Men's football

Representing Italy
FIFA World Cup
Winner	2006 Germany
UEFA European Championship
Runner-up	2000 Belgium-Netherlands
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Winner	1994 France
Winner	1996 Spain

*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Fabio Cannavaro is an Italian football coach and former player. He is known as one of the greatest defenders in football history. He played mostly as a centre-back.

Fabio spent most of his playing career in Italy. He started at his hometown club, Napoli. Then he played for seven years at Parma. With Parma, he won two Coppa Italia titles and the UEFA Cup in 1999. After playing for Inter Milan and Juventus, he moved to Real Madrid in 2006. There, he won two La Liga titles in a row. He returned to Juventus for one season before retiring in 2011 after playing for Al-Ahli in Dubai.

Cannavaro was a key player for the Italian national team. He helped Italy win two UEFA European Under-21 Championships in 1994 and 1996. He first played for the senior national team in 1997. He helped Italy reach the final of UEFA Euro 2000, where he was named in the tournament's best team. He became the team captain in 2002.

Fabio Cannavaro led Italy to victory in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Fans called him "Il Muro di Berlino" (The Berlin Wall) because of his amazing defending. Italy kept five clean sheets and only let in two goals during the tournament. He was named the second-best player of the tournament. In 2006, he won the FIFA World Player of the Year award, becoming the only defender ever to win it. He also won the Ballon d'Or award that year.

In 2009, Cannavaro became Italy's most-capped player, passing Paolo Maldini. He retired from international football on June 25, 2010, after Italy's 2010 World Cup journey ended. He played 136 games for Italy, scoring 2 goals. He played in four World Cups and two European Championships. He is Italy's second most-capped player, after Gianluigi Buffon.

After retiring as a player, Cannavaro became a coach. He has managed clubs in the Middle East and China. He also briefly coached the China national team in 2019. He coached Serie B club Benevento in the 2022–23 season. In April 2024, he became the coach of Serie A club Udinese and helped them avoid relegation. In December 2024, he became the manager of Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb.

Early Life

Fabio Cannavaro was born in Naples, Italy. His mother was a maid, and his father worked at a bank. His father also played football for a local team. Fabio has an older sister, Renata, and a younger brother, Paolo, who also became a professional footballer.

Club Career

Starting at Napoli

A 17-year-old Cannavaro trains with the Napoli youth side

As a young boy, Cannavaro played for a local team before being noticed by scouts from Napoli. Napoli was his hometown club and his favorite team growing up. Fabio started as a ball boy for Napoli, watching his heroes Diego Maradona and Ciro Ferrara play.

He later joined the club's youth team. He first played as a midfielder, like his idol Marco Tardelli. But his youth coach changed him to a centre-back. Fabio became well-known when, during a training session, he made a strong tackle on Maradona. Maradona was the biggest star at the club. Other players and staff were upset, but Maradona defended Fabio. He told him to keep playing with passion and even gave Fabio his boots as a souvenir.

Fabio improved quickly and soon joined the first team. His first game in Serie A was on March 7, 1993, against Juventus. He played as a centre-back and showed great skill in tackling and starting attacks. He scored his first goal on January 8, 1995, against Milan. Even though he played well, Napoli needed money after Maradona left. So, they had to sell Cannavaro to Parma. He played almost 60 games for Napoli, scoring one goal.

Success with Parma

Cannavaro joined Parma in the summer of 1995. He quickly became a regular player, scoring one goal in 29 league games in his first season. At Parma, he won trophies and achieved personal awards, like being named the team's captain. He also became good friends with Gianluigi Buffon and Lilian Thuram. Together, they formed one of the best defenses in Europe.

During his time at Parma, Cannavaro won the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia in 1999. Parma also finished high in the Serie A league. In the 1999–2000 season, his younger brother Paolo joined Parma, and they played together for two seasons. Fabio won his first Supercoppa Italiana title against Milan.

