Andrea Barzagli

Andrea Barzagli

Barzagli playing for Juventus in 2013
Personal information
Full nameAndrea Barzagli
Date of birth8 May 1981
Place of birthFiesole, Italy
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Club information
Current team
Juventus
Number15
Youth career
Rondinella
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1998–2000Rondinella51(3)
2000Pistoiese5(0)
2001Rondinella13(1)
2001–2003Piacenza0(0)
2001–2003→ Ascoli (loan)46(3)
2003–2004Chievo29(3)
2004–2008Palermo142(4)
2008–2011VfL Wolfsburg75(1)
2011–Juventus115(1)
National team‡
2003–2004Italy U2115(0)
2004–Italy51(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 March 2015

Andrea Barzagli, Ufficiale OMRI[1][2] (Italian pronunciation: [anˈdrɛa barˈdzaʎʎi]; born 8 May 1981) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Serie A club Juventus.[3] He has also represented the Italian national team, and was most notably a member of the Italian 2006 World Cup winning squad, as well as a starting member of the Italian squad that reached the Euro 2012 final.

Barzagli is known for his powerful physical build,[4] and for being "strong in terms of anticipation, concentration and positional sense."[5][6] He has stood out in Italy in recent years, due to his marking, aerial prowess, and tackling ability, as well as his correct behaviour, capacity to read the game, and his adeptness in one on one situations; these attributes have enabled him to be voted to the Serie A Team of the Year for three consecutive seasons.[7] His calm composure, tactical awareness, pace, consistency and ball playing ability have recently enabled him to be regarded as one of the best and most complete defenders in the world.[8][9][4][6]

Club career

Early career in Italy

In the 1998–99 season, Barzagli made his first professional football appearance with semi-professional Rondinella Calcio[10] before moving to Serie B side A.C. Pistoiese in 2000–01,[10] in a co-ownership deal.[11] A year later he rejoined Rondinella Calcio in Serie C2. He then signed for Ascoli Calcio 1898 for the 2001–02 season[10] (from Piacenza, a Serie A from 2001 to 2003) and helped them gain promotion to Serie B. He remained in Ascoli for another year without further success. In July 2003 he was sold by Piacenza in another co-ownership deal.[12] His first Serie A cap was won with ChievoVerona in the 1–1 draw at Brescia on August 2003.[10] A year later the defender was signed by Serie A outfit Palermo, helping the club to an UEFA Cup spot during his first season with the club. Barzagli was bestowed with the captain's armband after Eugenio Corini controversially left the Sicilian club in the summer of the 2007–08 season.[13]

Wolfsburg

In 2008, Barzagli was in contract negotiations with ACF Fiorentina and was widely expected to sign. To everyone's surprise the deal fell through as Barzagli, a native Florentine, had already stated his eagerness to join.[14] Barzagli's agent spoke to media saying: "The difference between what we were asking and what they offered was minimal – it amounted to £100,000. Andrea was willing to give up a lot of money to play for Fiorentina, but they didn’t take our requests into consideration".[15] Instead Barzagli choose to join VfL Wolfsburg and the Bundesliga following fellow Italian and team-mate Cristian Zaccardo.[16] He was given the number 43. It was later reported that the Italian international snubbed Fiorentina's five years £1.2 million contract for VfL Wolfsburg's offer of 3 years £2.5 million offer.[17] The transfer fee was 12.95 million Euro.[18] Barzagli played every minute of the 2008–09 Bundesliga championship winning season for Wolfsburg.[16] He later credited his Wolfsburg coach of 2008–09 Felix Magath for having helped him to improve as a footballer. On 15 September 2009, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in Wolfsburg's 3-1 home win over CSKA Moscow.[19] He scored his first goal for Wolfsburg in a 4–0 win over TSG Hoffenheim on 4 April 2010. He closed his second season at Wolfsburg with two appearances in the Champions League and three in the Europa League, as well as 1 goal in 24 league appearances. In his third season with the German club, he collected 17 league appearances before moving to Juventus in January.

