FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

Versatile, dynamic and creative, Gianluca Zambrotta is certain of a role in Italy’s 2006 FIFA World Cup™ plans.
Since his move to Juventus, Zambrotta has matured into one of Europe’s finest defensive players. After starting his career as a right-sided midfielder, he transformed himself into a full-back in Turin after he lost his place to Mauro Camoranesi.

Zambrotta, who has clinched several league titles with Juventus, played for Italy at the 2000 Olympic Games and at UEFA EURO 2000, where he was sent off in Italy’s famous semi-final penalty shoot-out win over the Netherlands. He appeared subsequently at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and at EURO 2004.

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UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

A good crosser of the ball, who is comfortable playing up and down either wing, Carlo Ancelotti once said Gianluca Zambrotta "has the ability to play anywhere".

National team
Zambrotta came to the fore when he made his international debut for Italy at the age of 21 against Norway in February 1999 after a long, fruitful run with the Under-21 side. He was sent off in Italy's UEFA EURO 2000™ semi-final victory against the Netherlands and missed the final loss to France. In 2002 he featured in his first FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan and became Italy's first-choice left-back during qualifying for UEFA EURO 2004™, playing in all three of Italy's matches in Portugal. Remains a key figure under Marcello Lippi.

Club
Zambrotta started out with his hometown club, Como Calcio, spending three seasons in the second and third divisions. AS Bari promoted him to Serie A in 1997, and he soon found his depth among Italy's élite, two impressive seasons attracting the interest of Juventus.

1999: The Bianconeri took him further up the league ladder with a €15.85m swoop, and Zambrotta continued his upward momentum. Denied a title on the final day of the 1999/00 season, he got his hands on a winners' medal two terms later, helping Juve lift the Scudetto. Injury and the form of Mauro Camoranesi prompted Zambrotta to switch to left-back from right midfield in 2002/03, and he remained a regular as Juve won another championship and reached the Champions League final.

2004/05: New coach Fabio Capello continued to field Zambrotta on the left of defence and filled an important role as Juventus won the title by conceding only 27 goals. In the summer extended his deal again, 2010 the new expiry date.

Did you know?
In 2005 he posed for a calendar to raise funds to build a maternity centre in Afghanistan.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

A good crosser of the ball, who is comfortable playing up and down either wing, Carlo Ancelotti once said Gianluca Zambrotta "has the ability to play anywhere".

National team
Zambrotta came to the fore when he made his international debut for Italy at the age of 21 against Norway in February 1999 after a long, fruitful run with the Under-21 side. He was sent off in Italy's UEFA EURO 2000™ semi-final victory against the Netherlands and missed the final loss to France. In 2002 he also featured in his first FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.

UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying
Zambrotta appeared in the last five qualifiers, after convincing coach Giovanni Trapattoni that he was the man for the left-back position in Italy's 2-0 home win against Finland in March 2003.

Club
Zambrotta had started out with his hometown club, Como Calcio, spending three seasons in the second and third divisions. AS Bari promoted him to Serie A in 1997, and he soon found his depth among Italy's élite. He scored twice in 27 outings in his debut season, then doubled that tally in 32 games in the 1998/99 campaign to attract the interest of Juventus.

1999: The Bianconeri took him further up the league ladder with a €15.85m transfer to Turin, and Zambrotta continued his upward momentum. Denied a title on the final day of the 1999/00 season, Zambrotta got his hands on a winners' medal two terms later, making 47 appearances in all competitions as Juve won the Scudetto. Zambrotta started the 2002/03 season on the treatment table and saw new recruit Mauro Camoranesi dazzle his way into the starting eleven on the right of midfield. Switched to left-back, he played 26 times as Juve won another crown and reached the Champions League final.

2003/04: Zambrotta played 29 Serie A games and was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for Juventus.

Did you know?
He married Valentina Liguori on 20 May 2004.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.