Alessandro Nesta

Alessandro Nesta, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI (born March 19, 1976 in Rome), is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club AC Milan. Considered by many as one of the best centre backs to have ever played the game, he is a four-time member of the annual UEFA Team of the Year.

Nesta was raised in the Cinecittà area of Rome. He attended the Margherita Bosco primary school where he first started playing football. His older brother, Fernando, was advised to play a sport because of a back problem and enrolled at the local football club. Alessandro threw a tantrum until his father gave in and enrolled him as well, thus marking the beginning of his career.

Nesta's talent was first discovered by Francesco Rocca, then a scout for Roma, but Nesta's father, a Lazio fan, turned down the offer. In 1985, he joined Lazio's youth academy, where he rose through the ranks playing in various positions, including playing as a striker and midfielder, before settling in defence. His international career first showed signs of growth when he played for Italy's under-15 and under-16 sides. He was promoted to Lazio's senior squad in 1993, and first came to the attention of fans for being involved in a training ground accident that broke teammate Paul Gascoigne's leg.

He assumed the team captaincy in 1997, and helped Lazio win the 1998 Coppa Italia after beating Milan in the final, in which he scored the winning goal. This was followed by a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and European Super Cup in 1999, and a rare Scudetto and Coppa Italia double in the 1999–00 season, in addition to two Italian Super Cups.

Just before the 2002–03 Serie A campaign, financial woes forced Lazio to sell many of their best players. Nesta was transferred to Milan for approximately €30 million paid over three years, after being valued at over £50 million by Boudi just a year earlier. In his first season with the Rossoneri, Nesta won the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League and the third Coppa Italia of his career. The next season, he won his second European Super Cup and second career Scudetto. Despite missing most of the 2006–07 season due to a shoulder injury, Nesta nonetheless played a vital part in Milan's return to the 2006–07 Champions League final, where Milan defeated Liverpool 2–1. He (and Milan) also won another European SuperCup in August 2007. Nesta signed a contract extension that will keep him at Milan until 2011.

Nesta scored his first goal for Milan since April 2006 in a 1–1 draw with Siena on 15 September 2007. One of his most important goals for Milan came in the 4–2 victory over Boca Juniors in the final of the Club World Cup in December 2007.

Nesta was a member of the Under-21 squad that won the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in which he was named the top defender of the competition. He earned his first cap for the Azzurri against Moldova on October 5, 1996. He has been capped 78 times for Italy, and participated in Euro 1996, the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004, and the 2006 World Cup. He usually partnered captain Fabio Cannavaro in the heart of the defense.

 During the 2006 World Cup, he suffered an injury in Italy's group match against the Czech Republic, and was forced to leave the match early. This made it three times unlucky for Nesta; he previously ruptured a knee ligament against Austria during the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and missed Italy's final game in the 2002 FIFA World Cup with an injured foot.

After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Nesta's continuous injuries forced him to retire from the international team. Coach Roberto Donadoni unsuccessfully tried to persuade him to come out of retirement for Euro 2008.

More recently, a number of serious back injuries forced 33-year-old Nesta out of action for the whole 2008–09 season, raising concerns about his chance to make a comeback into active football. Fortunately he fully recovered from his injuries and came on as 77th minute substitute in Milan's final away game to Fiorentina on 31 May 2009 for his first competitive appearance of the season. On 25 October 2009 Nesta scored a brace to help Milan to a 2–1 victory over Chievo Verona in the Serie A. This was the first time he had ever scored two goals in a game. He became a starter and was one of Milan's most consistent players throughout the entire 2009-10 season without showing any signs of rust. [source : Alessandro Nesta]

Il Grande Capitano Paolo Maldini

Paolo Cesare Maldini (born 26 June 1968 in Milan, Italy) is a former Italian footballer who played as a centre back. He spent all 25 seasons of his career at Serie A club AC Milan, before retiring at the age of 40. During that period, Maldini won the Champions League five times, as well as seven Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, five Supercoppa Italiana, five European Super Cups, two Intercontinental Cups. He played for 14 years for the Italian national team, making his debut in 1988 before retiring in 2002 with 126 caps and four World Cup participations.

