Andrea Orlandi Stabilin (born 3 August 1984) is a Spanish former footballer and who played as a winger or an attacking midfielder. He currently works as a scout as well as a pundit for LaLiga+ and Spanish outlet La Media Inglesa, specialized on English football.
After playing as a youth with Alavés, he went to spend the vast majority of his professional career in the United Kingdom, starting out at Swansea City in 2007.
On 4 July 2011, after having helped Swansea to its first-ever promotion to the Premier League, contributing 20 games to this feat, Orlandi penned a new one-year contract extension with the club.[10] After signing, however, he found opportunities limited in Brendan Rodgers' first team and, on 2 January 2012, was offered to ADO Den Haag on a temporary basis alongside Thomas Butler and David Cotterill;[12] both Butler and Cotterill were subsequently released from their contracts, with Orlandi opting to remain with the Welsh until the end of the season.
Orlandi scored the fastest Premier League goal in five years on 28 April 2012, with a diving header from a Scott Sinclaircross after just 25 seconds. Swansea drew the game 4–4 against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had already been relegated.[13]
Brighton & Hove Albion
Orlandi transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion on 31 August 2012, signing a two-year deal.[14] He scored his first goal for his new team on 27 November, helping to a 2–0 home league win over Bristol City.[15] His second came on 5 January 2013, in an eventual elimination of Newcastle United from the FA Cup (same result).[16]
Appearances in the 2013–14 campaign were limited for Orlandi, and he was released at its closure.[17] He subsequently stated his disappointment for leaving, mentioning his child had been born in Brighton.[18]
Blackpool
On 1 August 2014, Orlandi agreed a one-year contract with the option of a further year with Blackpool also in the English second tier, after five days of talks.[19] He was featured in a pre-season friendly against Burnley the following day, alongside eight other triallists;[20] however, the deal was not made official until 8 August, ahead of the season opener against Nottingham Forest,[21] and he made his competitive debut precisely in that match, starting and being booked in a 0–2 away loss.[22]
Orlandi's contract was terminated on 30 January 2017.[27]
Later years
On 6 August 2018, Orlandi joined Indian Super League franchise Chennaiyin FC after a two-year stint with Novara Calcio in the Serie B.[28] He returned to Italy in January 2019, signing with Serie C club Virtus Entella.[29] The following month, however, he was diagnosed with a previously undetected cardiac pathology, and retired with immediate effect.[30]
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