For Gennaro Gattuso football is as much a physical battle as it is a psychological one. As intimidating on the pitch as he is approachable off it, Gattuso is a marauding midfielder who never shirks a challenge.
Modestly, if incorrectly, describing himself as a player lacking in technical gifts, the Milan man seeks to compensate for his perceived shortcomings by patrolling his midfield beat with boundless energy, tirelessly stealing the ball from opponents and expertly negating counter-attacks to buy time for his team-mates.<\/P>
Calabria born and bred, Gattuso left the region at the age of 12 to join Perugia, where he made his first appearance in Serie A five years later. After failing to attract the attention of Italy's big clubs, he opted for a move to Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, where he spent an eventful season alongside the likes of English magician Paul Gascoigne and earned the nickname Rhino.<\/P>
Known back home as Ringhio (The Snarler), he returned to Italy to join AC Milan. His ability to steal possession from opponents, either in a central role or on the right side of midfield, made him a highly respected member of the Rossoneri side that won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 and the Italian championship a year later.<\/P>
After representing his country at the Sydney 2000 Men's Olympic Football Tournament and helping to win the UEFA European Under-21 Championship that same year, he formed an integral part of the Italy sides that contested Korea\/Japan 2002 and UEFA EURO 2004.<\/P>
Gattuso remains a key component of the national team under Marcello Lippi and his near-telepathic partnership with Andrea Pirlo, a seamless combination of destroyer and creator, provides the fulcrum of the Italy team. The midfield terrier captained his country for the first time in a friendly against Greece last November.<\/P>
<\/STRONG> <\/P> <\/STRONG> <\/P>","F4582884020ECEA691D8D46CC172E947":"177cm","2EC2CE09DA225C510B8476426035EFA9":" FIFA World Cup The Italian national football team represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is considered to be one of the best national teams in the world. It is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup behind Brazil (5), having won 4 titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), also appearing in two finals (1970, 1994), reaching a third place (1990) and a fourth place (1978). They have also won a European championship (1968), as well as appearing in two other finals (2000, 2012), one Olympic football tournament (1936) and two Central European International Cups. Italy's highest finish at the Confederations Cup was in 2013, when the squad achieved a third place finish. First international:<\/STRONG>
<\/STRONG>Winner (4): 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
Runner-up (2): 1970, 1994
Third place (1): 1990
Fourth place (1): 1978
UEFA European Championship
<\/STRONG>Winner (2): 1968, 2020
Runner-up (2): 2000, 2012
Fourth place (1): 1980
Semi-finals (1): 1988
FIFA Confederations Cup
<\/STRONG>Third place (1): 2013
Olympic football tournament
<\/STRONG>Gold Medal (1): 1936
Bronze Medal (2): 1928, 2004
Central European International Cup<\/STRONG>
Winner (2): 1927–30, 1933–35
Runner-up (2): 1931–32, 1936–38
Laureus World Team of the Year<\/STRONG>
Winners: 2007<\/P>","37FE64B882E92ECB":"Italy","7C314F98A46E5CCF80F8B8125BB0A065":"2025-6-15","56D1193A280251FE":"Italy","4852A99C0B1E8B281F768BF6F7769914":"Hajduk Split,Olympique de Marseille,Valencia CF,ACF Fiorentina,SSC Napoli,AC Milan,Pisa SC,OFI Crete F.C.,Palermo FC,FC Sion","84FBAAA541406939DA36722337FBDFD18D691C310C47982D":"1898","341115063FD1CD8D":"574","892B81E13FEE84C5":"figc.segretaria@figc.it","CC02AD5B3CF69E6DCAD0426C64DE8022":"Italy","03A7D9C89753B0D1D7F7ED990952C548":"631500000.00","87C021F1E71FC6CD6E05BF0B3DD05793":"77kg","34A0AE9CBA0644B6":"http:\/\/www.figc.it","6B02481E401D41DD8A44F7EAE1BDE140":"Hajduk Split","3D3B712BD7BB3346233C27994E5E2815":"1978-1-9","EB91D699086F1F17846A1216AD2083C3":"","D769ED524110EC21":"Gennaro Ivan Gattuso","23A207CDBA5674BBB1C9F6E64605564A":"Gennaro Ivan Gattuso","5232E2CC9B16F53977588D5F27A411B8":"
The national football team is known as the "Azzurri," from the traditional colour of Italian national teams and athletes representing Italy. Azure blue (azzurro, in Italian) comes from the "Azzurro Savoia" (Savoy Blue), the colour traditionally linked to the royal dynasty which unified Italy in 1861, and maintained in the official standard of the Italian President.<\/P>","8165D0EC38D769BD27A209A15276D0CF":"","4DC924206DB9E0EB3B8818DC2C371A93":"","A2993BAC4D9D88EC":"
Italy 6-2 France
Most caps:
<\/STRONG>Gianluigi Buffon (154)
Top scorer:<\/STRONG>
Luigi Riva (35)
Most appearances:<\/STRONG>
All-time – Gianluigi Buffon (154)
Current – Gianluigi Buffon (154)
TEAM RECORD IN UEFA COMPETITIONS
<\/U><\/STRONG>Biggest win:<\/STRONG>
02\/12\/1962, Italy 6-0 Turkey, Bologna
Biggest defeat:<\/STRONG>
01\/07\/2012, Spain 4-0 Italy, Kyiv
Appearances in UEFA European Football Championship:<\/STRONG> 14
Player with most appearances:<\/STRONG> 54
Gianluigi Buffon (ITA)
Top scorers: <\/STRONG>14
Filippo Inzaghi (ITA)<\/P>","A3B3C821F4815DD2":"14","1CD1A53514962B6A":"1","03A7D9C89753B0D1380A64764519199FB9772FF9B422CB1E":"1","9770E443802D7F63":"26.21","41780118C08E58E3":"","e_index":3};