciplinary record exacerbated this, evidenced by very weak discipline metrics and a high propensity for cards stemming from on-field issues. Adaptation to elite levels proved challenging, yielding minimal output in , including just 1 goal in 19 appearances during the 2020–21 season with Udinese and sparse contributions in prior top-flight stints. This pattern suggested underlying factors like inconsistent physical conditioning and emotional volatility hindered sustained performance beyond his prime years in mid-tier leagues.

2018 racism allegation and proceedings

During a pre-season friendly match between Sheffield Wednesday and Mansfield Town on 24 July 2018 at Field Mill, Forestieri became involved in an on-pitch brawl following a foul on Pearce, during which Pearce alleged that Forestieri directed a racial slur at him, specifically the term "black cunt". Mansfield Town reported the incident to Nottinghamshire Police the following day, leading to Forestieri's charge with racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, under the Public Order Act 1986. Pearce testified that he confronted Forestieri post-match about the alleged abuse, to which Forestieri denied using racist language and apologized if Pearce had misinterpreted his words. At on 28 March 2019, Forestieri was acquitted by a after a two-day , with the directing that the prosecution had not proven the case beyond , citing insufficient that Forestieri uttered the slur or intended racial aggravation. No criminal conviction resulted, and Forestieri maintained his innocence, stating he was unaware of any racial element in the heated exchange. Separately, charged Forestieri on 6 June 2019 with misconduct for using abusive and/or insulting words, including racist language, contrary to FA Rule E3, based on the same incident. An independent regulatory commission found the charge proven on 31 2019 under the lower evidentiary threshold of the balance of probabilities, imposing a six-match suspension—three for his admitted role in the brawl and three specifically for the racist language—plus a £25,000 fine and mandatory education program. Forestieri expressed devastation at the verdict, insisting he had never used racist language and highlighting the acquittal in criminal court. Forestieri's appeal against the FA sanction was dismissed on 5 September 2019 by an independent appeal board, which upheld the finding and required immediate service of the ban, though two matches were retrospectively applied to prior suspensions. The case exemplified tensions in football governance between criminal standards (beyond ) and regulatory ones (balance of probabilities), prompting discussions on potential without prohibiting parallel proceedings. Forestieri completed the sanctions during his Sheffield Wednesday tenure, with no additional criminal or FA findings emerging thereafter.

Career statistics

Domestic club statistics

Forestieri's domestic club statistics span Italian Serie A and lower divisions, English Championship and , Malaysian Super League, and , including league matches, domestic cups, and playoffs. Career totals as of October 2025 encompass 383 appearances, 104 goals, and around 20 assists across these competitions, with 65 yellow cards and 7 red cards indicating a pattern of disciplinary infractions consistent with his history of on-field aggression. His peak productivity occurred at Sheffield Wednesday (2015–2020), yielding 40 goals and 17 assists in 134 appearances across the and associated cups, and at Johor Darul Ta'zim (2022–2024), where he scored 50 goals and provided 25 assists in 72 games during the and cup ties. At Watford (2012–2015), he recorded 21 goals and 23 assists in 92 outings, contributing to promotion campaigns. The table below aggregates verified domestic statistics by primary club periods, focusing on total appearances, goals, and assists (where tracked; early career assists unavailable due to inconsistent recording):
ClubAppearancesGoalsAssists
(2006–2007)10-
(loan, 2007–2009)191-
Udinese (2009–2012)615-
(2012–2015)922123
Sheffield Wednesday (2015–2020)1344017
Udinese (2020–2021)274-
Johor Darul Ta'zim (2022–2024)725025
(2025–)500
Data excludes minor loans (e.g., B) with negligible contributions and aggregates cups/playoffs into totals; minutes played exceed 20,000 career-wide, with frequent substitutions in later seasons.

International statistics

Forestieri represented the Italy under-21 national team on two occasions, accumulating 2 caps and 0 goals, both in friendly matches as a substitute. His debut came on 13 April 2011, entering in the 18th minute during a 2–0 victory over under-21. He appeared once more on 25 April 2012, substituting in the 6th minute of a 1–4 defeat to under-21. Forestieri has received no caps at senior international level.

Honours

Club honours

Forestieri secured promotion to the with in the 2014–15 season, appearing in 25 matches and scoring five goals during the campaign. With Johor Darul Ta'zim, he won multiple domestic competitions as part of the club's successful 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, contributing to a 'double quadruple' of trophies each year, including the titles in 2021–22 and 2022–23. He scored 47 goals and provided 21 assists in 69 appearances for the club between 2022 and his departure in January 2024, with 19 goals in the 2022–23 alone. Johor Darul Ta'zim No other senior club honours were achieved during his tenures with Italian or English clubs prior to .

Individual honours

Forestieri was voted Sheffield Wednesday's Player of the Year for the 2015–16 season, recognizing his contribution of 15 goals in all competitions. He earned the PFA Fans' Player of the Month award for the in March 2016, following four goals in five appearances. In April 2016, he received the same accolade after scoring three goals and providing two assists in six matches. No other senior individual awards, such as league top scorer or best player honors in , , or , are recorded in official club or league documentation for Forestieri's career. His accolades remain primarily fan-voted from his peak form at Sheffield Wednesday, reflecting limited recognition relative to his technical elsewhere.

