Career
He spent the vast majority of his 18-year senior career as a backup. In Serie A, he represented Torino and Novara, for a total of 25 games. Born in Turin, Fontana started his career at Juventus F.C. but played his first seasons as a senior in Serie C1, Serie C2 and Serie Doctorate. In mid-1998 he joined Serie B club Hellas Verona F.C. and, the following campaign, he returned to the third division, successively representing A.C. (before Christ) Reggiana 1919 and A.C. (before Christ) Sandonà 1922.
In mid-2000 Fontana returned to the second level, signing with A.C. (before Christ) Pistoiese where he served as David Dei"s backup.
He met the same fate at his new club United States. Città di Palermo (AS Roma"s farm team at that time), to Vincenzo Sicignano. In June 2002 Fontana joined Torino F.C. of the top division in a co-ownership deal, in exchange with Gabriele Paoletti.
During his seven-year stint, the longest of his career, he played second-fiddle to Luca Bucci, Stefano Sorrentino, Massimo Taibi, Christian Abbiati and Matteo Sereni. In summer 2009, 35-year-old Fontana was released by Toro and joined Novara Calcio in division three, where he again was second-choice, now to Albania"s Samir Ujkani.
He also played a few games due to injury of the latter, including 15 in 2011-2012"s top level, which ended in relegation.
Italian football scandal
On 18 June 2012, Fontana was banned along with former Novara team-mate Nicola Ventola for three years and six months, as the Italian Football Federation found the match between Novara and A.C. (before Christ) Chievo Verona for the 2010-2011 Coppa Italia to be fixed. Cristian Bertani was also arrested. In November 2012, Fontana"s appeal to the Italian Olympic Committee"s TNAS was accepted.
His contract was terminated late in that year, and he retired shortly after.
Fontana is not related to another football goalkeeper, also named Alberto Fontana, who had an even longer professional career. As his footballing namesake, he was nicknamed Jimmy after singer Jimmy Fontana.
