Andrea Barzagli facts for kids
Barzagli playing for Italy in 2012
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Andrea Barzagli | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 8 May 1981 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Fiesole, Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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FIGC (coaching staff) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rondinella | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1998–2000 | Rondinella | 51 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Pistoiese | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Rondinella | 13 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | Piacenza | 0 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2003 | → Ascoli (loan) | 46 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Chievo | 29 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2008 | Palermo | 142 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2011 | VfL Wolfsburg | 75 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2019 | Juventus | 206 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 567 | (16) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Italy U21 | 15 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2017 | Italy | 73 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Juventus (coaching staff) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | FIGC (coaching staff) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Andrea Barzagli (born May 8, 1981) is a famous Italian former footballer. He played as a centre-back, which is a defender who plays in the middle of the field. He was chosen four times for the Serie A Team of the Year, which means he was one of the best players in Italy's top league.
Barzagli started his career with smaller Italian clubs. He became well-known playing for Palermo. In 2008, he moved to Germany to play for VfL Wolfsburg, where he helped them win the Bundesliga title in 2009. In 2011, he returned to Italy and joined Juventus. There, he won eight Serie A titles in a row from 2012 to 2019. He also won four Coppa Italia titles and played in two UEFA Champions League finals.
For his country, Barzagli played 73 times for the Italy national football team. He won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He was a key player in the Italian team that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also helped Italy reach the final of UEFA Euro 2012.
Contents
Andrea Barzagli: Football Star
Early Days and Club Journey
Starting Out in Italy
Andrea Barzagli began his professional football journey in the 1998–99 season with Rondinella. He then moved to Serie B team Pistoiese in 2000. At first, he played as a midfielder, but his coach, Giuseppe Pillon, moved him to defence. A year later, he went back to Rondinella.
In 2001, he joined Ascoli and helped them get promoted to Serie B. He made his first appearance in Italy's top league, Serie A, with Chievo in August 2003. In July 2004, Barzagli signed with Palermo. He helped Palermo earn a spot in the UEFA Cup in his first season. He even became the team's captain later on.
German Adventure with Wolfsburg
In 2008, Barzagli made a surprising move to VfL Wolfsburg in Germany. He joined his Italian teammate Cristian Zaccardo there. He played every minute of the 2008–09 Bundesliga season, helping Wolfsburg win the championship. He later said his coach, Felix Magath, helped him become a better player.
On September 15, 2009, he played his first Champions League match for Wolfsburg. He scored his first goal for the club in April 2010. He played 75 games for Wolfsburg before moving back to Italy in January 2011.
Juventus: A Winning Era
First Triumphs with Juventus
On January 26, 2011, Barzagli joined Juventus, one of Italy's biggest clubs. He made his debut for Juventus in February 2011. His first six months were tough, but everything changed when Antonio Conte became the new coach.
Barzagli became a very important part of Juventus's defence. In the 2011–12 season, Juventus had the best defence in Italy and Europe, letting in only 20 goals. Barzagli scored his first goal for Juventus in May 2012. He helped Juventus win the scudetto (Serie A title) without losing a single game that season. He also won the Supercoppa Italiana. His great performance earned him a spot in the Serie A Team of the Year.
Continued Success and Injuries
In the 2012–13 season, Barzagli played 45 games for Juventus. He often played alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini in a three-man defence. This trio became known as the BBC (from their last names) and was considered one of the best defences in the world. Juventus won their second Serie A title in a row.
Despite some injuries, Barzagli continued to play well in the 2013–14 season. Juventus won their third straight Serie A title with a record 102 points. They also had the best defence in the league again.
After the 2014 World Cup, Barzagli had an injury and missed the first half of the 2014–15 season. He returned in March 2015. On May 2, 2015, he helped Juventus win their fourth Serie A title in a row. He also played in the 2015 Coppa Italia final, which Juventus won, completing a domestic double. He started in the 2015 UEFA Champions League final but Juventus lost to Barcelona.
Final Years and Retirement
In the 2015–16 season, Barzagli showed he could play in different positions, even as a right-back. He scored his second goal for Juventus in March 2016. He helped Juventus win their fifth Serie A title in a row. In May 2016, he extended his contract with the club.
On June 3, 2017, Barzagli played in his second Champions League final with Juventus, but they lost to Real Madrid. He extended his contract again in June 2018. In October 2018, he played his 200th Serie A game for Juventus.
On April 13, 2019, Barzagli announced he would retire at the end of the season. On May 19, he played his final career game for Juventus in a 1–1 draw against Atalanta. He received a standing ovation from the fans as Juventus celebrated winning another Serie A title.
Playing for Italy
Youth Teams and World Cup Glory
Barzagli was part of the Italian under-21 team that won the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He also won a bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Athens in 2004. He made his debut for the senior Italian squad in November 2004.
He was chosen for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He played as a substitute against Australia and started against Ukraine. Italy went on to win the World Cup final against France.