Paolo Maldini is the son of Cesare Maldini, an ex-AC Milan player who captained his team to victory in the European Cup finals in 1963, and went on to manage the national team. Despite his father’s links to AC Milan, as a youngster, Paolo was a fan of Turin team Juventus, home of his hero Roberto Bettega. However, after showing promise in the left-wing position, he was able to secure a place in the AC Milan youth programme (possibly through the influence of his father).

In January 1985, the Milan first team was plagued with injury, and for a match against Udinese, then manager Nils Lidholm decided to give 16-year old Maldini a spot on the substitutes' bench. When Sergio Battistini got injured and came off at half-time, Maldini got the shout and made his first appearance for the club that was to become such a huge part of his life and identity. 

Although the teenager made no further appearances that season, he developed quickly, and found himself first choice in the left back position in the following 1985-86 season. England international, Ray Wilkins, was one of the club’s senior defenders at the time, and it was partly because of his injury that Maldini found himself on the pitch. The youngster made a very good first impression on Wilkins, who said of him; "You could have stuck him in any position. As soon as I saw him I thought, my God, this boy's got everything. He was 16 years old, 6ft 1in tall, quick and strong, with two good feet. And he was in love with football, which you can still see today. He's also stayed the same thoroughly decent bloke, a gentleman as well as an outstanding player."

His international career began with the Italian under-21 squad in the 1986-87 season, graduating to the main squad in 1988. His first game was under Azeglio Vicini in Split against Yugoslavia. He distinguished himself, and became a fixture in the ‘Azzuri’ defence until his retirement from international football in 2002. 

During his 16 year tenure as an international, he became Italy’s most capped player, representing his country 126 times. One of the big disappointments of Maldini’s otherwise extraordinarily high-achieving career, was the lack of major international silverware. Italy finished runner-up in the 1994 USA FIFA World Cup, and in third place in the 1990 competition. He was also in the side that finished second in Euro 2000. 

Italy’s post-Maldini triumph in the 2006 FIFA World Cup must have been a bittersweet experience for the retiree. Like the rest of Italy, he was surely ecstatic to see his countrymen lifting the Jules Rimet trophy, but we could forgive him for feeling slightly envious of some of his ex-team mates, basking in the glory of the most coveted trophy in football (perhaps sport), that had eluded him despite two near successes.

However, Maldini could console himself easily enough by glancing up at his mantelpiece and reminding himself of the incredible success he has had (and still enjoys) for his club. He has won the Serie A 7 times, and the Italian Super Cup 5 times between 1988 and 2005, making Milan the most successful team in the recent history of the Serie A. He also jointly holds the record for 8 appearances in Champions League (formerly European Cup) finals with Francesco Gento, although Maldini has 5 winner’s medals to Gento’s 6. 

In the 2005 final against Liverpool FC, Maldini scored the fastest ever goal in a European Cup final, after only 51 seconds. He also became the oldest player ever to score in the final. He also holds the record for most appearances in the Serie A, Italy’s premier league, with over 600 appearances and counting. His total for all competitions at the end of the 2006/07 season was 846. Although he has publicly stated his desire to achieve 1000 appearances in a red and black shirt, this seems unlikely as he currently plans to retire at the end of the 2007/08 season. 

Throughout his 23 seasons at Milan, Maldini has only missed a handful of matches, making more than 25 appearances every year except 2001-02, when he suffered knee problems. These have never completely disappeared, but by moving into a less movement intensive role in central defence and enjoying the attentions of the best physicians in Italy, he has managed to stay fit and competitive. 

A 38 year-old Maldini is now a serious contender for the greatest defender of all time. Dignified and hugely respected, he is the paragon of a professional sportsman. He is one of the rare breed of footballers that looks completely at home on a football pitch. His vision and ability to read the game are second to none, allowing him to position himself so well that despite his lack of pace and advanced years, attacking players still fear the prospect of facing a defence with Maldini at its centre. 

He also possesses an extraordinary capacity for inspiring and organising his team mates and co-defenders. His command of the game is such that opponents find themselves playing the game at the pace Maldini sets, which generally is very slow. The inability of faster English teams to cope with the Maldini Effect is well documented. 

