Julián Maria Speroni is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Having started his career at Platense, he played three seasons in the Scottish Premier League with Dundee before joining Crystal Palace for £750,000 in 2004. He played 405 matches across all competitions for the club. On 9 May 2019, it was announced that Speroni would leave Crystal Palace at the end of the 2018–19 season. After not finding another club he announced his retirement after 20 years.
Club career
Dundee
Speroni was born in Buenos Aires. He started his career with Club Atlético Platense, in his homeland, but moved after just one year as a professional and two matches, to Scottish side Dundee. Dundee manager Ivano Bonetti received advice from an Italian contact to Speroni's potential. The move to Dundee was delayed for two months, due to administration delays in Argentina, holding up Speroni's application for an Italian passport.
Crystal Palace
He signed for Crystal Palace, newly promoted to the Premier League, on 13 July 2004, for a fee of around £750,000. Speroni made his debut for Palace against Everton in a three goals to one defeat. Speroni only started the first six games for his newly promoted team in their Premier League campaign, before he was replaced by Hungarian international Gábor Király. His first three seasons at Selhurst Park saw him largely play understudy to Király who made the goalkeeping spot his own. This was until the Hungarian departed Selhurst Park at the end of the 2006–07 season. Back in the line-up Speroni flourished and won his reputation back. Palace managed to reach the play-offs with Speroni earning a new three-year contract at the end of the 2007–08 season and the club's "Player of the Year" award. At the end of the following season, he retained Palace's "Player of the Year" award. In the 2009–10 season, Speroni again drew praise. Like at Dundee, his club fell into financial difficulty, and finished the season in administration. This meant a ten-point deduction, and survival was only secured on the final day of the season. For his role in this, Speroni was given a new record, becoming the first man to win Palace's "Player of the Year" award for three consecutive years. Then on 10 December 2010, Speroni agreed a -year extension to his current contract. At the end of the 2013–14 season, Speroni was named Player of the Year for the fourth time. His contract expired early into 2014 and he subsequently negotiated contract offers with Crystal Palace, Sunderland and West Brom. On 13 June 2014, Crystal Palace announced that Speroni had signed a new contract with the club for 12 months with a further 12 month option. Speroni was rewarded for his years of service to Crystal Palace with a testimonial match against Dundee on 26 May 2015. Speroni made his 347th league appearance for the club, breaking John Jackson's record as the team's goalkeeper with the most league appearances, against Arsenal on 21 February 2015. In March 2015, prior to the testimonial, Speroni was inducted into the Dundee Hall of Fame picking up the International Award which was previously won by fellow countryman Claudio Caniggia. On 22 May 2015, Speroni signed a one-year contract extension at Crystal Palace to keep him at the club until at least the end of the 2015–16 season. He was dropped to third-choice goalkeeper in that season, behind Wayne Hennessey and Alex McCarthy, but still played two league games, including the league match against Southampton in the final day of the season, when he equalled John Jackson’s club appearance record as a goalkeeper in all competitions. He signed another one-year contract extension on 13 June 2016 to remain with the club until the end of 2016–17 season. On 14 October 2017, he was named a starter in Palace's match day squad again, helping them to a 2–1 win over defending champions Chelsea. In May 2019 it was announced that Speroni would leave Crystal Palace at the end of the 2018–19 season, after 15 years with the club. Speroni remains the last player born in the 1970s to play in the Premier League.
International career
In November 1998, Speroni was named in the squad for a friendly against Japan U20 in Tokyo. In December 1998, he was called into the Argentina U20 pre-selection squad for the 1999 South American U-20 Championship, Argentina's under 20 team played friendlies against Hungary and Denmark. On 30 December José Pékerman did not name him in the final squad. Speroni made one appearance for the Argentina U20 team.
Personal life
Speroni also holds an Italian passport, for which he qualified through his grandfather. Speroni owned a restaurant in Purley, south London that was named "Speroni's". The restaurant closed in October 2016 following "structural issues". Speroni is also on the board of reference for Christian Solidarity Worldwide, an organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights.