In his last season with Parma, Cannavaro won his second Coppa Italia title against Juventus. He played over 250 games for Parma, scoring five goals. His strong performances led to him being called up to the Italian national team.

Time at Inter Milan

In the summer of 2002, Cannavaro moved to Inter Milan. Parma was having financial problems, and Inter wanted to rebuild their team. Fabio joined with other new players like Francesco Coco and Hernán Crespo.

His time at Inter started well. Inter reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and finished second in Serie A in his first season. However, his second season was not as good, and he missed many games due to injury. He also often played in different positions than his usual one. After two years, he moved to Juventus. He played just over 50 games and scored two goals for Inter.

Winning Titles with Juventus

After two years at Inter, Cannavaro joined Juventus. He reunited with his former Parma teammates, Lilian Thuram and Gianluigi Buffon. Together, they created a very strong defense. Juventus won two Serie A titles in a row in 2005 and 2006.

After the 2006 World Cup, Juventus faced a big problem. The club was involved in a football scandal, and as a result, Juventus was moved down to a lower league, Serie B. Because Juventus could not play in the Champions League, Cannavaro decided to leave. He said he would have stayed if Juventus had remained in Serie A. He then followed his coach, Fabio Capello, to Real Madrid. During his two years at Juventus, Cannavaro played over 100 games. Many Juventus fans were sad to see him go.

Playing for Real Madrid

Cannavaro (far left, in white) with Real Madrid against Barcelona

Real Madrid bought Cannavaro for €7 million. He wore the number 5 shirt, which was famously worn by Zinedine Zidane. Cannavaro played three seasons for Real Madrid. He won the La Liga title in 2007 and 2008. In 2006, he was named the FIFA World Player of the Year and also won the 2006 Ballon d'Or. He was chosen for the FIFPro World XI team in 2006 and 2007.

On May 19, 2009, it was announced that Cannavaro would return to Juventus after his contract with Real Madrid ended. In his last game at Real Madrid's stadium, the fans gave him a standing ovation.

Back to Juventus

In the summer of 2009, Cannavaro returned to Juventus for free. He started the season well, forming strong defensive partnerships with other players like Giorgio Chiellini and Gianluigi Buffon. However, Juventus's performance got worse later in the season. Cannavaro also struggled with his form after an injury. Juventus was knocked out of the Champions League.

In March 2010, Cannavaro's relationship with Juventus fans became very difficult. In a UEFA Europa League game against Fulham, he received two yellow cards and was sent off. Juventus lost the game and was eliminated from the competition. Juventus also lost in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

The club finished the league season in seventh place, their worst finish in ten years. Juventus decided not to renew Cannavaro's contract. His hometown club, Napoli, did not try to sign him, even though he wanted to return there.

Final Club: Al-Ahli

On June 2, 2010, it was announced that Cannavaro would move to UAE League team Al-Ahli after the 2010 World Cup. He signed a two-year deal and played 16 games, scoring two goals. In July 2011, Cannavaro announced his retirement from football because of a serious knee problem. Doctors told him he could no longer play.

International Career

Youth Team Success

Cannavaro first found international success in the mid-1990s with Italy's under-21 team. He won two UEFA European Under-21 Championship titles in a row, in 1994 and 1996. He formed a strong defensive partnership with Alessandro Nesta, which continued when they played for the senior team. In 1996, he also played in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Early Senior Matches and World Cup 1998

Cannavaro with Italy in 1998

Cannavaro played his first game for the Italy national team on January 22, 1997. That same year, he was praised for how well he defended against England striker Alan Shearer at Wembley Stadium. Cannavaro managed to keep Shearer quiet throughout the game, and Italy won 1–0.

Cannavaro's first major international tournament was the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He played very well, but Italy lost to the host nation, France, in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.

Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002

At Euro 2000, Cannavaro had a strong tournament. The Italian defense only let in two goals on their way to the final. Italy reached the final but lost to France in extra time. Cannavaro was chosen for the Team of the Tournament.

