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'''Davide Enrico Somma''' (born 26 March 1985) is a South African former [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Forward (association football)|striker]]. He played for the [[South Africa national football team|South Africa national team]] as a striker and his most notable spell was at [[Leeds United]]. In November 2010 Somma made his debut for the [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] national side against United States.<ref name="leedsunited.com">{{Cite web |title=Somma Named in South African Squad |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20101110/somma-named-in-south-african-squad_2247585_2214659 |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Leeds United A.F.C.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 November 2010 |title=USA's 'smash-and-grab' hurts Bafana | News – KickOff Magazine |url=http://www.kickoff.com/news/18893/usas-smash-and-grab-hurts-bafana.php |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Kickoff.com}}</ref> He now works as a Junior Coach for Long Island United. Somma also serves as the men’s club soccer coach for Stony Brook University.
==Career==
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Born in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa,<ref name="Hugman2010-11 386" /> Somma started playing football at the age of five for the Edenvale Football Club in his native Johannesburg. After moving to the United States with his family when he was 12,<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{Cite news |date=1 September 2009 |title=Leeds sign South African striker |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/8232654.stm |access-date=17 August 2011}}</ref> he attended [[Riverview High School (Sarasota, Florida)|Riverview High School]] in [[Sarasota, Florida]], and played club soccer with the Sarasota Storm and St. Pete Raiders.
He played one year of [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] at [[Tyler Junior College]] in 2004, scoring 13 goals and registering nine assists, and being named to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIV first team. After one season with Tyler, Somma enrolled at Edukick (great camp), an international soccer school program, and joined the youth system of the Spanish team [[CD Logroñés|Logroñés]], his Italian passport giving him the opportunity to pursue a career in Europe.
===Professional===
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====Major League Soccer====
Somma signed a developmental contract with the [[San Jose Earthquakes]] of [[Major League Soccer]] in September 2008 along with [[Michael Ghebru]]<ref>{{Cite web
In December 2008 he joined the [[Generation Adidas]] team in London for a three-game tour of England and scored two goals for the squad as they faced the reserve teams of [[Reading F.C.|Reading]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]], and [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]. In February 2009, Somma signed a senior contract with the [[San Jose Earthquakes]], but was placed on waivers on 26 May.<ref name="MLSnet">{{Cite web |title=Latest News | MLSsoccer.com |url=http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090526&content_id=4967168&vkey=pr_sje&fext=.jsp&team=t110 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906190836/http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090526&content_id=4967168&vkey=pr_sje&fext=.jsp&team=t110 |archive-date=6 September 2009 |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Web.mlsnet.com }}</ref>
Whilst at San Jose, he was a teammate of former [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] player [[Darren Huckerby]], who encouraged Somma to find a new club in England.<ref name="thisislincolnshire.co.uk">{{Cite web
===Leeds United===
In July 2009, Somma took part in a trial with [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] and played in a pre-season fixture as a winger. After his trial at QPR, Somma took part in a trial at Leeds United, and earned an extended spell at the club. He scored in a pre-season friendly against [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]] and also scored in friendlies against [[Newcastle United]] and [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Striker Somma Signs United Deal |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20090901/striker-somma-signs-united-deal_2247585_1784744 |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Leeds United A.F.C.}}</ref> and signed a permanent contract with the club in September 2009 on a one-year deal, with an option in the club's favour to extend the contract for a further season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11715/5530627/somma-earns-leeds-deal|title=Somma earns Leeds deal|website=Sky Sports|accessdate=13 March 2021
In signing for Leeds, Somma became the fifth South African to play for Leeds following [[Gerry Francis (footballer born 1933)|Gerry Francis]], [[Albert Johanneson]], [[Lucas Radebe]] and [[Phil Masinga]].<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk" /> In an LUTV interview, Somma said that, due to his Italian heritage, he and teammate [[Mike Grella]] can speak to each other in Italian.<ref name="sport247.tv">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sport247.tv/lufc/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717143615/http://www.sport247.tv/lufc/ |archive-date=17 July 2011 |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=LUTV|title=LUTV }}</ref> Somma made his debut for Leeds in a reserve game against [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], and marked the game by scoring two goals.
Somma was named in the Leeds squad for the [[Football League Trophy]] game against [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]], and made his debut when he came on as a second-half substitute. His debut ended prematurely when he suffered a hamstring injury, which meant Leeds had to play the rest of the game with 10 men having used all their substitutions. After working his way back from injury and scoring regularly in the reserves, Somma returned to the Leeds first team squad when he was named as a substitute for a game against [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] on 23 November 2009.
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His fourth and fifth goals came in the same game against [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]], with Somma scoring a brace which helped earn a 3–2 win for Lincoln. He had scored five goals in five games during his loan spell, and thus became Lincoln's top goal scorer for the entire season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 March 2010 |title=BBC Sport – Football – Lincoln City keen to hold on to Davide Somma for longer |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/8587689.stm |access-date=17 August 2011}}</ref> On 23 March 2010, City extended the loan of Somma until the end of the season. Somma scored a brace against Bournemouth taking his tally to seven goals in nine games for Lincoln. Later he scored his eighth of the season against [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] to secure Lincoln's survival in [[Football League Two|League Two]] for another year.
