The unlikely hero in Lazio’s 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday was Goalkeeper Ivan Provedel. Few could have predicted that the 28-year-old would score a dramatic late equalizer, continuing his journey from striker to shot-stopper.

Provedel’s grandfather served with legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin in the Soviet army. Perhaps their conversations inspired young Ivan’s interest in the position. By age 15, Provedel traded in his striker’s boots for a pair of gloves.

On Tuesday, he etched his name into Champions League folklore. Provedel became just the fourth keeper to score in the competition’s illustrious history. His previous goal came in 2020 while playing for Juve Stabia in Serie B.

While Provedel’s strike captured headlines, his tireless work ethic and unrelenting ambition have defined his career. Once a teenage striker, he is now Lazio’s guardian between the sticks. Who knows what he may accomplish next on his extraordinary footballing voyage.

Family

Ivan Provedel’s journey to becoming Lazio’s heroic goalscorer has been shaped by his family history. Born in Pordenone in 1994, Provedel recently turned 29 years old this past March.

His father Venanzio passed away in 2016 at the age of 82. However, Provedel’s mother Elena has been a driving force in nurturing his dreams. Originally from Russia, Elena worked as an English teacher in Moscow. Her parents, Ivan’s grandparents, lived near the great Lev Yashin and served alongside the legendary keeper in the Soviet Army.

As Provedel shared in 2021, «My grandpa was in the Army with Yashin and they knew each other. The fact that a relative was a friend of the only goalkeeper winning the Ballon d’Or has made me dream and be proud».

This connection to the iconic Yashin, the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d’Or, inspired young Ivan to pursue greatness between the sticks. After years of tireless work, Provedel is now writing his own story, etching his name in Lazio lore with his late equalizing goal. His family history shaped his dreams, which are now becoming reality.

Playing in attack

Ivan Provedel’s goalkeeping aspirations were born in 2000, inspired by Francesco Toldo’s heroic EURO 2000 performances. As Provedel shared with Lega Serie A last year, he «fell in love» with the position after watching Toldo deny the Netherlands.

Up until age 15, Provedel played as a striker. But after seeing Toldo’s shot-stopping mastery, he set his sights on swapping positions. Provedel recalled, “I thought: «I am going to quit if I can’t continue as a goalkeeper».

A local club gave him his chance between the sticks, despite warnings that it was too late to succeed at the position. Provedel was determined to prove the naysayers wrong.

Curiously, years later, Toldo became Provedel’s coach on the Italy U20 squad. The man who originally inspired Ivan’s goalkeeping dream was now guiding him through the early stages of his career. On Tuesday night in Rome, Provedel showed just how far he has come, a teenage striker turned Champions League goalscoring hero.

Career, tattoos and number

Ivan Provedel’s determination to become a goalkeeper led him to a fateful training camp in 2009. The 15-year-old attended a stage in Oderzo, located in Italy’s Treviso province. There, trainer Renzo Zanet of Liapiave gave Provedel his first shot between the sticks. Just one year later, Provedel joined Udinese’s youth setup, embarking on his goalkeeping journey.

Over the next decade, Provedel gained valuable experience on loans across Italy’s lower divisions. He suited up for Chievo Verona, Pisa, Perugia, Modena, and Pro Vercelli as a teenager. In 2017, while with Empoli, he suffered a severe fibula injury that sidelined him for months.

After a brief Juve Stabia loan, Provedel found stability at Spezia for two seasons. This caught the attention of Maurizio Sarri, who brought the goalkeeper to Lazio last summer.

Now Lazio’s number one sporting the number 94 – his birth year – Provedel has etched his name in Champions League lore. His right arm covered in tattoos, including one of his son’s hand, Ivan Provedel has traversed an extraordinary path to reach the highest stage.

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