At the 2002 World Cup, Cannavaro was crucial in holding the defense together after his partner Alessandro Nesta got injured. Italy controversially lost in the second round to co-hosts South Korea.

After the 2002 World Cup, Cannavaro became the captain of the Italian team, taking over from Paolo Maldini. He quickly showed great leadership and helped Italy qualify for Euro 2004. He scored his first international goal on May 30, 2004, against Tunisia. Euro 2004 was disappointing for Italy, as they failed to get past the group stage.

Leading Italy to World Cup Glory in 2006

Cannavaro (right), alongside Italy President Giorgio Napolitano, holds the 2006 World Cup trophy

Cannavaro was the captain of Italy during their successful 2006 World Cup campaign. He played with great skill and calmness. One of his best moments was in the semi-final against Germany. In the last minute of extra time, with Italy leading 1–0, Cannavaro cleared the ball and then helped start the play that led to Italy's second goal.

His greatest moment was lifting the World Cup trophy on July 9, 2006, which was also his 100th game for Italy. He did not receive any yellow or red cards during the entire tournament. His defending in the final earned him the nickname "Wall of Berlin."

Cannavaro played every minute of every game for Italy in the tournament. The Italian defense kept a record five clean sheets and only let in two goals. His leadership earned him a spot in the All-Star Team. He was also awarded the 2006 Ballon d'Or and the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year for his amazing performances.

Euro 2008 and Record Caps

Cannavaro in final match World Cup 2006

On June 2, 2008, Cannavaro got injured during Italy's first training session for Euro 2008. He tore ligaments in his left ankle and had to miss the tournament. Alessandro Del Piero captained the team instead. Cannavaro stayed with the squad to support them. He also decided to postpone his retirement from the national team, determined to captain Italy in the 2010 World Cup.

In Italy's final 2009 Confederations Cup group game, Cannavaro equaled Paolo Maldini's record as Italy's most-capped player. On August 12, 2009, he became Italy's most-capped player of all time, playing his 127th game.

World Cup 2010 and Retirement

Cannavaro captained Italy at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. However, his performances were not as strong as before. The defending champions were knocked out in the first round after losing to Slovakia and drawing with New Zealand and Paraguay. After Italy's early exit, Cannavaro announced his retirement from international football. He played 136 games for Italy between 1997 and 2010, scoring 2 goals. He is the second most-capped Italian player ever, behind only Gianluigi Buffon. He also captained Italy 79 times, which is the second-highest number of times.

Managerial Career

Coaching in the Middle East and China

After retiring as a player, Cannavaro became a global ambassador and technical consultant for Al-Ahli Club in Dubai. In July 2013, he was named their first-team coach. He helped Al-Ahli win the UAE Pro League and UAE League Cup in his first season.

On November 5, 2014, Cannavaro became the new head coach of Chinese Super League champions Guangzhou Evergrande. However, on June 4, 2015, the club announced he was replaced by Luiz Felipe Scolari.

On October 24, 2015, Cannavaro was named the new head coach of Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. He left the club in February 2016.

On June 9, 2016, Tianjin Quanjian announced Cannavaro as their new manager. He led Quanjian to win the 2016 China League One title, which meant they were promoted to the 2017 Chinese Super League. In their first season in the top league, Quanjian finished third. On November 6, 2017, Quanjian accepted Cannavaro's resignation. He won the Chinese Football Association Coach of the Year award in November 2017.

On November 9, 2017, Guangzhou Evergrande appointed Cannavaro as manager for the second time. He won the Chinese Super League with them on December 1, 2019. Cannavaro left Guangzhou again in September 2021.

Coaching in Italy

On September 21, 2022, Cannavaro took his first coaching job in Italy, becoming the head coach of Serie B club Benevento. However, he was sacked on February 4, 2023, as the club was struggling in the relegation zone.

On April 22, 2024, Cannavaro became the new manager of Serie A club Udinese. He successfully led the club to avoid relegation on the final day of the season. After keeping them safe, the club announced Cannavaro's departure.

