Julián Maria Speroni (Spanish pronunciation: [xuˈljan espeˈɾoni]; born 18 May 1979) 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. His first three seasons at Selhurst Park saw him largely play understudy to Gábor 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. He went on to play 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.
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.
Speroni made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Falkirk in the third round of Scottish Cup on 6 January 2002. In a follow–up, he kept his first Dundee's clean sheet, in a 1–0 win against Hibernian. Since joining the club, he quickly became Dundee's first choice goalkeeper for the rest of the 2001–02 season, having successfully dispatch the role from Jamie Langfield. During a 2–2 draw against Dunfermline Athletic on 13 February 2002, Speroni was punched in the face by Stevie Crawford after Crawford tried to wrestle the ball from Speroni, resulting him being sent–off in the 74th minute. The club's owner Peter Marr said about the player: "He has done very well and we will do what we can to come up with a deal that keeps him here." It came after when Serie A club Inter Milan was interested in signing him earlier this year. Despite Dundee's poor performance for the rest of the 2001–02 season that saw them finish in ninth place, he proved to be one of the positive highlights for the club and went on to make twenty–one appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2002–03 season, Speroni signed a three–year contract with Dundee, keeping him until 2005. He later spoke out about the departure of manager Ivano Bonetti, who signed him, saying: "Ivano had a huge impact on my career and was very patient with me when I first came to Dundee. Before he brought me here, I was playing in youth teams in Argentina. When Ivano left the club I did wait a while to sign a new contract as I wanted to see what was happening. Teams in Italy were interested in me but I decided to stay at Dundee, and now, even though I am still only 24 years old, I am playing the biggest game of my career." Speroni continued to be the club's first choice goalkeeper. He continued to display impressive performances in a number of matches despite Dundee's average results. Speroni later helped reach the Scottish Cup final after helping the club beat Inverness CT 1–0. In the event leading up to the final, Speroni helped Dundee finish sixth place in the league. He started in the final against Rangers, as the club lost 1–0. At the end of the 2002–03 season, Speroni went on to make forty–six appearances in all competitions.
At the start of the 2003–04 season, Speroni continued to be the club's first choice goalkeeper despite facing competition from Langfield and Derek Soutar. He played in his first UEFA Cup match against Vllaznia Shkodër and kept a clean sheet, as Dundee won 2–0. In the return leg, Speroni kept a clean sheet, as the club won 4–0 (6–0 on aggregate) and advance to the next round. However, Dundee went on to lose 3–1 against Perugia in the next round, eliminating the club from the tournament. Halfway through the season, Dundee went into administration in November, leading the club expecting to sell him in the January transfer window, but he stayed in the end. His performance led Herald Scotland commented that Dundee "were fortunate to have him", calling him an "inspirational". Despite the club were on administration, Speroni helped Dundee finish seventh place in the league. At the end of the 2003–04 season, he went on to make forty–six appearances in all competitions. Following this, Speroni was expected to leave the club, with clubs, such as, Rangers, Portsmouth and Crystal Palace interested in signing him. Initially, Dundee turned down £500,000 bid from Crystal Palace, but they accepted a bid after they increased the offer for him.
Eleven years after leaving Dundee, Speroni was rewarded for his years of service to Crystal Palace with a testimonial match against Dundee on 26 May 2015. Two months later, prior to the testimonial match, he was inducted into the Dundee Hall of Fame picking up the International Award which was previously won by fellow countryman Claudio Caniggia. Speroni played in his testimonial match against his former club, as the club won 4–3, where it attracted more than 11,000 supporters. After the match, many past and present players of both Dundee and Crystal Palace paid tribute to him.
Speroni signed for Crystal Palace, newly promoted to the Premier League, on 13 July 2004, for a fee of around £750,000. Upon joining the club, he was given a number one shirt. Speroni was featured in Crystal Palace's friendly matches throughout the pre–season tour.
He made his debut for the club, starting the whole game, and made an impressive display throughout the match, in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City in the opening game of the season. In a follow–up match against Everton, Speroni was at fault for giving away a penalty to give the opposition team an equaliser, in a 3–1 loss; after the match, manager Iain Dowie said he needs to "get used to pressure situations and clear his lines". The next four matches saw Crystal Palace lose matches, with Speroni conceding a total of twelve goals. As a result of his poor performance, he was replaced by Hungarian international Gábor Király and was placed on the substitute bench for the rest of the 2004–05 season. Speroni appeared twice for the club, playing in the League Cup matches. Speroni watched from the substitute bench, as the club were relegated from the Premier League. At the end of the 2004–05 season, he went on to make eight appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2005–06 season, Speroni was linked a move back to Scotland, with Dundee United, but he ended up staying at Crystal Palace. Speroni switched number shirt from one to twenty–seven, with Király taking over his original number. He made his first appearance of the 2005–06 season against Walsall in the first round of the League Cup and earned his first clean sheet, in a 3–0 win to advance to the next round. Speroni made three more appearances for the club in the League Cup, including a 2–1 win against Liverpool. Four days after beating Liverpool, he made his first league appearance against Crewe Alexandra, coming on in the 59th minute for the injured Király, in a 2–2 draw. Speroni then started three more matches for Crystal Palace between 3 December 2005 to 17 December 2005. Speroni continued to play understudy to Király for the second time this season, as the club unsuccessfully bounce back to the Premier League. At the end of the 2005–06 season, he went on to make eight appearances in all competitions.
Ahead of the 2006–07 season, Speroni switched number shirts for the third time when he took over the twelve shirt from Mikele Leigertwood, who departed Crystal Palace. As Speroni continued to play understudy to Király, he found himself competing with new signing Scott Flinders over a spot in the substitute bench, as well as facing his own injury concern. It was not until on 16 December 2006 when Speroni made his first appearance of the season, in a 1–0 loss against Derby County. This was followed up by keeping his first clean sheet for the club, in a 1–0 win against Sunderland. After the match, newspaper Your Local Guardian praised his performance, saying: "he instilled confidence in his defence, made some crucial saves and kept a clean sheet". After Király was dropped from the first team, manager Peter Taylor announced that Speroni would be stepping in as his replacement. He made his first appearance for Crystal Palace in four months, as the club lost 2–0 against Barnsley on 21 April 2007. Speroni started the remaining two matches of the 2006–07 season, helping Crystal Palace keep two clean sheets. Manager Taylor revealed that he is planning to use him as the club's first choice goalkeeper next season and have no intention of signing a new goalkeeper. At the end of the 2006–07 season, he went on to make five appearances in all competitions.