Juventus

Barzagli playing for Juventus in 2012

On 26 January 2011, Barzagli left Wolfsburg to return to Italy, joining Serie A giants Juventus for a contract of €300,000 fixed and €300,000 variable, which would keep him at the club until 2013.[3] Barzagli's contract with Wolfsburg was due to expire on 30 June 2011. He made his debut with the Turin club in a 2-1 away defeat against his former team Palermo, on the 23rd match-day of the season on 2 February 2011.[20] His first six months with the Bianconeri coincided with the second half of a terribly disappointing 2010–11 campaign under Luigi Delneri, which saw the club finish only seventh in Serie A, with Barzagli making 15 appearances in the league that season.

With the arrival of Antonio Conte as the new Juventus coach, Barzagli became an integral part of the Juventus backline, and was one of the club's most consistent performers, culminating in a recall to the national team. Juventus finished the 2011–12 season with the best defence in Italy and in Europe, only conceding 20 goals in 38 appearances.[21] Barzagli scored his first goal for Juventus on 13 May 2012, scoring a penalty against Atalanta in the last league match of the season, in a 3–1 home win.[22] He helped Juventus win the 2011–12 scudetto undefeated, and the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana; Juventus also made the final of the Coppa Italia that season.[23] His stellar season earned him a place in the Serie A Team of the Year.[24] At the end of the season, he renewed his contract with Juventus until 2015.[25]

During the 2012–13 season, Barzagli made a total of 45 appearances in all competitions for Juventus, his highest personal tally since his first season at Wolfsburg. Most of these were made alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini in Antonio Conte's now typical three-man backline and 3–5–2 formation, as the club once again prevailed in Serie A, winning their second consecutive title, and made their way to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia. Barzagli did not score during the season, however, he impressed in the home fixture against A.S. Roma in September 2012, when he won the ball in his own half, ran past an opponent and made a lung-bursting run that culminated in a through-ball assist for Sebastian Giovinco, as Juventus won the match 4-0.

In the 2013–14 season, Barzagli's consistent performances continued for Juventus, despite having dealt with injury problems throughout the season. Juventus won the 2013 Supercoppa Italiana[26] and their third consecutive Serie A title, their thirtieth overall, with a record 102 points, finishing once again with the best defence in the League. Juventus disappointed in Europe, however, and were eliminated in the group stage of the Champion's League, although they managed to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League that season.

After the 2014 World Cup, Barzagli endured an injury and was operated in Finland on 1 July 2014, being ruled out for three months.[27] Barzagli missed the entire first half of the 2014-15 season, and only returned to the starting line-up in a friendly match with the youth side.[28] He was called up for the first leg of Juventus's semi-final match-up against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia.[29] He made his first appearance for Juventus since his injury 8 months before, coming on as a substitute in Juventus's 1-0 home win over Sassuolo on 9 March 2015.[30] Barzagli started the next league game on 14 March 2015, helping Juventus to keep a clean-sheet in a 1-0 away win over Palermo.[31]

International career

Barzagli was a member of the Italian under-21 side that conquered the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship under the guidance of manager Claudio Gentile, and he also appeared at the Summer Olympics in Athens that year, winning a bronze medal.[32] He won his first senior international cap for Italy on 17 November 2004, in 1-0 friendly home win against Finland under Italian coach Lippi.[33] He was called up for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and, while not expecting to play at all, was deployed as a substitute in the second round match against Australia, and he subsequently appeared again, starting in the quarter-final match against Ukraine due to the suspension of Marco Materazzi, and Alessandro Nesta's injury, appearing for the full 90 minutes.[33][34] Italy went on to win the World Cup that year.

A key member of Italy's defence under new Italy manager Roberto Donadoni, Barzagli was deployed six times in UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying matches, and appeared in the crucial 2–1 victory over Scotland.[35] He was selected to Italy's UEFA Euro 2008 squad and partnered alongside Materazzi in the heavy 0–3 defeat against the Netherlands after Italian skipper Fabio Cannavaro on 2 June suffered an injury in training.[36] Barzagli later suffered an injury in training on 19 June, which kept him out for the rest of the tournament, as Italy were eliminated on penalties in the quarter-finals by the eventual champions Spain.[37] Because of the fallout from Italy's heavy opening loss of the tournament, Barzagli subsequently appeared for the Azzurri only one time during the following three years, in Italy's 2–1 World Cup qualifier away win against Cyprus after Alessandro Gamberini fell injured after 60 seconds.[38] In spite of winning the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg in 2009, he was not picked by Marcello Lippi for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, or for the 2010 World Cup tournaments, in South Africa.[6]

