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

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

Fabio Cannavaro is a famous Italian football coach and former player. He was born on September 13, 1973. Many people think he is one of the best defenders ever to play the game. Today, he is the manager of a Croatian club called Dinamo Zagreb.

Fabio played as a centre-back, which is a defensive position. He spent most of his playing career in Italy. He started at his hometown club, Napoli. Then, he played for seven years at Parma, where he won two Coppa Italia cups and the UEFA Cup. 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 went back to Juventus for one season before retiring in 2011 after playing for Al-Ahli in Dubai.

Fabio was also a big part of 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 and became the team's captain in 2002.

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 defense. Italy only let in two goals during the whole tournament. He was named the second-best player of the tournament. In 2006, he won the FIFA World Player of the Year award. He is the only defender ever to win this award. He also won the Ballon d'Or in 2006, becoming only the third defender to do so.

In 2009, Cannavaro became the most-capped player for Italy, meaning he had played the most games for his country. He stopped playing for the national team on June 25, 2010. By then, he had played 136 games and scored 2 goals. He played in four FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships. He is still Italy's second most-capped player, after Gianluigi Buffon.

After he stopped playing, Cannavaro became a coach. He has coached teams in the Middle East and China. He even coached the China national team for a short time in 2019. He coached Serie B club Benevento in 2022–23 and helped Udinese avoid relegation in 2024. In December 2024, he became the manager of Dinamo Zagreb.

Fabio's Early Life

Fabio Cannavaro was born in Naples, Italy. His mother, Gelsomina Costanzo, worked as a maid. His father, Pasquale Cannavaro, was a bank clerk and also played football. Fabio has an older sister named Renata and a younger brother, Paolo, who also became a professional footballer.

Fabio's Club Career

Playing for Napoli and Parma

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

As a young boy, Fabio played for a local team in Naples. Soon, scouts from Napoli, his favorite team, noticed him. Fabio used to be a ball boy for Napoli. He watched his heroes like Diego Maradona play. He joined Napoli's youth team, first as a midfielder, but his coach moved him to centre-back.

Fabio became famous during a training session. He made a strong tackle on Maradona, who was the biggest star at the club. Other players and staff were upset. But Maradona defended Fabio. He told him to play his own way and even gave Fabio his boots as a gift!

Fabio quickly joined Napoli's main team. He played his first game in Serie A on March 7, 1993, against Juventus. He showed great skill in tackling and starting attacks. He scored his first goal against Milan in 1995. Napoli needed money, so they had to sell Fabio to Parma. He played 58 games for Napoli, scoring one goal.

At Parma, Fabio became a regular player right away. He won trophies and became the team's captain. He played with Gianluigi Buffon and Lilian Thuram. They became great friends and formed one of the best defenses in Europe.

With Parma, Fabio won the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia in 1999. His brother Paolo joined Parma in 1999, and they played together for two seasons. Fabio also won the Supercoppa Italiana. In his last season with Parma, he won his second Coppa Italia title. He made over 250 appearances for Parma, scoring five goals.

Time at Inter Milan and Juventus

In 2002, Fabio joined Inter Milan. Inter had just missed out on the Serie A title and were rebuilding. Fabio was expected to be a key player. In his first season, Inter reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. They also finished second in Serie A.

His second season was tougher due to injuries. He was also sometimes played in different positions. After two years, he moved to Juventus. He played just over 50 games for Inter, scoring two goals.

At Juventus, Fabio reunited with his former Parma teammates Lilian Thuram and Gianluigi Buffon. They formed a very strong defense. Juventus won two Serie A titles in a row in 2005 and 2006. Fabio won several awards for his great play, including the Serie A Defender of the Year in 2005 and 2006.

After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Juventus faced some issues. Fabio decided to leave the club. He moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2006, following his manager Fabio Capello. He played over 100 games for Juventus in his two seasons there.

Playing for Real Madrid

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

Real Madrid bought Fabio for €7 million. He wore the number 5 shirt, which was previously worn by Zinedine Zidane. Fabio played three seasons in Madrid. He won the Liga title in 2006–07 and 2007–08.

In 2006, he won the FIFA World Player of the Year and the 2006 Ballon d'Or. He was also chosen for the FIFPro World XI in 2006 and 2007. In May 2009, it was announced that Fabio would return to Juventus. In his last game at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, fans gave him a standing ovation.

Return to Juventus and Al-Ahli

Fabio returned to Juventus in 2009 on a free transfer. He started the season well, playing strongly in defense. However, Juventus's performance declined later in the season. Fabio struggled with his form after an injury. Juventus was knocked out of the Champions League.

In March 2010, Fabio was sent off in a Europa League game against Fulham. Juventus lost the game and were eliminated. This made some Juventus fans very angry. Juventus finished seventh in the league, their worst finish in ten years. His contract was not renewed.

