calciatore

Calciatore is an Italian noun meaning a soccer player, typically a male player. The feminine form is calciatrice. The word derives from calcio (football) and the agent suffix -tore, akin to English -er from Latin tor. In Italian, calciatore is used to refer to players who compete in football at professional or amateur levels.

A calciatore's career usually begins in youth academies or junior teams; progression via club youth systems leads to senior squads in national leagues, such as Serie A, Serie B, and others. At the professional level, players train daily, focusing on technique, physical conditioning, tactical understanding, and teamwork. Their duties vary by position, including attacker (attaccante), midfielder (centrocampista), defender (difensore), or goalkeeper (portiere), though calciatore is a generic term not tied to a single role. Transfers and contracts are governed by regulations at national and international levels.

In Italian media and everyday speech, calciatore is commonly used to refer to players without stating their names. The formal expression giocatore di calcio can be used as a synonym, especially in formal writing. The feminine form calciatrice is used for female players, and contexts may use una calciatrice or una giocatrice depending on gender references.

Calciatori compete in domestic leagues and international club competitions, and many also represent national teams in events such as the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championship. The term emphasizes the sport (calcio) rather than a specific position or team.