Lecce and Baschirotto, a story with strong colors

LECCE - Federico Baschirotto earned his place as Lecce captain on the pitch, constantly sweating for the shirt with great spirit of sacrifice and always putting his face out there in difficult moments, when talking is complicated and discontent is mounting among the fans. When, in the summer of 2022, Pantaleo Corvino took him from Ascoli, with whom he had just played in the cadet tournament, many grumbled, considering the fact that he had previously played in C and D. In the black and white jersey he had been used as a full-back and with this role he arrived in the yellow and red, greeted with skepticism by most.

As chance would have it, Lecce faced the first championship games in full emergency in the central defensive department and so Marco Baroni, coach at the time, identified him as the right man to plug the "hole". The boy from Isola della Scala performed well, so much so that, thanks to the initial delay in condition of Samuel Umtiti and then the long-term injury suffered by Marin Pongracic, the Tuscan coach confirmed him in this position for the entire championship and this has now become his role.

His three seasons in Salento have coincided with as many saves, an absolute record that he holds with goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone and left-back Antonino Gallo. The one that just ended was not his best year since he arrived in Lecce, partly because the team as a whole struggled for long stretches, an aspect that all the individuals suffered from, partly because, not having alongside him as in the two previous tournaments, a player capable of setting up the game as happened with Umtiti and Pongracic, when he was forced to do it himself his limitations in this respect emerged.

But he still made a significant contribution to the permanence of the club chaired by Saverio Sticchi Damiani, putting his heart and soul into it and fighting with conviction to keep the flag flying, always trying to unite the environment, which risked fraying due to a ranking that has become increasingly complicated as time has passed. His tears at the end of the match against Lazio that sealed salvation demonstrate how much he cared about this result and how stressful the entire season was, lived on the edge. In 2022/2023, his first year with Lecce, Baschirotto collected 37 appearances out of 38 games in that top division in which he had never previously competed. He missed only one match due to suspension and in the others he remained on the pitch from the first to the last minute, for a total of 3,330 minutes. He scored 3 goals: on November 9, 2022, in Lecce-Atalanta 2-1, on January 14, 2023, in Lecce-Milan 22, and on February 4, 2023, in Cremonese-Lecce 0-2. He also provided an assist, on February 11, 2023, in Lecce-Roma 1-1. He was also used in a Coppa Italia match, for 98'. He received 6 yellow cards.

In 2023/2024, first with Roberto D'Aversa on the bench and then with Luca Gotti, he continued to be a mainstay of the Giallorossi team, taking to the field in 37 out of 38 matches, without ever being replaced, for a total of 3,295'. He did not play only one match because he was "banned" for a round by the sports judge due to expulsion. He provided an assist, in Lecce-Sassuolo 1-1, on 6 October 2023. He also collected 2 appearances in the Coppa Italia for 135'. He was sent off once and cautioned 3 times.

In the season that has just ended, the 2024/2025 season, the central defender from Veneto did not miss a single round, without ever being substituted. He therefore played 38 games out of 38, for a total of 3,420', a curriculum that is anything but usual for an outfield player. In the last championship, Baschirotto also returned to scoring and it happened in Lecce-Venezia 1-1 on 6 April 2025 and in Juventus-Lecce 2-1 on 12 April 2025. The goal scored against the Lagunari led by Eusebio Di Francesco proved to be fundamental to continue to fuel the chances of staying. He played one cup match, for 90'. He received 3 yellow cards.

He is a workaholic and, not surprisingly, his mantra is precisely "work, work, work". On the other hand, if he has managed to climb the ranks, starting from the bottom among the amateurs and arriving steadily in the top division, it is because he has based his path on sweat and sacrifice. During vacation periods, he often lends a hand on the family farm, in Veneto.