Giacomo Ratto is an Italian footballer who currently plays for S.K. Victoria Wanderers of the Gozo First Division in Malta as of 2020. He is mostly known for his peregrinations through multiple countries, including Panama, Nicaragua, Fiji, Switzerland, Mongolia, Greece, Malta, and Iceland in order to pursue his football career.
Career
Early career: 2005-12
Ratto began playing football at the age of 8 with the US Bostoyouth system, before moving to Varese Calcio at the age of 14. He then continued his career in the youths of a club that, at the time, played in Serie C, but failed to debut in the first team. He moved to Luino Calcio in 2005, where he made his senior debut in Promozione, helping the team to a second-place finish in the league and winning the play-offs. He won his first league in the following season at FC Tradate. In all the following 3 seasons he changes team, playing in Eccellenza and Promozione. In 2010 Ratto had his first experience abroad, in Switzerland at AS Castello and, later, at FC Mendrisio Stabio. In 2012 he returned to Luino Calcio, team in which he had his senior debut.
Malta-Panama: 2013
Sending highlights packages and his resume to retired Maltese goalkeeper Mario Muscat, he arranged a move to S.K. Victoria Wanderers for him which happened in early 2013. Arrived at the end of first round, Ratto made his debut in a 3-0 second round victory over Sannat Lions and conceding three goals in his first five fieldings. He finished the season with 5 clean sheets in 11 games helping to bring the team from seventh to third place. He leaves Gozo at the end of the contract and joined the preseason at Tauro FC team of the Panamanian top league, during which he plays some friendly games before moving back to Italy for personal problems.
Nicaragua: 2014
Completing a transfer to UNAN Managua of Nicaragua in July 2014 through agent Carlos Francisco Fariñas on the recommendations of Giampaolo Gronchi of Tauro and Brian Azzopardi of Victoria Wanderers, Ratto recorded his maiden appearance when Los Universitarios were beaten by C.D. Walter Ferretti, match in which he is chosen as one of the three players in the running for the man of the match award. After his last appearance against Real Madriz, he received an offer from Khoromkhon of the Mongolian Premier League to play the AFC Cup, which caused him to split ways with UNAN, also rejecting an offer from Costa Rica. However, they were withdrawn from the AFC Cup 2015, the second-tier Asian competition, so the deal fell through.
Fiji and Switzerland: 2015
Failing to land a deal in Albania, Ratto exchanged information with Suva coach Gurjit Singh, sealing an agreement with them in spring 2015 with Spaniard Adrián Garrido Medina, but was unable to take part in the OFC Champions League in view of the fact that there were registration issues. In July of the same year he returned to Switzerland to AC Taverne, club of 2. Liga Interregional signing a 5-month contract. In October, after an injury, he terminated his contract due to non-payment of his salary.
Zimbabwe and Mongolia: 2016
Fielded at the preseason four-side Bulawayo Football Festival by Tsholotsho of the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League in 2016, he played the tournament with the Zhwane Boys. Working toward a contract in South Africa, the goalkeeper got in touch with Cape Town-based football instructor Hendrik Pieter de Jongh who got him a six-month deal in Mongolia with Ulaanbaatar City in 2016, causing him to be the first Italian footballer in the country. Arrived in April in the Mongolian capital with the aim of winning the championship, Ratto played a good season helping the team, which in the league had some difficulties and finished in eighth place, to reach the third place in the Mongolian Cup. During the summer break he receives the opportunity to take part in the CONCACAF Champions League with Don Bosco in Haiti which fell through.
Greece: 2017
Reported to contend for Philippos Alexandreia of the Greek Gamma Ethniki in 2017, the custodian was fielded for the first time encountering Kilkisiakos which ended 0-0. Unfortunately, registration problems coupled with transfer deadline issues forced him to give up on the deal so he trained alone for several months.
Malta: 2018
Ratto returned to S.K. Victoria Wanderers in the middle of the 2017-18 season, with the team at the last place in the standings. During the remaining 14 games Ratto achieve 4 clean sheets, helping the team to reach the salvation, obtained with the victory of play-outs against Sannat Lions.
Iceland and Malta: 2019
At the end of March Ratto joins Vestri for a week trial in Spain. After having impressed the coach, he accepts the one-year contract offered by the club. During the season he plays two cup games but leaves the club in July due to a difficulty setting. After training alone for three months, he signed a contract with Fgura United, a Maltese First Division team, in which, however, he does not play official matches due to restrictions on the use of foreign players. With the Maltese team he played two friendly games against Floriana FCand Marsaxlokk FC making a good impression before terminate the contract to return to S.K. Victoria Wanderers.
Malta: 2020
On 3rd January 2020 he signed for S.K. Victoria Wanderers for the third time in his career. Before the stop of the league caused by Covid-19 pandemic, he played 8 games achieving 3 clean sheets.