Perhaps the best season of Maldini’s career was 93/94, when he played in the side winning the European Cup and was runner-up in the FIFA World Cup finals, losing out to Brazil on penalties. This season saw him winning the prestigious World Soccer player of the year award - the first defender to do so. He said of the award; "It's a great honour for me to know that so many people consider me so highly. It's a particular matter of pride because defenders generally receive so much less attention from fans and the media than goal scorers. We are more in the engine room rather than taking the glory.”

One wonders whether if a young Maldini had decided to apply his skills in the other half of the pitch rather than defensively, we would be calling him a contender for best player of all time rather than best defender of all time. [source : Maldini]

Paolo Maldini Pictures and Wallpapers

Omar Sívori : El Cabezón

Enrique Omar Sívori was born in San Nicolas (Argentina) on October 2nd, 1935. He started kicking the ball in the town theatre. Then he got to CA River Plate of Renato Cesarini, former player of Juventus FC. Sivori was soon nicknamed "El Cabezón" (because of his big head) or "el gran zurdo" (because of his sensational left foot shot).

 

With the "blancorojos" of Buenos Aires Sivori became Argentina champion three times in a row, from 1955 to 1957. Again in 1957 with the Argentine selection he won the Copa America (the South American nations' championship) played in Peru with Maschio and Angelillo in the unrestrainable central attacking trio that was named "the angels with dirty faces".

Shortly after Sivori moved to Italy and to Juventus FC to which the player was indicated by Cesarini himself. He was paid a good 160 million lire, an incredible figure at that time that allowed River Plate managers to renovate a whole stand (that now holds his name) of their stadium.

 

Shortly after his arrival in Torino, Sivori showed all his talent. He was not able to play in an ordinary way, he was born to amaze, to amuse and to have fun. Incommensurable with his dribblings and his feints, he scored and made his team-mates score, cheating his opponents with his socks down, his tunnels and his hot-blooded and disrespectful character. And his character was really one of his limits: in his twelve years in Italy he piled up a good 33 days' disqualification.

 

He played for Juventus FC for 8 seasons, won 3 scudetti (Serie A titles) and 3 Italy Cups scoring 167 goals in 253 matches. In 1960 with 28 goals he was the top scorer of the Italian championship. In 1961 "France Football" gave him the prestigious "Ballon d'Or". In 1965 Sivori moved to SS Napoli where with the Brazilian player José Altafini threw all the Parthenopean supporters into raptures. He ended his career also because of a heavy disqualification just before the end of the 1968-69 championship and returned to Argentina.

 

Once naturalized Italian, Omar Sivori wore also the Italian selection shirt nine times, scored 8 goals and played the unlucky world championship in Chile in 1962. Afterwards he worked also as a talent-scout for Juventus FC in South America, and he was also a biting, as usual, TV commentator. Omar Sivori died from pancreas cancer when he was 69 on February 18th, 2005. He died in San Nicolas, a city about 200 km far from Buenos Aires, where he was born and where he lived for a long time. There he had also a farm named "Juventus" after the team he loved most. [source : Sivori]

Omar Sivori Pictures

 

 

Giampiero Boniperti

Giampiero Boniperti (born 4 July 1928 in Barengo, Piedmont) is an Italian former football player who played his entire career at Juventus between 1946 and 1961. He also played for the Italian national football team. After retirement from professional football, Boniperti has been a president of Juventus and a deputy to the European Parliament.

Italian striker Giampiero Boniperti is one of the most legendary figures at Juventus, the club where he spent most of his career. Having started out as a player in the lower leagues with Momo, his move to Turin early in 1947 would be the last of his career. He remained with Juventus for the next fourteen years, setting several club records. 

Boniperti made an instant impact at Juventus. Having played a few games for the club at the end of the 1946-47 season, his first full season in 1947-48 saw him finish as leading goalscorer in Serie A, his performances earning him a place in the Italian national team. In 1950 he won his first Serie A Championship medal with Juventus, and also made one appearance in an unsuccessful World Cup campaign for Italy.  

Winning another Serie A title in 1952, Boniperti was one of Italy's most prolific strikers in the early 1950s, regularly scoring more than fifteen league goals a season. Later in the 1950s, the goals did not come as frequently as Juventus' domestic success dried up for several years, although Boniperti did make a second World Cup appearance in 1954. 