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

Fabio's International Career

Youth and Early Senior Career

Fabio first found success playing for 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. In 1996, he also played in the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Cannavaro with Italy in 1998

Fabio made his debut for the Italy national team on January 22, 1997. It was a friendly match against Northern Ireland. Later that year, he was praised for how well he handled England striker Alan Shearer in a World Cup qualifying game. Italy won that game 1–0.

Fabio's first big international tournament was the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He played alongside experienced defenders like Paolo Maldini. Fabio played very well, but Italy lost to hosts France in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.

Euro 2000 and World Cups

At UEFA Euro 2000, Fabio had a great tournament. He played as a centre-back and helped Italy's defense. Italy only let in two goals before the final. They reached the final against France, but lost 2–1 after extra time. Fabio was chosen for the Team of the Tournament.

At the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Fabio was crucial for Italy's defense. His usual partner, Alessandro Nesta, got injured. Fabio had to hold the defense together almost by himself. Italy lost controversially to co-hosts South Korea in the second round.

After the 2002 World Cup, Fabio became Italy's captain, taking over from Paolo Maldini. He quickly showed great leadership. He helped Italy qualify for Euro 2004. He scored his first international goal on May 30, 2004, against Tunisia. Euro 2004 was a disappointment for Italy, as they did not make it past the group stage.

2006 World Cup Victory

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

Fabio Cannavaro was the captain of Italy during their amazing 2006 FIFA World Cup win. He led the team with great skill and calm. One of his best moments was in the semi-finals against Germany. In the last minute of extra time, he cleared the ball and helped start the play that led to Italy's second goal.

His biggest moment was lifting the World Cup trophy on July 9, 2006. This was also his 100th game for Italy. Fabio did not get any yellow or red cards during the whole tournament. His defense was so good that fans called him the "Wall of Berlin."

Cannavaro in final match World Cup 2006

Italy's defense, led by Fabio, kept five clean sheets. They only let in two goals in the entire tournament. Fabio was chosen for the All-Star Team of the competition. He also won the 2006 Ballon d'Or and the 2006 FIFA World Player of the Year awards for his fantastic performances.

Later International Career and Retirement

In 2008, Fabio got injured before UEFA Euro 2008. He tore ligaments in his ankle and could not play. But he stayed with the team to support them. He decided not to retire from the national team, wanting to captain Italy in the 2010 World Cup.

In 2009, Fabio played his 127th game for Italy, becoming the most-capped player in the country's history. He passed Paolo Maldini's record.

Fabio captained Italy at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. However, Italy did not play well and were knocked out in the first round. After this, Fabio announced his retirement from international football. He played 136 games for Italy, scoring 2 goals. He is Italy's second most-capped player of all time.

Fabio's Managerial Career

Coaching in the Middle East and China

After retiring as a player, Fabio became a global ambassador for Al-Ahli Club in Dubai. In 2013, he became the first team coach for Al-Ahli. He helped them win the UAE Pro League and UAE League Cup in his first season.

In November 2014, Fabio became the head coach of Guangzhou Evergrande in China. This team had won many titles. However, in June 2015, he was replaced by Luiz Felipe Scolari.

In October 2015, Fabio became the coach of Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. He left the club in February 2016.

In June 2016, Fabio took over Tianjin Quanjian. The team was struggling, but Fabio led them to win the 2016 China League One title. This meant they were promoted to the top league in China. In 2017, Tianjin Quanjian finished third in the Chinese Super League. Fabio won the Chinese Football Association Coach of the Year award in November 2017.

Return to Guangzhou and China National Team

In November 2017, Fabio returned to coach Guangzhou Evergrande for a second time. He led them to win the 2019 Chinese Super League title in December 2019. He left Guangzhou again in September 2021.

In March 2019, Fabio was also appointed manager of the China national team. He coached both Guangzhou Evergrande and the national team at the same time. He lost his first match with China against Thailand. In April, he stepped down from the national team to focus on Guangzhou.

Coaching in Italy

In September 2022, Fabio took his first coaching job in Italy. He became the head coach of Serie B club Benevento. However, he was sacked in February 2023 after the team continued to struggle.

In April 2024, Fabio became the new manager of Serie A club Udinese. He successfully helped the club avoid being relegated from the top league. After the season, Udinese announced Fabio's departure.

Coaching in Croatia

In December 2024, Fabio Cannavaro was confirmed as the new manager of Croatian club GNK Dinamo Zagreb. This is his first coaching job in a European country outside of Italy.

Fabio's Playing Style

Fabio Cannavaro is known as one of the greatest defenders ever. He won the FIFA World Cup as Italy's captain, and also the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2006. He mainly played as a centre-back. Sometimes, he also played as a full-back on the right or left side.

Fabio was great at understanding the game and knowing where to be. Even though he wasn't very tall for a defender, he was excellent in the air. He could jump high and head the ball well. This helped him defend against crosses and score goals from set-pieces.

He was a strong, fast, and consistent defender. He was known for his quickness and his precise sliding tackles. Fabio was also a great leader. He was determined and had a strong personality on the field. He could organize his defense and inspire his teammates. Fabio believed his positive attitude, calm under pressure, and hard work helped him succeed.

