Mark Bresciano

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Mark Bresciano
Personal information
Full name	Mark Bresciano
Date of birth	11 February 1980
Place of birth	Melbourne, Australia
Height	1.82 m
Position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	U.S. Città di Palermo
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1997 - 99 1999 - 02 2002 - 06 2006 -	Carlton Empoli F.C. Parma F.C. Palermo	18 (4) 80 (17) 123 (19) 5 (2)
National team**
2001 -	Australia	30 (8)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 8, 2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of November 8, 2006.

Mark Bresciano (born on February 11, 1980 in Melbourne) is an Australian football (soccer) midfielder, who currently plays for Palermo in Italy's Serie A. Previous clubs include Carlton (1998-99) in Australia and Empoli (1999-2002) in Italy, from which he joined Parma in the summer of 2002 for around €8 million. In 2003/2004, Bresciano scored the most goals of any midfielder in the Italian Serie A. Shortly after the end of the 2006 World Cup, Bresciano was signed by Palermo [1].

Bresciano is one of Australia's most talented footballers and has a renowned eye for goal. He usually plays his football on the left side slotted in the midfield but can also play as a forward and in the central midfield role. Bresciano is a very versatile player who often assists in both attack and defence and is also a set-piece specialist.

His correct first name is Mark and not, as is often reported, "Marco" though he is most commonly referred to as Marco in Australia. Interviewed for the TV documentary The Away Game, he said: "In Australia it's Marco. In Italy, it's Mark. Work that one out. My birth certificate says Mark. But I'm named after my grandfather Marco. I like Marco but not Mark-O. I prefer Mark". His father is Italian and his mother is Croatian.

He has played for the Australian national team and has also represented Australia at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Bresciano and Parma midfielder Vince Grella were excused from the 2005 Confederations Cup by the then Australian manager Frank Farina to allow them to take part in a relegation playoff between Parma and Bologna. Bresciano had also played with Grella at Carlton and Empoli prior to the pair being reunited in 2004 when Grella joined Parma from Empoli, but with the move to Palermo, the two were split up again.

On November 16, 2005, Bresciano scored the only goal in the Socceroos' home (second) leg of their 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification playoff against Uruguay. The playoff would end 1-1 on aggregate after extra time, and the Socceroos won the ensuing penalty shootout to advance to the World Cup.

Bresciano played in Australia's opening game of the 2006 World Cup, being substituted before the team went on to score three goals and defeat Japan. He came on as a substitute in the second game against Brazil and, in the third Group Stage game, was instrumental in the 79th minute goal scored by Harry Kewell against Croatia - a game drawn 2-2 by Australia with the result being enough to put Australia through to the second round. In the second round against Italy, Bresciano was judged to be in a scoring position in the 50th minute, when fouled by Marco Materazzi. In a controversial decision, the referee gave Materazzi a red card. Italy went on to win the game on a penalty in the 95th minute, scored by Francesco Totti, thus knocking Australia out of the World Cup.

[edit] External links

• View Bresciano's profile at U.S. Città di Palermo Serie A fans site
• Just call me Mark (Fox Sports)

	Australia squad - 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Schwarzer | 2 Neill | 3 Moore | 4 Cahill | 5 Čulina | 6 Popović | 7 Emerton | 8 Skoko | 9 Viduka | 10 Kewell | 11 Lazaridis | 12 Čović | 13 Grella | 14 Chipperfield | 15 Aloisi | 16 Beauchamp | 17 Thompson | 18 Kalac | 19 Kennedy | 20 Wilkshire | 21 Sterjovski | 22 Milligan | 23 Bresciano | Coach: Hiddink

U.S. Città di Palermo - Current Squad
1 Agliardi | 2 Zaccardo | 3 Bovo | 4 Tedesco | 5 Corini | 8 Diana | 10 Caracciolo | 11 Amauri | 12 Fontana | 14 Guana | 15 Dellafiore | 16 Cassani | 17 Di Michele | 18 Parravicini | 20 Sirigu | 21 Biava | 22 Munari | 23 Bresciano | 26 Pisano | 30 Simplício | 32 Capuano | 43 Barzagli | 50 Ficano | 53 Cossentino | 90 Brienza | Coach: Guidolin