On 2 October 2011, after three years of absence, he was once again called up to the national team by manager Cesare Prandelli, due to his consistent and excellent performances for Juventus;[39] on 11 October, he started in Italy's Euro 2012 qualifier away match against Serbia, and also subsequently started in the European qualifier against Northern Ireland.[40]

On 13 May 2012, Barzagli was selected by Prandelli for the 32-man shortlist for Italy's Euro 2012 squad;[41] he was named as one of the final 23 members of Italy's squad on 29 May.[42] On 1 June 2012, in a preparation match for Euro 2012 against Russia, he captained the team for the first time after Gianluigi Buffon was taken off to be replaced by Morgan De Sanctis.[43] On 4 June, Barzagli suffered an injury during training, which put his place at Euro 2012 in jeopardy;[44] despite initial concerns that he would be unable to participate in the tournament, he was kept in the squad by Prandelli in place of his back-up, Davide Astori,[45] After, it was stated that he would only miss Italy's opening group matches against Spain and Croatia.[46]

On 18 June 2012, after recovering from his injury, Barzagli was picked over Leonardo Bonucci to play against Ireland alongside Juventus team-mate Chiellini in the Italy's last match of the Euro 2012 Group Stage. In his first match of the tournament, he aided the team to keep a clean sheet in a 2–0 win over Ireland, which allowed Italy to qualify for the knock-out round. On 24 June 2012, Barzagli started in Italy's Euro 2012 quarter-final match against England, which also resulted in an Italian victory on penalties, after the match had finished 0–0 following extra time. On 28 June 2012, Barzagli continued his success in Euro 2012 by aiding Italy in a 2–1 victory against Germany.[47] Italy were eventually defeated by defending European and World Champions Spain in the Final of the tournament; although they were defeated 4-0, their place in the final automatically qualified them for the 2013 Confederations Cup.[48]

Barzagli retained his place in the starting lineup throughout the 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign, as Italy qualified for the tournament undefeated, with two matches to spare. On 16 May 2013, Barzagli was named to Prandelli's 31-man short-list for Italy's 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup squad;[49] he was eventually called up to the final 23-man Italy squad for the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil on 3 June,[50] and he went on to appear in three of Italy's five matches throughout the tournament, starting in Italy's two opening group wins against Mexico and Japan, whilst he was rested in Italy's defeat to hosts and eventual champions Brazil; after picking up an injury in the semi-final penalty shoot-out defeat against Spain,[51] he missed Italy's penalty shoot-out victory over Uruguáy in the bronze medal match, which allowed them to finish the tournament in third place, their best ever finish in the Confederations Cup.[7] Barzagli was also named to Prandelli's 30-man short-list for the 2014 World Cup on 13 May 2014,[52] and he was also later called up as one of Italy's starting centrebacks for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil on 1 June.[53] He appeared in all three of Italy's group matches throughout the World Cup, also making his 50th cap in the final group match defeat against Uruguáy, as they were knocked out in the first round of the tournament with three points.[54]

Personal Life

Barzagli and his wife Maddalena were married in July 2013 and have a son Mattia and a daughter Camilla.[55]

Career statistics

Club

As of 22 April 2015
Club performance League Cup Other Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Italy League Coppa Italia Other Europe Total
1998–99RondinellaSerie D281–––281
1999–2000Serie C2232?––23+2+
2000–01PistoieseSerie B50?––5+0+
2000–01RondinellaSerie C2131?––13+1+
2001–02AscoliSerie C1281?––28+1+
2002–03Serie B182?––18+2+
2003–04ChievoSerie A29310––303
2004–05Palermo37030––400
2005–0635240–80472
2006–0736110–50421
2007–0834000–20360
Germany League DFB-Pokal Other Europe Total
2008–09VfL WolfsburgBundesliga34030–80450
2009–10241201050321
2010–1117010––180
Italy League Coppa Italia League Cup Europe Total
2010–11JuventusSerie A15000––150
2011–1235140––391
2012–13340401060450
2013–14260101050330
2014–155000003080
Total Italy 375141701025041714
Germany 7516010130951
Career total 476153003045055215