Somma then made it nine goals in 13 matches scoring Lincoln's only goal in a 3–1 defeat away at [[Aldershot Town F.C.|Aldershot Town]]. He was given a [[Ejection (sports)|red card]] for violent conduct in his final game for Lincoln City. After the match, his loan spell expired and he ended the season as Lincoln's top goal scorer with nine goals.<ref name="thefootballnetwork.net">{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Nathan |date=30 August 2010 |title=Davide Somma : The Greatest Loan? |url=http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s261/st162113.htm?print=1 |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Thefootballnetwork.net}}</ref> He also came third in Lincoln's player of the season awards.<ref name="thefootballnetwork.net" /> Manager [[Chris Sutton]] said after Somma's loan spell that he would love to bring Somma back to the club on a permanent deal if he was not in Leeds' first team plans.<ref>{{Cite web
====Return to Leeds United====
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=====2011–12 season=====
On 15 July 2011, Somma revealed via his [[Twitter]] page that he had torn his [[anterior cruciate ligament]]s during pre-season training and would be out for at least six months.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Boss Confirms Somma Injury Blow |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/20110717/boss-confirms-somma-injury-blow_2247585_2394663 |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Leeds United A.F.C.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Somma faces lengthy lay-off due to cruciate injury woe – Leeds United |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/somma_faces_lengthy_lay_off_due_to_cruciate_injury_woe_1_3584815 |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=15 July 2011 |title=Somma out for six months as Gradel turns to God! « The Scratching Shed |url=http://www.thescratchingshed.com/2011/07/davide-somma-out-for-six-months/ |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Thescratchingshed.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news
Somma returned to light training during mid-December, stepping up his recovery from his cruciate ligament injury, meaning the player's recovery was well in front of schedule.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 December 2011 |title=Sun out again for Somma |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds_united_sun_out_again_for_somma_interview_1_4049572}}</ref>
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Somma was eligible to play for his home country [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] and [[Italy national football team|Italy]] due to his heritage.<ref name="sport247.tv" /><ref name="goal.com">{{Cite web |date=16 November 2010 |title=South African Striker Davide Somma – I Want To Destroy The USA |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1659/south-africa/2010/11/16/2216618/south-african-striker-davide-somma-i-want-to-destroy-the-usa |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Goal.com}}</ref> Somma also expressed desire to play for [[United States men's national soccer team|USA]] but was not yet eligible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa vs USA Friendly: Will The USA Suffer Under Somma's Desire For Revenge? |url=http://www.livesoccertv.com/news/2041/south-africa-vs-usa-friendly-will-the-usa-suffer-under-somma-s-desire-for-revenge/ |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Live Soccer TV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Somma vows revenge against US |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/article766730.ece/Somma-vows-revenge-against-US |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Times LIVE}}</ref> However ex-Leeds captain [[Lucas Radebe]] confirmed that Somma told him he wanted to play for South Africa (Bafana Bafana).<ref>{{Cite web |title=African Nations Cup 2010 | |url=http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162,14293_6453927,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004012226/http://www.football365.co.za/story/0,22162,14293_6453927,00.html |archive-date=4 October 2011 |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Football365.co.za }}</ref>
In October 2010, new South Africa manager, [[Pitso Mosimane]] singled out Somma for special praise after impressing at [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leeds' Davide Somma is most efficient scorer in England |url=http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Leeds-Davide-Somma-is-most-efficient-scorer-in-England/11111/ |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=IMScouting}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
Mosimane claimed in November 2010, that Somma might be called up for Bafana Bafana's friendly against USA on 17 November, in [[Cape Town]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/news/leeds-david-somma-likely-to-play-for-bafana/527846|title=Leeds' David Somma likely to play for Bafana|date=3 November 2010|website=Kick Off|accessdate=13 March 2021}}</ref> On 10 November, Somma was named in South Africa's squad for the first time for the friendly against USA.<ref name="leedsunited.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Leeds striker Somma gets Bafana call-up – SuperSport – Football |url=http://www.supersport.com/football/bafana/news/101110/Leeds_striker_Somma_gets_Bafana_callup |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=SuperSport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
On 17 November 2010, Somma made his debut for Bafana Bafana against USA, wearing the number 19 shirt. South Africa lost the game 1–0, with man of the match [[Brad Guzan]] keeping a clean sheet for the US. Somma was kept relatively quiet, although he provided a through ball in the first half to create one of South Africa's best chances of the match.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pitso is hot on Somma |url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/article769319.ece/Pitso-is-hot-on-Somma |access-date=17 August 2011 |publisher=Times LIVE}}</ref> Somma was substituted early in the second half.
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'''Leeds United'''
*[[Football League One|League One]] runners up (promoted): [[2009-10 Football League|2009–10]]
===Individual===
* Inducted into the NJCAA Men's Soccer Hall of Fame in 2011<ref>http://www.njcaa.org/2012/D1_Mens_Soccer.docx{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Club===
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:''Scores and results list
{| class="wikitable"
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[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:South African people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:South African men's soccer players]]
[[Category:
[[Category:
[[Category:Olbia Calcio 1905 players]]
[[Category:Vastese Calcio 1902 players]]
[[Category:San Jose Earthquakes players]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Chesterfield F.C. players]]
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[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:White South African people]]
[[Category:Riverview High School (Sarasota, Florida) alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]
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