Gianluca Zambrotta Bio Send To Friend  

After making his debut for Italy in February 1999, Zambrotta endured a stop-start beginning to his international career but recovered to become an Azzurri regular and played a key role in the 2006 World Cup triumph. The versatile defender played every game, bar the opener against Ghana, and scored one and set one up in Italy's 3-0 quarter-final victory over Ukraine.

The Como-born player began his career at his home town club in 1994 and made his mark on Serie A following a move to Bari in 1997. Two years later he became the first Biancorossi player to represent Italy for half a century and in 1999 secured a €15.8 million transfer to Carlo Ancelotti's Juventus. He won two Scudetti in Turin before moving on to Barcelona as one of the best defenders in the world and returned to Italy with AC Milan in May 2008.

Zambrotta initially emerged as a midfielder but excelled as an attacking defender and can play in either position on either flank. He has done so for Juventus and Italy and became the first-choice left back for the Azzurri following Paolo Maldini's retirement from international football in 2003. He now operates on the right.

Strengths: Tenacious in the tackle, has great technique on the ball and is a bit of a set-piece specialist.

Weaknesses: The years are advancing.

Career high: Winning the World Cup with Italy in 2006.

Career low: Being sent off in Juve's title decider in May 2000 as the Bianconeri lost 3-0 and were beaten to the title by one point by Lazio.

Style: Uses his huge reserves of stamina to thunder up and down either flank.

Quotes: "I'm back to my best form." Gianluca Zambrotta sends an ominous message to his opponents.

Trivia: Zambrotta allegedly earned the nickname 'The Mermaid' after spending hours admiring himself in the mirror during a tour with the Italian Under-21s.

Soccernet says: Fast, versatile, a good crosser of the ball with a high level of technical ability... it's hard to find fault with Zambrotta.