Federico Balzaretti facts for kids
Balzaretti with Italy at the UEFA Euro 2012
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 6 December 1981 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Turin, Italy | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Left-back | |||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Roma (loan manager) | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1994–1999 | Torino | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 1999–2005 | Torino | 94 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | → Varese (loan) | 44 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | → Siena (loan) | 16 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Juventus | 57 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Fiorentina | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2008–2012 | Palermo | 143 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Roma | 39 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 399 | (8) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Italy U20 | 23 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2002 | Italy U21 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2010–2013 | Italy | 16 | (0) | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Federico Balzaretti is an Italian former professional footballer. He was born on December 6, 1981. He played as a left-back, which is a defensive position on the left side of the field. After he stopped playing, he became the Loan Manager for Roma.
Federico started his football journey in the youth system of Torino. He gained experience by playing on loan for other teams like Varese and Siena. He then returned to Torino before moving to Juventus. With Juventus, he won the Italian league title, though it was later taken away due to some issues.
Later, he played for Fiorentina and then Palermo. While at Palermo, he got called up to the Italy national team. He even played in the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, where Italy finished as runners-up. After that, he joined Roma. Federico had to retire from football in 2015 because of injuries. He had played in many games during his career.
Contents
Federico's Football Journey
Starting Out at Torino
Federico Balzaretti began playing football at just six years old. He joined his hometown club, Torino, and played in their youth teams. He quickly became known as a strong and fast wing-back. He had a lot of potential.
Between 1999 and 2002, he was loaned out to smaller teams like Varese and Siena. This helped him gain experience. When he returned to Torino, he became a favorite among the fans. He showed his love for the club by kissing the team badge after games.
In the 2004–05 season, Federico played a big part in helping Torino get promoted back to Serie A. However, the club faced financial problems, and all the players were allowed to leave.
Moving to Juventus
On August 15, 2005, Balzaretti joined Juventus, a rival team in Turin. This was a tough choice for him. He said he moved to Juventus because he was promised he could stay in his hometown. His first wife was expecting their daughter, Lucretia, which made staying in Turin important.
Many Torino fans felt upset by his move. They saw it as a betrayal because he had shown so much loyalty to Torino before. Because of this, they often booed him when he played against them.
In the 2005–06 season, Federico was a regular player for Juventus. He helped the team win the Serie A league title. His first goal as a professional player came on February 17, 2007, in a Serie B game. Juventus won that match 5–0 against Crotone.
Playing for Fiorentina and Palermo
In July 2007, Balzaretti moved to Fiorentina. He played only six games there in the first half of the Serie A 2007-08 season. In January, he joined Palermo on a long-term contract.
At Palermo, Federico chose the number 42 jersey. This was a special tribute to his father, who was born in 1942. He quickly became a key player for Palermo. He was known as one of the best left-backs in Italy. In January 2010, he signed a new contract with Palermo.
Time at Roma
On August 1, 2012, Balzaretti signed a three-year contract with Roma. He made his first appearance for Roma in a 2–2 draw against Catania.
He scored his first goal for Roma in a big local derby match against Lazio on September 22, 2013. Roma won that game 2–0. However, during his second season, Federico suffered a serious hip injury. This injury was very painful and made it hard for him to play. He had to have several operations.
He finally returned to the field on May 31, 2015. This was the last game of the 2014–15 season. He played against his former club, Palermo, in a game Roma lost 2–1.
Saying Goodbye to Football
On August 12, 2015, Federico Balzaretti announced he was retiring from professional football. He was 33 years old. He explained that his hip injury had not fully healed, and he could no longer play at his best.
He shared a public statement saying:
"I am retiring from Football. Unfortunately the injury I've had is forcing me to hang up my boots. It has been a difficult decision to make, but I can't continue playing the way I want to, at 100 percent. Last year, in my last news conference here, I said I wanted to get back on the field and play one more match for Roma. I managed to play 90 more minutes with Roma and I'd like to thank everyone here for making that last dream come true. I'm happy to have spent the last few months of the season with this group and I am delighted we secured second place."
Playing for Italy
Federico played for several Italian youth teams between 2000 and 2002. He made his debut for the senior Italy national team on November 17, 2010. This was in a friendly match against Romania.
He was chosen to be part of the Italian team for UEFA Euro 2012. He became the starting left-back in the third group stage match. He also played the entire game against Germany, helping his team reach the tournament final.
How He Played
Federico Balzaretti was an attacking full-back who played on the left side. He could also play as a winger or a wide-midfielder. His best qualities were his speed, his energy, and his ability to send good crosses into the box. He was a flexible player and could even play on the right side of the field if needed.
After Football
After retiring from playing, Balzaretti decided to stay at Roma. He joined the sports management staff, working with the club's sporting director. He said he enjoyed this new role.
On November 2, 2021, he was announced as the new director of football for Vicenza, a club in Serie B.
Family Life
Federico Balzaretti is married to Eleonora Abbagnato, a famous Italian ballerina. They got married in Palermo in the summer of 2011. They have two children together. Federico also has two children from a previous relationship.
Career Achievements
Juventus
- Serie B: 2006–07 (Won the second division league)
Roma
- Coppa Italia runner-up: 2012–13 (Finished second in the Italian Cup)
Italy
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2012 (Finished second in the European Championship)
Individual Awards
- Serie A Team of the Year: 2011–12 (Chosen as one of the best players in the league)
See also
In Spanish: Federico Balzaretti para niños
