1. Overview
Sebastien De Maio (born March 5, 1987) is a French professional footballer who primarily plays as a centre-back. Born in Saint-Denis, France, he holds dual French and Italian nationality. De Maio has spent the majority of his career in Italy, playing for numerous clubs across Serie A and Serie B, including prominent spells at Brescia Calcio, Genoa, and Udinese. He also had a brief period in Belgium with R.S.C. Anderlecht. His career is characterized by his consistent defensive presence and his adaptability across various Italian clubs.
2. Early Life and Youth Career
Sebastien De Maio's early life and formative years were primarily spent in France, where he began his journey in football before moving to Italy.
2.1. Birth and Early Life
Sebastien De Maio was born on March 5, 1987, in Saint-Denis, France. He grew up in Nancy, a city in northeastern France, where he began his footballing development.
2.2. Youth Club Career
De Maio started his football career at the amateur club CS Louhans-Cuiseaux in France, where he played from 2004 to 2005. He then progressed to the youth academy of AS Nancy, a professional club in Ligue 1, for the 2005-06 season. In the summer of 2006, he made a significant move to Italy, joining Brescia Calcio to continue his development in their Primavera (youth) division during his initial year.
3. Professional Career
Sebastien De Maio's professional career spans over a decade, primarily in Italian football, with a brief stint in Belgium. He established himself as a reliable centre-back through various transfers and key performances at different clubs.
3.1. Brescia and Early Loans
De Maio made his professional debut for Brescia Calcio on June 17, 2007, at the age of 20, in a Serie B match that ended in a 2-0 defeat against Rimini. To gain more experience, he was loaned to Celano FC in Serie D for the 2007-08 season. During this period, he became a regular starter, making 32 appearances and scoring 5 goals. After returning to Brescia, where first-team opportunities were initially limited, he was loaned back to Celano in the winter of the 2008-09 season, playing an additional 12 matches and scoring 1 goal.
From the 2009-10 season, De Maio was considered a vital part of Brescia's first team. However, an ankle injury in the autumn of 2009 kept him out for 10 weeks. Despite this setback, Brescia achieved promotion to Serie A that season. De Maio made his Serie A debut in the 2010-11 season. In the winter transfer window of the same season, he was loaned to Frosinone in Serie B, where he played 18 matches and scored 1 goal. Following Brescia's relegation back to Serie B after just one season, De Maio became a consistent regular starter from the 2011-12 season. He appeared in 39 matches, scoring 1 goal, and in the 2012-13 season, he played 38 matches, scoring 3 goals, contributing to the team's sixth-place finish in Serie B, which led to their participation in the promotion playoffs. In total, he made 113 league appearances and scored 4 goals during his time at Brescia.
3.2. Genoa
On June 29, 2013, recognizing his strong performances at Brescia, Sebastien De Maio completed a permanent transfer to Genoa, a club competing in Serie A. He made his debut for Genoa on September 15, 2013, coming on as a substitute for Alessandro Gamberini in a significant derby match against UC Sampdoria. His first Serie A goal for Genoa came on January 26, 2014, in an away fixture against ACF Fiorentina. In his inaugural season with Genoa, he featured in 23 matches and scored 2 goals. Under the guidance of coach Gian Piero Gasperini, De Maio successfully adapted to the team's three-back defensive system, solidifying his position as a regular centre-back. He made 33 appearances in the 2014-15 season and continued his consistent form with 28 appearances in the 2015-16 season.
3.3. Anderlecht
On July 6, 2016, De Maio made a move outside of Italy, signing a four-year permanent contract with Belgian powerhouse R.S.C. Anderlecht. However, his tenure in Belgium proved to be exceptionally brief. After making only two league appearances, a reported conflict with the coach led to his desire to return to Italy, where his family resided. As a result, De Maio left Anderlecht after just six weeks at the club, seeking a swift return to Italian football.
3.4. Fiorentina
Following his short spell in Belgium, on August 18, 2016, ACF Fiorentina officially announced De Maio's arrival on a loan deal that included an option for a permanent transfer. During his time with Fiorentina, he played in 6 Serie A matches, made 1 appearance in the Coppa Italia, and featured in 2 matches in the UEFA Europa League.
3.5. Bologna
De Maio later joined Bologna. Over two seasons with the club, he contributed significantly to their defense. In the 2017-18 season, he made 26 league appearances and scored 2 goals. He continued to play for Bologna in the first half of the 2018-19 season, making an additional 6 league appearances before his next transfer.