International

As of 28 March 2015[56]
Italy national team
YearAppsGoals
200410
200560
200660
200760
200860
2009--
2010--
201120
2012110
201380
201440
201510
Total510

Honours

Club

Ascoli[57]
Wolfsburg[57]
Juventus[57]

International

Italy[57]

Individual

Orders

  • Collar of Merit Sports: 2006[59]

References

  1. ↑ "?". FIFA.
  2. ↑ "?". AscotSportal.com.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Barzagli wechselt zu Juventus Turin" [Barzagli transfers to Juventus Turin] (in German). DFL. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Treccani: Barzagli, Andrea". http://www.treccani.it''. Treccani Enciclopedia Online. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Horncastle, James. "Serie A Team of the Year". espnfc.com. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "World Cup 2014: Player profile - who is Andrea Barzagli, the Italy defender?". http://www.independent.co.uk''. The Independent. 14 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "FIFA Confederations Cup Profile: Andrea BARZAGLI". http://www.fifa.com''. FIFA. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Il stagione degli azzurri" (in Italian). FIFA.com. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "Barzagli non ha intenzione di scegliere: "La Juventus ha fame di tutte e tre le competizioni"" (in Italian). goal.com. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "BARZAGLI (Andrea Barzagli)". footballdatabase.com. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  11. ↑ "Comunicato Stampa n° 175 (2001–02 season): Campagna trasferimenti" (PDF). Lega Calcio (in Italian). 28 June 2001. Retrieved 13 May 2011.
  12. ↑ "Summer Transfer List 2003" (PDF). Lega Calcio (in Italian). September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2007.
  13. ↑ "?". channel4.com.
  14. ↑ "Barzagli nears Viola move". Football Italiano.
  15. ↑ "Barzagli goes German". Football Italiano.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Archetti, Pierfrancesco (24 May 2009). "Spettacolo e gol Wolfsburg campione". http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it'' (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "?". channel4.com.
  18. ↑ "DICHIARAZIONE DI ZAMPARINI". ilpalermocalcio.it (in Italian). 2 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  19. ↑ "Andrea Barzagli". http://www.tifosibianconeri.com'' (in Italian). Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Palermo 2-1 Juventus". http://www.legaseriea.it'' (in Italian). 2 February 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "Uno Scudetto costruito in difesa". http://www.juventus.com'' (in Italian). 15 May 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  22. ↑ Pratesi, Riccardo (13 May 2012). "Juve ai piedi di Del Piero Il capitano segna e saluta". http://www.gazzetta.it'' (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  23. ↑ "Supercoppa: festa Juve, furia Napoli". http://www.ansa.it/'' (in Italian). 14 August 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  24. ↑ "Gran Gala del Calcio 2012". forzaitalianfootball.com. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  25. ↑ "Juve, Barzagli ha firmato. Rinnovo fino al 2015". http://www.tuttosport.com'' (in Italian). Tuttosport. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  26. ↑ Nicita, Maurizio (18 August 2013). "Supercoppa, Juventus super: 4-0 alla Lazio con gol di Pogba, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner e Tevez". http://www.gazzetta.it'' (in Italian: (Supercoppa, Juventus super: 4-0 over Lazio with goals from Pogba, Chiellini, and Lichsteiner and Tevez)). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  27. ↑ "Andrea Barzagli operato in Finlandia". http://www.juventus.com'' (in Italian: (Andrea Barzagli operated in Finland)). 1 July 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  28. ↑ Vaciago, Guido (12 February 2015). "Serie A, Barzagli torna in campo e tutta la Juve tifa per lui". http://www.tuttosport.com'' (in Italian: (Serie A and Barzagli returns to the squad and Juventus cheers him on)). Tuttosport. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  29. ↑ Demichelis, Camillo (4 March 2015). "LIVE - 23 Convocati. Torna Sturaro. In difesa dovrebbe giocare Barzagli. Pogba titolare. In attacco tridente Pepe, Llorente e Coman". http://www.tuttojuve.com''. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  30. ↑ Mauro, Alberto (12 March 2015). "Barzagli è tornato: "Che bello l'applauso della gente: sogno un altro Mondiale"". http://www.gazzetta.it'' (in Italian: (Barzagli has returned: "How wonderful to hear the fans' applause: I dream of playing in another World Cup")). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  31. ↑ "Palermo 0-1 Juventus". http://www.espnfc.com''. ESPN FC. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  32. ↑ Vitale, Fabrizio (24 July 2004). "Barzagli finalmente in rosa dopo un giorno di suspence". http://ricerca.repubblica.it/'' (in Italian: (Barzagli finally in the line-up after a day of suspense)). La Repubblica. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Euro 2008 Profile: Andrea Barzagli". Andrea Barzagli. La Repubblica. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  34. ↑ "UEFA euro 2008". kantipuronline.com.
