Giuseppe Favalli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Giuseppe Favalli

Favalli playing for Milan in 2007
Personal information
Date of birth	(1972-01-08) 8 January 1972 (age 53)
Place of birth	Orzinuovi, Italy
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Defender
Youth career
1987–1988	Cremonese
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1988–1992	Cremonese	94	(3)
1992–2004	Lazio	298	(4)
2004–2006	Internazionale	49	(0)
2006–2010	Milan	80	(2)
Total		521	(9)
National team
1989–1990	Italy U18	9	(1)
1989–1994	Italy U21	24	(2)
1992	Italy U23	6	(0)
1994–2004	Italy	8	(0)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Giuseppe Favalli (born January 8, 1972) is an Italian former professional footballer. He was a very good and experienced defender. Favalli could play in different positions, like a central defender or on the left or right side of the field.

He started his career with Cremonese in 1988. Later, he played for famous Italian clubs like Lazio, Internazionale, and Milan. Favalli also played for the Italian national team eight times between 1994 and 2004. He was part of the Italian team for UEFA Euro 2004. He also played for the under-23 team at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Cremonese

Favalli began his football journey with Cremonese in 1988. At that time, Cremonese was in Serie B, which is the second-highest league in Italy. In 1989, his team was promoted to Serie A, the top league. He played his first Serie A game on August 27, 1989, against Internazionale.

Time with Lazio

Because he played so well, Lazio signed Favalli in the summer of 1992. After Alessandro Nesta, another great player, left Lazio in 2002, Favalli became the team's captain.

During his 12 years with Lazio, he won many important trophies. He won one Scudetto (the Serie A league title), three Coppa Italia (Italian Cup), and two Supercoppa Italiana (Italian Super Cup). He also won the UEFA Super Cup. Fans really liked him. He played 401 games for Lazio, which is the second-most in the club's history.

Playing for Inter Milan

Favalli moved to Internazionale on June 1, 2004, as a free transfer. This means Inter didn't have to pay a transfer fee to Lazio. With Inter, he won the Coppa Italia two more times, in 2005 and 2006. This meant he won the Coppa Italia three years in a row (2004, 2005, and 2006).

He also won his second Scudetto with Inter in 2006. This happened after a big scandal in Italian football, where Juventus had their 2006 title taken away and it was given to Inter. Favalli did not always start games for Inter. After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a new player named Fabio Grosso joined. Favalli's contract was not renewed, and he left the club in 2006.

Joining AC Milan

After leaving Inter, Favalli joined Milan on a free transfer. He was brought in to replace his old Lazio teammate, Giuseppe Pancaro. However, players like Kakha Kaladze and Paolo Maldini were ahead of him for the left-back position. So, he often spent games on the bench.

In the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final, he came on as a substitute late in the game. Milan won their seventh European Cup by beating Liverpool 2–1. Milan fans affectionately called him Favallinho. This nickname came after he scored his only two goals of the 2006–07 season in back-to-back wins. Towards the end of his career, he played more as a central defender for Milan.

On July 1, 2010, Favalli left Milan at age 38 and then retired from football.

International Career

Favalli played for Italy's under-18 team. He also won the 1992 UEFA European Under-21 Championship and played at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona with the Italy under-21 team.

He played eight games for the Italian senior team between 1994 and 2004. He was part of the Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2004. He played only one game in that tournament. He came on as a substitute in the 76th minute during Italy's 1–1 draw with Sweden. Italy did not perform as well as expected and left the tournament after the group stage.

Career Statistics

International Appearances

Here is a summary of Giuseppe Favalli's games for the Italian national team:

Honours and Trophies

Giuseppe Favalli won many trophies during his career:

Club Honours

Lazio

• Serie A: 1999–2000
• Coppa Italia: 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2003–04
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1998, 2000
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1998–99
• UEFA Super Cup: 1999

Internazionale

• Serie A: 2005–06
• Coppa Italia: 2004–05, 2005–06
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2005

AC Milan

• UEFA Champions League: 2006–07
• UEFA Super Cup: 2007
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

International Honours

Italy

• Under-21 European Championship: 1992

See also

In Spanish: Giuseppe Favalli para niños