Coaching Dinamo Zagreb

In December 2024, Cannavaro was confirmed as the new manager of Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb. This was his first coaching experience in a European country outside Italy. His first official match was in the Champions League against Arsenal, which Dinamo lost 3–0. Cannavaro got his first win against Milan, with Dinamo winning 2–1. However, Dinamo did not reach the Champions League knockout stages. By April 2025, Dinamo was behind their rivals in the league, and Cannavaro faced criticism for his management.

How He Played

Cannavaro is considered one of the best defenders of all time. He won the World Cup as Italy's captain, and also the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year Award in 2006. He mostly played as a centre-back, but sometimes he also played as a full-back on the right or left side. This was possible because he was very smart tactically, versatile, and good with the ball. He also had good stamina, a low center of gravity, and speed.

As a defender, Cannavaro was known for his focus, ability to predict plays, and good positioning. Even though he was not very tall for a defender, he was excellent in the air. He could jump high, was physically strong, and had great timing, which helped him win headers against taller players. He was also good at scoring with his head from set-pieces. Throughout his career, he was a dynamic, consistent, and tough defender. He was known for his quickness, speed, reactions, and agility, as well as his excellent tackling, especially his precise sliding tackles.

He was good at both zonal marking and marking individual players closely. He was also known for his leadership, determination, and strong personality. He could organize his defense well. Cannavaro believed his positive attitude, calmness under pressure, and confidence helped him succeed. He also focused on his diet, hard work, and discipline in training.

Beyond the Field

Cannavaro in Moscow in December 2017 at the draw for the 2018 World Cup

Cannavaro was sponsored by the sportswear company Nike and appeared in their commercials. In a Nike ad campaign for the 2002 World Cup, Cannavaro was in a "Secret Tournament" commercial with other famous players like Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho. A 2010 Nike commercial, "Write the Future," showed Cannavaro making an impressive save.

Cannavaro was on the cover of the Italian edition of the video game This is Football 2003. He also appears in EA Sports' FIFA video game series. He was included in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 14 and is an icon in FIFA 19 with a high rating. Cannavaro also worked as a football expert for ITV during the 2014 World Cup.

Personal Life

Fabio Cannavaro married Daniela Arenoso on June 17, 1996. They have three children: Christian (born 1998), Martina (born 2001), and Andrea (born 2004). Christian also played football as a midfielder before retiring in 2019. Fabio's younger brother, Paolo, was also a defender. The two brothers played together at Parma from 2000 to 2002.

With his friend and former teammate Ciro Ferrara, Cannavaro helped create a charity foundation called Fondazione Cannavaro Ferrara. This foundation helps provide equipment for cancer research and surgery for special cancer cases at a hospital in their hometown of Naples. The foundation also aims to help young people in Naples who are at risk.

Honours

Player

Parma

Coppa Italia: 1998–99, 2001–02
Supercoppa Italiana: 1999
UEFA Cup: 1998–99

Juventus

Serie A: 2004–05, 2005–06 (these titles were later taken away due to a football scandal)

Real Madrid

La Liga: 2006–07, 2007–08
Supercopa de España: 2008

Italy U-21

UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1994, 1996

Italy

FIFA World Cup: 2006
UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2000

Individual Awards

UEFA Under-21 Championship Golden Player: 1996
UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000
Serie A Defender of the Year: 2005, 2006
FIFA World Player of the Year: 2006
Ballon d'Or: 2006
FIFA World Cup Silver Ball: 2006
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
World Soccer Player of the Year: 2006
Serie A Footballer of the Year: 2006
Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year: 2006
UEFA Team of the Year: 2006
FIFPro World XI: 2006, 2007
Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2014
Juventus Greatest XI of All Time: 2017

Manager

Tianjin Quanjian

China League One: 2016

Guangzhou Evergrande

Chinese Super League: 2019
Chinese FA Super Cup: 2018