Cristian Zaccardo
Encyclopedia
Cristian Zaccardo, Ufficiale OMRI
(born December 21, 1981 in Formigine
, Modena
) is an Italian World Cup
-winning footballer, who plays for Italian Serie A
club Parma
. He plays primarily as a right full back but is also capable of playing at centre back.
youth system, Zaccardo debuted in the first team in 2001, under the direction of coach Francesco Guidolin
, immediately becoming a regular for the rossoblu and Italy's "Under 21" national team. He left Bologna in 2004 to join his former coach Guidolin in Palermo. After a season spent in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg
, in August 2009 he rejoined his former coach Guidolin at Parma F.C.
squad who won the 2006 FIFA World Cup
. Zaccardo made three appearances in the competition, scoring an own goal
off an attempted clearance in the second azzurri match, a 1–1 draw against the United States
. He has been overlooked for national team selection in tournament competitions ever since.
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
(born December 21, 1981 in Formigine
Formigine
Formigine is a town and comune in the province of Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. As of 2007 Formigine had an estimated population of 31,643.-History:...
, Modena
Province of Modena
The Province of Modena is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Modena.It has an area of 2,689 km², and a total population of 659,925 . There are 48 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Modena.At May 31, 2005, the main comuni by population...
) is an Italian World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
-winning footballer, who plays for Italian Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
. He plays primarily as a right full back but is also capable of playing at centre back.
Club career
One of the best products of the BolognaBologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
youth system, Zaccardo debuted in the first team in 2001, under the direction of coach Francesco Guidolin
Francesco Guidolin
Francesco Guidolin is an Italian football manager and former player, currently serving as head coach of Serie A outfit Udinese.-Playing career:...
, immediately becoming a regular for the rossoblu and Italy's "Under 21" national team. He left Bologna in 2004 to join his former coach Guidolin in Palermo. After a season spent in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
, in August 2009 he rejoined his former coach Guidolin at Parma F.C.
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
International career
He was part of the ItalianItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
squad who won the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. Zaccardo made three appearances in the competition, scoring an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
off an attempted clearance in the second azzurri match, a 1–1 draw against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. He has been overlooked for national team selection in tournament competitions ever since.