  35. ↑ "?". euro2008.uefa.com.
  36. ↑ "Cannavaro vows to stay with squad". BBC SPORT. 3 June 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
  37. ↑ Gualzeri, Valerio (19 June 2008). "Guaio Barzagli: rottura del menisco Europeo finito, operato a Vienna". http://www.repubblica.it/'' (in Italian: Barzagli problem: Broken meniscus ends European Championship campaign and operated in Vienna). La Repubblica. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  38. ↑ "?". channel4.com.
  39. ↑ "Qualificazioni Euro 2012 - Barzagli "Azzurro? Non ci pensavo più"". https://it.eurosport.yahoo.com''. Eurosport. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  40. ↑ "Convocati per Serbia e Irlanda del Nord: rientrano Barzagli e Cigarini". http://www.figc.it''. FIGC. 2 October 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  41. ↑ "Trentadue Azzurri selezionati da Prandelli: molte le novità". http://www.figc.it/''. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  42. ↑ "Consegnata all’Uefa la lista dei 23 giocatori convocati per gli Europei". http://www.figc.it/''. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  43. ↑ "Italia-Russia: (0-3) Prandelli "Se serve restiamo a casa"". https://it.eurosport.yahoo.com'' (in Italian). Eurosport. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  44. ↑ "Barzagli si stira: Europei a rischio". http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it'' (in Italian). Mediaset. 4 June 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  45. ↑ "Italia, Prandelli tiene Barzagli". http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it'' (in Italian). Mediaset. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  46. ↑ "Barzagli resta, si cercherà di recuperarlo per la gara con l’Irlanda". http://www.figc.it'' (in Italian). FIGC. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  47. ↑ "Andrea Barzagli". http://www.uefa.com''. UEFA. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  48. ↑ Moretti, Alvaro (1 July 2012). "L'Italia crolla in finale. Spagna campione d'Europa". http://www.tuttosport.com'' (in Italian). Tuttosport. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  49. ↑ "Due giorni di raduno a Coverciano: tra i convocati Agazzi, Bonaventura e Sau". http://www.figc.it/''. FIGC. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  50. ↑ "Inviata alla FIFA la lista per la Confederations Cup: c’è anche Barzagli". http://www.figc.it'' (in Italian). FIGC. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  51. ↑ "Italia: Barzagli e Pirlo out per l'Uruguay". http://www.ilsole24ore.com''. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  52. ↑ "Ecco i 30 pre-convocati per il Mondiale. Il 19 maggio il raduno". http://www.figc.it'' (in Italian). FIGC. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  53. ↑ "Prandelli ha scelto: ecco i 23 Azzurri che partiranno per il Brasile". http://www.figc.it/'' (in Italian). FIGC. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  54. ↑ "Andrea Barzagli". http://www.fifa.com''. FIFA. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  55. ↑ "Congratulations Andrea and Maddalena!". juventus.com. 13 July 2013.
  56. ↑ "Nazionale in cifre - FIGC: Barzagli, Andrea". http://www.figc.it'' (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 57.3 57.4 "Juventus, Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Honours)". http://www.juventus.com/''. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  58. ↑ "Barzagli sig Andrea - Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana". http://www.quirinale.it'' (in Italian). 27 July 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  59. ↑ "Coni: Consegnati i Collari d’oro e diplomi d’onore ai campionissimi". Coni.it. 23 February 2014.
  60. ↑ "Barzagli Sig. Andrea - Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana". http://www.quirinale.it'' (in Italian). 12 December 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andrea Barzagli.