Most of the club success in Boniperti's career came towards the end of his time as a player. He won his third Serie A title in 1958, the Italian Cup in 1959 and a league and cup double in 1960. After taking a fifth championship with Juventus in 1961, Boniperti ended his playing career as the holder of the club records for both appearances and goals in all competitions. 

With 182 goals in all-competitions, Boniperti was the highest goalscorer in Juventus' history for more than 40 years, until his record was bested by Alessandro Del Piero on 10 January 2006. Del Piero also broke his appearance record on 14 February 2010 when he played his 445th Serie A game. Notably, Boniperti is the tenth-highest goalscorer of all-time in Serie A and was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. 

After his retirement, Boniperti returned to Juventus in 1971 to take over as club president, as was responsible for several inspired coaching appointments that helped the club to achieve a new era of domestic and European success. Over Boniperti's nineteen years as president, Juventus won nine Serie A titles, four Italian Cups and all three European club trophies.  [source : http://www.world-football-legends.co.uk/boniperti.php]

Giampiero Boniperti Pictures and Wallpapers

Il Capitano Francesco Totti

Francesco Totti was born at Porta Metronia, Rome, Italy, on 27^th September in 1976. He is the current captain of Serie A club AS Roma. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most capped player in the club's history. He is widely regarded as one of the finest players in his generation and also one of Roma's greatest players ever. Totti is member of  2006 World Cup winner, Italian national team. 

Francesco Totti is one of the most exciting and impressive attacking footballers to emerge in this generation and is widely recognised as AS Roma's talisman having never left the club to play elsewhere. Totti made his first appearance for Roma at the age of only 16 and his talent coupled with an eagerness to impress was soon rewarded as he forced himself into a regular place in the first team. His development at the club continued in earnest and he was named Serie A Player of the Year both in 2000 and in 2003. Totti's influence in the squad was one of the major factors that contributed to AS Roma securing the Italian league title at the end of the 2001 season with the young man scoring thirteen goals for his team. Totti’s outstanding performances for Roma continued as Totti was moulded into the player and creative genius that we know and love today. In the 2006-07 season Totti scored an impressive tally of 26 goals securing the trophy for the top goal scorer in the League as well as the European Golden Boot.

In international football Totti has played as a regular for the Italian national squad since he first made his senior debut in 2000. Totti was a member of the successful Italian squad that lifted the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He announced his retirement from the national team in July 2007 emphasizing that he wishes to concentrate on his domestic football with AS Roma.

Totti has won many individual awards, including a record five Italian Footballer of the Year awards and two Serie A Footballer of the Year awards. He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. He is currently the top active Serie A goalscorer, and sixth all-time in league history with 192 goals. In 2010, Totti awarded with The Golden Foot Award (an international football award, given to players who stand out for their athletic achievements -both as individuals and team players- and for their personality. The award is only given to active players of at least 29 years of age, and can only be won once). [source : Totti]

Francesco Totti Pictures and Wallpapers

Totti's er cucchiaio goals

Fabio Cannavaro

Fabio Cannavaro (born 13 September 1973 in Naples, Italy) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for the UAE Football League club Al-Ahli Dubai. He spent the majority of his career in Italy. He started his career at Napoli, before spending seven years at Parma, with whom he won two Coppa Italia and the 1999 UEFA Cup. After spells at Internazionale and Juventus, Cannavaro transferred along with manager Fabio Capello from Juventus to Real Madrid, with whom he won consecutive La Liga titles in 2007 and 2008. After returning to Juventus for one season in 2009–10, he joined current club Al-Ahli.

Cannavaro has also achieved success with the Italian national team. He was part of the Italy team that won consecutive Under-21 European Championships in 1994 and 1996. After earning his first senior cap in 1997, he eventually became captain. Cannavaro led Italy to victory in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and in 2009 overtook Paolo Maldini as the most capped player in the country's history. He announced his retirement from international football on 25 June 2010 following Italy's failure to qualify for the knock-out stages of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, having amassed 136 and scored 2 goals for the national team.