European Championships and Beyond
Barzagli was an important part of Italy's defence under new manager Roberto Donadoni. He played in the UEFA Euro 2008 tournament. However, he got injured during the tournament, and Italy was knocked out by Spain.
After a few years, Barzagli was called back to the national team in October 2011 by manager Cesare Prandelli. He was selected for Italy's UEFA Euro 2012 squad. Despite an injury scare, he played in the knockout rounds and helped Italy reach the final. Italy lost to Spain in the final.
In 2013, Barzagli played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. Italy finished in third place, their best result in that tournament. He also played in all three of Italy's group matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Italy was unfortunately knocked out in the first round.
Saying Goodbye to the National Team
Barzagli continued to play for Italy in the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying campaign under manager Antonio Conte. He was part of the 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He played in every match, helping Italy keep three clean sheets. Italy reached the quarter-finals but lost to Germany in a penalty shootout. After the match, Barzagli was very emotional, feeling sad about the team's exit.
After the tournament, the new national team manager, Gian Piero Ventura, convinced Barzagli to continue playing. He returned to the national team in August 2016. However, Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after losing to Sweden in November 2017. Immediately after this match, Barzagli announced his retirement from the national team.
After His Playing Career
After retiring from playing, Barzagli joined Juventus's coaching staff in 2019. He worked with the defensive players. In May 2020, he left this role for personal reasons. In August 2021, he started a new role with the Italian Football Federation. He now helps coach the various men’s national youth teams up to age Under-20.
How Barzagli Played the Game
Andrea Barzagli is known as one of the best defenders of his time. He was strong and powerful as a centre-back. He was great at anticipating plays, staying focused, and being in the right position. The defensive trio of Barzagli, Bonucci, and Chiellini at Juventus and for Italy was called the BBC. Many people think they were one of the greatest defensive groups in football history.
Barzagli was known for his excellent marking, smart play, and ability to win balls in the air. He was also very good at tackling and reading the game. These skills made him one of the best defenders in Italy. He was chosen for the Serie A Team of the Year multiple times. He was calm, tactically aware, and consistent. He also had good technique and could pass the ball well. Even though he wasn't the fastest over short distances, he was quick and could read the game very well. He usually played as a centre-back but could also play as a full-back on the right side.
Because of his strong performances, Juventus fans called him "The Wall" and "La Roccia" (the rock). He was also known for his hard work, discipline, and dedication.
His Life Off the Pitch
Andrea Barzagli married his wife Maddalena in July 2013. They have two children, a son named Mattia and a daughter named Camilla.
Career Numbers
Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Continental | Total | ||||||
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| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rondinella | 1998–99 | Serie D | 28 | 1 | – | – | – | 28 | 1 | |||
| 1999–2000 | Serie C2 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 27 | 3 | ||
| Total | 51 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 4 | ||
| Pistoiese | 2000–01 | Serie B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 0 | ||
| Rondinella | 2000–01 | Serie C2 | 13 | 1 | – | – | – | 13 | 1 | |||
| Ascoli | 2001–02 | Serie C1 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 | 1 | |
| 2002–03 | Serie B | 18 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 19 | 2 | |||
| Total | 46 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 3 | ||
| Chievo | 2003–04 | Serie A | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 30 | 3 | ||
| Palermo | 2004–05 | Serie A | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 40 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | Serie A | 35 | 2 | 4 | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | 47 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | Serie A | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08 | Serie A | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| Total | 142 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 165 | 3 | ||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2008–09 | Bundesliga | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | Bundesliga | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 32 | 1 | |
| 2010–11 | Bundesliga | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 0 | |||
| Total | 75 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 95 | 1 | ||
| Juventus | 2010–11 | Serie A | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Serie A | 35 | 1 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 39 | 1 | |||
| 2012–13 | Serie A | 34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | Serie A | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2014–15 | Serie A | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2015–16 | Serie A | 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 42 | 1 | |
| 2016–17 | Serie A | 23 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | Serie A | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 38 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Serie A | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total | 206 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 281 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 567 | 16 | 42 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 78 | 0 | 694 | 17 | ||
International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 2004 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 73 | 0 |
Trophies and Awards
Rondinella
- Serie D: 1998–99
Ascoli
- Serie C1: 2001–02
- Supercoppa di Lega di Prima Divisione: 2001–02
Wolfsburg
- Bundesliga: 2008–09
Juventus
- Serie A: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018
- Coppa Italia: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2014–15, 2016–17
Italy U21
Italy Olympic
- Summer Olympics bronze medal: 2004
Italy
- FIFA World Cup: 2006
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2012
- FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2013
Individual
- Serie A Team of the Year: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Group Stage: 2015
- Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea": 2017
Orders
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5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2004
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4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2006
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CONI: Golden Collar of Sports Merit: 2006
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See also
In Spanish: Andrea Barzagli para niños