3.6. Udinese
On January 24, 2019, Sebastien De Maio moved to Udinese on a loan deal from Bologna for the remainder of the 2018-19 season. During this loan period, he played in 16 league matches and scored 1 goal. His performances convinced Udinese to make his move permanent; on May 29, 2019, the club confirmed that they had exercised their option to buy, and De Maio signed a new three-year contract. He remained a regular presence in Udinese's defense, appearing in 21 league matches in the 2019-20 season, 15 in the 2020-21 season, and 2 in the 2021-22 season before his departure.
3.7. Later Career
On January 13, 2022, De Maio signed a 2.5-year contract with Serie B club Vicenza. In the latter half of the 2021-22 season, he made 20 league appearances and scored 1 goal for the club. He also made 4 league appearances and 2 cup appearances in the 2023-24 season for Vicenza. On July 28, 2022, he was loaned to Modena with an option to buy, playing 10 league matches and 2 cup matches during the 2022-23 season. Currently, De Maio plays as a centre-back for Mantova, where he has made 6 league appearances in the 2023-24 season.
4. Career Statistics
As of June 2, 2024, Sebastien De Maio's professional club statistics are as follows:
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brescia | 2006-07 | Serie B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2008-09 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | ||||
| 2009-10 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |||
| 2010-11 | Serie A | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2011-12 | Serie B | 39 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 41 | 2 | |||
| 2012-13 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 41 | 3 | |||
| Total | 113 | 4 | 8 | 1 | - | 3 | 0 | 124 | 5 | |||
| Frosinone (loan) | 2010-11 | Serie B | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 18 | 1 | ||
| Genoa | 2013-14 | Serie A | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 23 | 2 | ||
| 2014-15 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 1 | ||||
| 2015-16 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 84 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 86 | 4 | ||||
| Anderlecht | 2016-17 | Belgian Pro League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |
| Fiorentina (loan) | 2016-17 | Serie A | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 9 | 0 | |
| Bologna | 2017-18 | Serie A | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2018-19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 33 | 2 | ||||
| Udinese (loan) | 2018-19 | Serie A | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 16 | 1 | ||
| Udinese | 2019-20 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 22 | 1 | |||
| 2020-21 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 16 | 0 | ||||
| 2021-22 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 54 | 1 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 58 | 2 | ||||
| Vicenza | 2021-22 | Serie B | 20 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2023-24 | Serie C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | |||
| Total | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |||
| Modena (loan) | 2022-23 | Serie B | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 0 | ||
| Mantova | 2023-24 | Serie C | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Career total | 349 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 378 | 16 | ||
- Note on Continental appearances: The 2 appearances for Anderlecht were in the UEFA Champions League, and the 2 appearances for Fiorentina were in the UEFA Europa League.
5. Personal Life
Sebastien De Maio's personal life includes a significant milestone related to his long career in Italy. In June 2015, he married an Italian woman. Following his marriage, he successfully obtained an Italian passport, granting him dual nationality.
6. Assessment and Legacy
Sebastien De Maio has forged a notable career as a professional footballer, predominantly as a centre-back in Italian leagues.
6.1. Playing Style
De Maio is recognized as a formidable centre-back known for his physical attributes and defensive prowess. He stands at 75 in (190 cm) tall and weighs 198 lb (90 kg), utilizing his strong build to good effect in aerial duels and challenges. He is right-footed, which influences his preferred side in central defense. Throughout his career, particularly during his impactful tenure at Genoa under coach Gian Piero Gasperini, De Maio demonstrated a strong ability to adapt to different tactical systems, including the three-back defense. This adaptability allowed him to establish himself as a consistent and reliable starter for various clubs.
6.2. Major Achievements and Contributions
One of De Maio's significant achievements was his role in helping Brescia secure promotion to Serie A in the 2009-10 season. During his time at Brescia, he consistently performed as a regular starter in Serie B, contributing to their efforts to reach the promotion playoffs. His contributions extended to his spells with other Serie A clubs such as Genoa, Bologna, and Udinese, where he provided a stable and experienced defensive presence.
6.3. Notable Incidents and Controversies
While his career has been largely consistent, a particularly notable incident occurred during his brief period at R.S.C. Anderlecht in 2016. After signing a four-year contract and playing only two league matches, a reported conflict with the team's coach led to his swift departure from the club after just six weeks. This highlights a period of professional difficulty and a challenging adaptation to a new footballing environment outside of Italy.