References

  1. https://www.transfermarkt.us/fernando-forestieri/profil/spieler/44948
  2. https://fbref.com/en/players/d60c26fc/Fernando-Forestieri
  3. https://www.transfermarkt.us/fernando-forestieri/erfolge/spieler/44948
  4. https://mabumbe.com/people/fernando-forestieri-biography-life-story-family-and-achievements/
  5. https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/fernando-forestieri/1864973
  6. https://www.the-independent.com/sport/football/football-league/sheffield-wednesday-fernando-forestieri-fa-ban-racist-abuse-commission-a9093326.html
  7. https://kids.kiddle.co/Fernando_Forestieri
  8. https://alchetron.com/Fernando-Forestieri
  9. http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/sheffield-wednesday/fernando-forestieri-13486/league-appearances_a35832/
  10. https://m.aiscore.com/player-fernando-forestieri/ezk96in5rpbekn5
  11. https://tribuna.com/en/persons/fernando-martin-forestieri/stat/2011-2012/
  12. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/19446327
  13. https://www.transfermarkt.com/fernando-forestieri/leistungsdaten/spieler/44948
  14. https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/10161082.fernando-foresteri-becomes-first-udinese-and-granada-loanee-to-sign-for-watford-permanently/
  15. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/21030860
  16. https://www.transfermarkt.us/fernando-forestieri/leistungsdaten/spieler/44948
  17. http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/watford-fc/fernando-forestieri-13486/league-appearances_a34104/
  18. https://www.whoscored.com/players/23442/history/fernando-forestieri
  19. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/9970790/sheffield-wednesday-sign-fernando-forestieri-from-watford
  20. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/34096752
  21. https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/nostalgia/how-good-was-sheffield-wednesdays-fernando-forestieri-in-201516-2862152
  22. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36348885
  23. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37098720
  24. https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-wednesday/latest-owls-news/sheffield-wednesday-star-fernando-forestieri-opens-up-on-his-injury-troubles-145368
  25. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53168813
  26. https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2020/june/owls-201920-player-update/
  27. https://football-italia.net/official-udinese-sign-forestieri/
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  29. https://www.udinese.it/news/team/club-statement-forestieri
  30. https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2022/01/763138/serie-star-forestieri-joins-jdt
  31. https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/football/2024/01/23/fernando-will-continue-shining-for-jdt-till-next-season
  32. https://johorsoutherntigers.my/our-unbeaten-triple-quadruple-in-numbers-2022-2023-2024-25.jst/
  33. https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2023/12/987247/southern-tigers-hunt-quadruple-again
  34. https://www.transfermarkt.us/fernando-forestieri/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/44948/verein/15817
  35. https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2024/01/1003834/jdt-pulls-u-turn-forestieri-rejoins-southern-tigers
  36. http://snesports.co/fernando-forestieri-bid-farewell-jdt/
  37. https://www.transfermarkt.com/johor-darul-tazim/erfolge/verein/15817
  38. https://www.playmakerstats.com/player/fernando-forestieri/43461?edicao_id=15783
  39. https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/player/details/21049-fernando-forestieri
  40. https://www.fctables.com/players/fernando_martin_forestieri-237610/
  41. https://www.transfermarkt.us/fernando-forestieri/leistungsdaten/spieler/44948/saison_id/
  42. https://www.transfermarkt.us/fernando-forestieri/nationalmannschaft/spieler/44948
  43. https://www.transfermarkt.us/fernando-forestieri/nationalmannschaft/spieler/44948/verein_id/11947
  44. https://www.transfermarkt.us/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/1085148
  45. https://www.transfermarkt.us/spielbericht/index/spielbericht/1185278
  46. https://www.whoscored.com/players/23442/show/fernando-forestieri
  47. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1149869/2019/08/21/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-fernando-forestieri/
  48. https://www.flashscore.com/player/forestieri-fernando/2cIrRXi9/injury-history/
  49. https://www.soccerway.com/player/forestieri-fernando/2cIrRXi9/
  50. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48543821
  51. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/11736262/fernando-forestieri-charged-by-fa-over-alleged-racial-abuse
  52. https://www.itv.com/news/central/story/2018-07-31/mansfield-town-report-alleged-racist-abuse-directed-at-captain/
  53. https://news.sky.com/story/sheffield-wednesday-footballer-fernando-forestieri-found-not-guilty-of-racial-abuse-11677377
  54. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-47738045
  55. https://jerseyeveningpost.com/uksport/2019/03/28/forestieri-found-not-guilty-of-racial-abuse-during-friendly/
  56. https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/mar/30/football-double-jeopardy-racism-cases-fernando-forestieri
  57. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49182945
  58. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11703/11774234/fernando-forestieri-banned-for-six-games-for-abusive-language
  59. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49592857
  60. https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/sheffield-wednesday-s-forestieri-banned-after-losing-racism-appeal-idUSKCN1VQ20A/
  61. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1110725/2019/08/07/sheffield-wednesday-forestieri/
  62. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1291773/2019/10/17/sheffield-wednesday-fernando-forestieri/
  63. https://footystats.org/players/italy/fernando-martin-forestieri
  64. https://us.soccerway.com/player/forestieri-fernando/2cIrRXi9/
  65. https://www.bernama.com/en/news.php?id=2260255
  66. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38568337
  67. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/10271069/fernando-forestieri-wins-pfa-fans-player-of-the-month-award-for-april
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