He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2006, making him the first, and so far, only defender to win the award, as well as the oldest recipient. Cannavaro's younger brother Paolo is also a professional footballer. [source : Cannavaro]

Fabio Cannavaro Pictures and Wallpapers

 

Roberto Baggio : Il Divin Codino

Roberto Baggio is one of the tragical figures in football. He was an astute forward with immense abilities. He was fearsome forward in world football during 90’s.he won both the FIFA world player of the year as well as European footballer of the year in 1993.He was once the world’s expensive football player and that shows how talented he was. Baggio had cult fan following across the world. His ponytail was best feature that will come to mind when one think about Baggio.

Roberto Baggio was born on 18^th February 1967 at Caldogno in Italy. At an age of 14, in 1982 he started his football journey with Vicenza .At that time they were in Serie C1. He scored 13 goals for Vicenza. Baggio moved to Fiorentina in 1985.In 1986, while playing against Sampadoria he made his debut for Fiorentina in Serie A. His first goal was against Maradona’s scudetto winning Napoli on 1oth may in the year 1987.During his stint with Fiorentina he score 39 goals. He became so popular among Fiorentina fans. He was instrumental in Fiorentina’s UEFA cup run in 1989.They reached the final and lost to their Italian opponent Juventus. He scored 17 goals in Serie A that season. His progress with Fiorentina caught attention of Juventus. In 1990 Juventus paid, then world record fee of $ 17 million for acquiring the services of Baggio. Fiorentina’s decision to sell Baggio evoked sharp reactions from their fans.

The Divine Ponytail

He had good goals per match ratio while playing for Juventus considering the fact that he played in most technically defensive league in the world. Baggio’s first success with Juventus was winning UEFA cup in 1993.His performances in 1993 earned him European as well as FIFA accolades. He scored six vital goals in that European campaign, while he scored 21 goals in Serie A that season. In 1995, he won his first scudetto, with Juventus. Juventus won Italian cup also that year. Baggio had an injury-hit season, which effectively reduced his playing time in that season. However, Del Piero’s emergence made the Juventus management to sideline Baggio with a reduced wage deal Baggio scored 80 goals for Juventus. Baggio captained Juventus in many matches.

When an offer came from AC Milan’s owner Berlusconi, Baggio did not think twice, he moved to Milan. He had miserable time in Milan, as he never was able to get into coach Capello’s plan. Though he won scudetto in 1996 with AC Milan, he did not have much role in it. Even though when coach moved on, arrival of his rival striker Sacchi did not help his cause. He scored only 12 goals for Milan in 51 matches. To reignite his faltering career, Baggio moved to Bologna in 1997.He struck form with Bologna as he scored 22 goals in just 30 matches for them in that season. In 1998 when Italian giants inter Milan came for him, he moved on again. However, like at AC Milan, he did not do well with Internazionale. He scored only nine goals in 41 matches for Inter Milan. His sliding form cost his place in national team. In 2001, he moved to Brescia in order to force back into Italian team for 2002 world cup. He started his Brescia career by striking eight goals in just nine games. However, injury forced him out of action for many matches. Even though he came back and scored well after recovering from injury, he was not able to get into 2002 world cup squad. He scored 45 goals for Brescia in 95 matches showing that he was good enough. He retired from football in 2004. Brescia retired their jersey number 10 to show their respect to Baggio. He scored over 300 goals in his career.

Baggio's World Cup penalty miss

Baggio played in three world cups. He played bit part role in 1990 world cup. He scored two goals in that world cup. He scored the goal of the 1990 world cup against Czechoslovakia. In 1994 world cup, Baggio became a villain from heroin pre quarter final he scored two goals against Nigeria to help Italy to reach quarterfinals. In the win against Spain in the quarterfinal, he scored one goal. He was influential in the semi-finals for Italy with two goals as they went past Bulgaria to enter final. World will not forget the tearful Baggio after missing the penalty against Brazil in final, which effectively handed them the world cup. He scored five goals in that world cup. In 1998 world cup, again he had bit part role as coach-favoured Del Piero. He scored two goals in that world cup. In quarterfinal match against France, he came as substitute. Though he scored in the penalty shootout this time, Italy was unlucky to exit from the tournament. Baggio scored in three world cups, which is a feat in itself. He scored 27 goals for Italy in 56 matches. He did not get the chance to feature in 2002 world cup. Baggio was one of the most fashionable football team players in the world. [source : Baggio]

Baggio's Pictures and Wallpapers