Fabio in the Media

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

Fabio was sponsored by Nike and appeared in their commercials. In a Nike ad for the 2002 World Cup, he was in a "Secret Tournament" commercial with other famous players. A 2010 Nike commercial showed him making an amazing goal-line clearance.

Fabio was also on the cover of the Italian edition of the video game This is Football 2003. He is featured in EA Sports' FIFA video game series. He was added to the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 14. In FIFA 19, he is an "Icon" with a high rating. Fabio also worked as a football expert for ITV during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Fabio's 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. He played for teams like Napoli and Parma. The two brothers played together at Parma from 2000 to 2002. Fabio had often said he wanted to finish his career playing alongside Paolo at Napoli.

With his friend and former teammate Ciro Ferrara, Fabio helped start a charity called Fondazione Cannavaro Ferrara. This foundation helps hospitals in their hometown of Naples. It provides equipment for cancer research and helps with special cancer surgeries. The foundation also helps young people in Naples who are at risk.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Napoli	1992–93	Serie A	2	0	1	0	0	0	–		3	0
	1993–94	Serie A	27	0	2	0	–		–		29	0
	1994–95	Serie A	29	1	4	0	3	0	–		36	1
	Total		58	1	7	0	3	0	0	0	68	1
Parma	1995–96	Serie A	29	1	0	0	6	0	1	0	36	1
	1996–97	Serie A	27	0	1	0	2	0	–		30	0
	1997–98	Serie A	31	0	6	0	7	0	–		44	0
	1998–99	Serie A	30	1	7	0	8	0	–		45	1
	1999–2000	Serie A	31	2	3	0	9	1	2	0	45	3
	2000–01	Serie A	33	0	7	0	6	0	–		46	0
	2001–02	Serie A	31	1	5	0	9	0	–		45	0
	Total		212	5	29	0	47	1	3	0	291	5
Inter Milan	2002–03	Serie A	28	0	0	0	12	1	–		40	1
	2003–04	Serie A	22	2	3	0	9	0	–		34	2
	Total		50	2	3	0	21	1	0	0	74	3
Juventus	2004–05	Serie A	38	2	0	0	9	1	–		47	3
	2005–06	Serie A	36	4	2	0	9	0	1	0	48	4
	Total		74	6	2	0	18	1	1	0	95	7
Real Madrid	2006–07	La Liga	32	0	1	0	6	0	–		39	0
	2007–08	La Liga	33	0	1	0	6	0	2	1	42	1
	2008–09	La Liga	29	0	1	0	7	0	–		37	0
	Total		94	0	3	0	19	0	2	1	118	1
Juventus	2009–10	Serie A	27	0	1	0	5	0	–		33	0
Al-Ahli Dubai	2010–11	UAE Pro League	16	2	0	0	0	0	–		16	2
Career total			531	16	45	0	113	3	6	1	695	19

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Italy	1997	12	0
	1998	11	0
	1999	8	0
	2000	14	0
	2001	9	0
	2002	12	0
	2003	10	0
	2004	6	1
	2005	8	0
	2006	15	0
	2007	8	0
	2008	8	1
	2009	10	0
	2010	5	0
Total		136	2

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cannavaro goal.

List of international goals scored by Fabio Cannavaro
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	30 May 2004	Radès, Tunisia	Tunisia	2–0	4–0	Friendly
2	6 February 2008	Zürich, Switzerland	Portugal	2–0	3–1	Friendly

Managerial statistics

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
Team	Nat	From	To	G	W	D	L	Win %
Guangzhou Evergrande		5 November 2014	4 June 2015	&&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022	&&&&&&&&&&&&&011.&&&&&011	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&050.&&&&&050.00
Al Nassr		26 October 2015	11 February 2016	&&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&037.50000037.50
Tianjin Quanjian		9 June 2016	6 November 2017	&&&&&&&&&&&&&055.&&&&&055	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.&&&&&033	&&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010	&&&&&&&&&&&&&012.&&&&&012	&&&&&&&&&&&&&060.&&&&&060.00
Guangzhou Evergrande		9 November 2017	29 September 2021	&&&&&&&&&&&&0132.&&&&&0132	&&&&&&&&&&&&&079.&&&&&079	&&&&&&&&&&&&&023.&&&&&023	&&&&&&&&&&&&&030.&&&&&030	&&&&&&&&&&&&&059.85000059.85
China PR		15 March 2019	29 April 2019	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.00
Benevento		21 September 2022	4 February 2023	&&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&017.65000017.65
Udinese		22 April 2024	30 June 2024	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.33000033.33
Dinamo Zagreb		29 December 2024	Pressent	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&050.&&&&&050.00
Total				&&&&&&&&&&&&0252.&&&&&0252	&&&&&&&&&&&&0135.&&&&&0135	&&&&&&&&&&&&&056.&&&&&056	&&&&&&&&&&&&&061.&&&&&061	&&&&&&&&&&&&&053.57000053.57