MARCO MATERAZZI
23
country: Italy
born in: Lecce
on: August 19 1973
position: Defender
height: 193 cm
weight: 92 kg
A central defender who is highly skilled in making tackles, Materazzi is virtually infallible when it comes to taking free kicks and penalties - evidence of his unquestionable technical abilities. Materazzi has followed his father into the game. Giuseppe Materazzi won domestic and international fame as a coach, having guided teams such as Pisa, Lazio, Bari, Padova, Brescia, Piacenza, Sporting Lisbon and Chinese side Tianjin Teda. Marco began his playing career at amateur level on the dusty pitches of the Sicilian Serie C. In the 2000/01 season, Materazzi equalled the scoring record for a defender in the Italian Serie A with 12 goals for Inter. The record was previously held by Argentine Daniel Passarella, who scored 11 goals for Fiorentina during the 1985/86 season. Marco made his international debut on 25 April 2001 in Italy's 1-0 win against South Africa in a friendly match and was in the Azzurri squad at Japan/Korea 2002 and at Euro2004. It was Materazzi's coach at Perugia, Ilario Castagner, who recommended former national team coach Trapattoni to put him in defence. "I had already suggested Marco's name to Trapattoni's collaborator Ghedin," said Castagner about the defender. "He's deserved a chance like that for a long time.". And Materazzi certainly took his chances for Italy at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, with a series of polished performances in defence and vital goals against Czech Republic in the group stage and France in the final as the Azzurri went on to win the tournament.
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