Nicolò Contiliano (born 6 August 2004) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club SPAL.
Early life
Contiliano was born in Trapani, where his mother, former basketball player Anna Malisardi, was playing at the time.
He moved to Ferrara with his family in 2009, settling in the near comune of Santa Maria Maddalena. He went on to play basketball in Vis Ferrara's youth sector for one season, before switching to football.
Club career
In 2010, Contiliano started playing football for local grassroots club La Vittoriosa, and then joined SPAL's youth sector in 2013. Having come through all of the club's youth ranks, he captained the under-18 squad that won the national championship in 2022, and kept the same role after being promoted to the under-19 team at the start of the 2022–23 season.
During the same campaign, Contiliano signed his first professional contract with SPAL, and was promoted to the first team under head coach Massimo Oddo. On 18 March 2023, he made his professional debut, starting in a 2–0 league loss against Südtirol. He went on to be a part of the team that suffered relegation to Serie C at the end of the season.
International career
In June 2023, Contiliano received his first international call-up, joining a training camp with the Italian under-19 national team in preparation to the UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Style of play
Contiliano is mainly a holding midfielder, who can also cover in the box-to-box role. He has been regarded for his athleticism, his positioning, his defensive attributes and his leadership skills. A natural left-footer, he has proven to have a wide passing range, despite not being as good at finishing his own chances.
Personal life
Contiliano's mother, Anna Malisardi, is a former basketball player.
His sister, Alice, is a competitive swimmer.