FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

Like Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Amelia, Simone Perrotta has earned his place in the Italy squad largely thanks to outstanding performances for his club over the last season.
While Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi has in the main selected those players who helped secure a place at Germany 2006, Perrotta only played 26 minutes in qualifying.

He started his career at Juventus but found only limited opportunities as a result of the competition provided by stars such as Zinedine Zidane and Didier Deschamps. His penchant for hard work at Chievo, however, earned him a transfer to Roma, where he has proved to be a classic box-to-box midfielder with more than adequate technique and an eye for goal.

He was a fixture in the Italy side under former coach Giovanni Trapattoni and participated at UEFA EURO 2004.

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UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile

Although he may lack some of the sublime skills of his Italian peers, Simone Perrotta is a key cog such is his energy, tackling ability and will to win.

National team
Perrotta has graduated from the Italy team that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2000 to the senior set-up. The midfield player made his debut against Turkey in November 2002 before settling into the squad during qualifying for the 2004 UEFA European Championship. Played a valuable role in Italy's UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying Group 9 success, starting the last five qualifiers. His first competitive appearance for the Azzurri came in the 2-0 home win against Finland in March 2003 and he played three times in Portugal, scoring against Bulgaria.

Club
Made his mark in the Reggina Calcio side which showed steady improvement in Serie B over three seasons from 1995/96, finishing 15th, tenth and sixth. Perrotta scored once in 77 appearances during that period, catching the eye of Juventus FC.

1998: A move to Turin failed to provide the spark to ignite Perrotta's career and he played just five times - four from the bench - in his only season at the Stadio Delle Alpi prior to joining AS Bari. Perrotta's drive in the centre of the park kept Bari in Serie A for one season before the Stadio San Nicola club were relegated in 2000/01.

2001: Perrotta did not return to Serie B, though, instead becoming AC Chievo Verona's then-record €1.5m signing. He scored four goals and missed just two games as Chievo shocked the football fraternity by finishing fifth in their first top-flight campaign to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Although they were subsequently eliminated by FK Crvena Zvezda, Chievo enjoyed a fine 2002/03 by consolidating their place in Serie A.

2003/04: Perrotta was typically consistent in the Chievo midfield, missing just one game as the club finished ninth in Serie A. In August he joined AS Roma for €7.2m, having agreed a four-year contract.

Did you know?
Perrotta was born and raised in England.

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

UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

Although he may lack some of the sublime skills of his Italian peers, Simone Perrotta is a key cog such is his energy, tackling ability and will to win.

National team
Perrotta has graduated from the Italy team that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2000 to the senior set-up. The midfield player made his debut against Turkey in November 2002 before settling into the squad during qualifying for the 2004 UEFA European Championship.

UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying
Played a valuable role in Italy's Group 9 success, starting the last five qualifiers. His first competitive appearance for the Azzurri came in the 2-0 home win against Finland in March 2003

Club
Made his mark in the Reggina Calcio side which showed steady improvement in Serie B over three seasons from 1995/96, finishing 15th, tenth and sixth. Perrotta scored once in 77 appearances during that period, catching the eye of Juventus FC.

1998: A move to Turin failed to provide the spark to ignite Perrotta's career and he played just five times - four from the bench - in his only season at the Stadio Delle Alpi prior to joining AS Bari. Perrotta's drive in the centre of the park kept Bari in Serie A for one season before the Stadio San Nicola club were relegated in 2000/01.

2001: Perrotta did not return to Serie B, though, instead becoming AC Chievo Verona's then-record €1.5m signing. He scored four goals and missed just two games as Chievo shocked the football fraternity by finishing fifth in their first top-flight campaign to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Although they were subsequently eliminated by FK Crvena Zvezda, Chievo enjoyed a fine 2002/03 by consolidating their place in Serie A.

2003/04: Perrotta was typically consistent in the Chievo midfield, missing just one game as the club finished ninth in Serie A.

Did you know?
Perrotta was born and raised in England.

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