Played for both: Former Sunderland and Reading goalkeeper Vito Mannone

Remembering a cult hero on Wearside due to his part in numerous relegation survivals and his penalty heroics to send Sunderland to Wembley back in 2014.

Author:
Callum Jacques
Publish date:
Feb 9, 2023 10:33 PM EST

Vito Mannone started his career at Atlanta in Italy but was brought to England by Arsene Wenger at the age of 17, He cost Arsenal just £350,000 in compensation money.

The Italian shot-stopper was loaned out to Barnsley in 2006 ,but his loan was cut short due to a knee injury. His competitive debut for Arsenal arrived in 2009 in a 4-1 win against Stoke City.

He continued to develop away from the Emirates and, in 2010, he was loaned out to Hull City. Manone made 10 appearances before returning to the tigers the following season for another loan spell, playing 21 games this time around.

Mannone joined Sunderland in 2013 after only making 23 appearances for Arsenal in the eight years he was at the club. He joined the Black Cats on an initial two-year deal but would go on to play for the club for twice that long, making 80 appearances and keeping 22 clean sheets whilst on Wearside.

Following Sunderland’s relegation to the Championship, Mannone moved to Reading for around £2 million. He spent two seasons at the Royals making 47 appearances before moving to Minnesota FC.

In the latter years of his career Mannone has played for Danish side Esbjerg FB, AS Monaco and is currently with FC Lorient.

Vito Mannone at Sunderland

Mannone was signed from Arsenal by Paulo Di Canio, or more specifically Roberto De Fanti, although he had to wait for his chance. He made 36 appearances in his second season on Wearside keeping 12 clean sheets in the process.

The Italian was also voted Sunderland’s supporters player of the year and the club’s player of the year, largely due to his penalty shootout heroics at Old Trafford in the League Cup semi-final.

Mannone also equalled a Premier League record when he made 14 saves in a 2-1 win against Chelsea in the game that ended Jose Mourinho’s long unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge.

However, the following season Mannone fell out of favour under new boss Gus Poyet, who favoured Costel Pantillimon.

During the 15/16 season, Sam Allardyce reinstated Mannone as the clubs number one with Jordan Pickford as his back-up.

Mannone duly helped Sunderland on their way to Premier League survival by keeping four clean sheets in his last seven games of the season.

Vito Mannone at Reading

Mannone joined Reading after leaving Sunderland and made 41 appearances in his first season for the Royals. The Italian played both games against his former club that season and was undefeated in both.

Vito Mannone, Reading — Image Credit: Nigel French

In his first season for Reading, Mannone conceded 59 goals and kept eight clean sheets as they finished 20^th in the Championship. However, in the following campaign Mannone only made six appearances

That saw him loaned to Minnesota FC in February on a one-year loan. He made 40 appearances for Minnesota keeping 11 clean sheets and winning MLS goalkeeper of the Year award.

Best Sunderland moment

Vito Mannone, Sunderland — Image Credit: Philip Oldham

His heroics in the League Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford has become the stuff of Sunderland legend.

‘Vito’ put in some fine goalkeeping displays during his time on Wearside but none more important than making two saves in a penalty shootout to send Sunderland to Wembley in front of 9,000 Mackem’s at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.

Sunderland won the first leg at the Stadium of Light 2-1 but were pegged back at Old Trafford when ex-SAFC man Jonny Evans put United 1-0 up on the night.

Phil Bardsley equalised in the 119^th minute after the game had gone to extra-time but Javier Hernandez sent the game to penalties two minutes later.

Mannone heroically saved spot-kicks from Adnan Januzaj and Rafael’s with Darren Fletcher the only one to score a penalty for Manchester United.

Marcos Alonso and Ki Sung-Yueng scored Sunderland’s penalties.

The plaudits, however, went to Vito Mannone and rightly so. Over 9,000 fans chanted his name as Sunderland punched their ticket to Wembley for the first time since 1998.

Vito Mannone at Sunderland

Vito Mannone at Reading

Best Sunderland moment

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