Mark Bresciano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mark Bresciano

Bresciano with Australia in 2006
Personal information
Full name	Mark Bresciano
Date of birth	(1980-02-11) 11 February 1980 (age 45)
Place of birth	Melbourne, Australia
Height	1.82 m
Playing position	Attacking midfielder / Winger
Youth career
1986–1996	Bulleen Lions
1997	AIS
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–1997	Bulleen Lions	9	(4)
1997–1999	Carlton	28	(6)
1999–2002	Empoli	80	(17)
2002–2006	Parma	123	(19)
2006–2010	Palermo	107	(12)
2010–2011	Lazio	20	(0)
2011–2012	Al Nasr	17	(10)
2012–2015	Al-Gharafa	51	(3)
Total		435	(71)
National team
1997	Australia U17	5	(5)
1998–1999	Australia U20	7	(0)
1998–2000	Australia U23	15	(0)
2001–2015	Australia	84	(13)
Honours Representing  Australia Men's Association football FIFA Confederations Cup Third 2001 South Korea-Japan AFC Asian Cup Winner 2015 Australia Runner-up 2011 Qatar OFC Nations Cup Winner 2004 Australia
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Mark Bresciano (born 11 February 1980) is an Australian former professional soccer player. He mostly played as a midfielder.

Mark was born in Melbourne, Australia. He started playing youth football for Bulleen Lions. Later, he joined Carlton in the National Soccer League. In 1999, he moved to Italy to play for Empoli. This began his twelve-year career in Italy.

He played for big Italian clubs like Parma, Palermo, and Lazio. From 2011, he spent his last four years playing in the Middle East. He played for Al Nasr in the UAE and Al-Gharafa in Qatar. He retired in 2015.

Bresciano had a long and successful career with the Australian national team, known as the Socceroos. He played 84 games and scored 13 goals. He played in three FIFA World Cups and two AFC Asian Cups, winning one. He also won the 2004 OFC Nations Cup. His goal against Uruguay in 2005 helped Australia qualify for the 2006 World Cup. This was the first time in 32 years Australia made it to the World Cup. He also played for Australia's youth teams, including the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Mark Bresciano's Early Career

Starting in Australia

Mark Bresciano grew up in Rosanna, Melbourne. He started playing local football. At 15, he joined the first team of Victorian Premier League side Bulleen Lions in 1995. He scored four goals in four games in 1997. This helped Bulleen reach the 1997 VPL grand final.

His talent grew, and he was chosen for an Australian Schoolboys team. They toured the United Kingdom in 1996. In 1997, he scored five goals for Australia's Under-17 team.

After high school, he joined the Australian Institute of Sport. Here, he met his childhood friend Vince Grella again. Their careers often followed similar paths. Mark and Vince signed with National Soccer League (NSL) club Carlton for the 1997–98 season. Mark made his NSL debut in Round 17. He then played every game for the rest of the year. Carlton finished second and reached their first grand final, but they lost 2–1. He stayed with Carlton for the 1998–99 season. He scored four goals in 18 games.

Moving to Italy

Like many Australian players, Mark wanted to play in Europe. He and Vince Grella moved to Italy in 1999. They joined Empoli, a team that had recently moved down to Serie B. They quickly became regular players. In his third year at Empoli, Mark scored 10 goals. He helped Empoli finish fourth and move back up to the top league, Serie A.

Mark and Vince also played for the Australian Under-23 team. They played in friendly matches in Europe before the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. Both were chosen for the Olympic team. Mark played a few times as a substitute.

In 2001, Mark was called up to the "Socceroos" (the senior national team). On 1 June 2001, he played his first game for Australia. It was a Confederations Cup match against France. He came on as a substitute. He played five more games for the Socceroos that year.

Playing for Parma and the Socceroos

In 2002, Mark joined Parma for a large fee. This was a record for an Australian player at the time. He said moving to Parma was a big change. It was a bigger club with more pressure to perform. Even with some injuries, he played 24 games in the 2002–03 season. This helped Parma finish fifth and get a spot in the UEFA Cup. His friend Vince Grella also joined Parma, so they were reunited.

Scoring Goals and World Cup Qualification

For the 2003–04 season, Mark aimed to score five goals. He scored eight goals from 33 games, which was the most for any midfielder in Serie A. Mark also became a regular player for the Socceroos. He scored important goals, like a winning free-kick against New Zealand. He also scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against South Africa.

Parma reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2005. However, their league form was not as good. They had to play a special game to stay in Serie A. Mark and Vince were allowed to miss the 2005 Confederations Cup to play in this important game. Parma won and stayed in Serie A.

In September 2005, both players returned to the Australian squad. They played in the World Cup qualification playoff against the Solomon Islands. Mark scored the first goal in a friendly against Jamaica.

The most famous moment came on 16 November 2005. Mark scored the only goal in the second game of the World Cup play-off against Uruguay. This made the score 1-1 overall after extra time. The Socceroos then won in a penalty shootout. This sent Australia to the World Cup for the first time in 32 years!

2006 FIFA World Cup

Mark Bresciano played in Australia's first game of the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Japan. Australia won 3-1. He came on as a substitute in the second game against Brazil. In the third group game against Croatia, Mark helped set up a goal for Harry Kewell. This goal made the game a 2-2 draw, which meant Australia moved to the next round.

In the next game against Italy, Mark was fouled, and an Italian player received a red card. Italy later won with a penalty in the last minutes, and Australia was out of the tournament. Mark's role as a player who takes free kicks and corners was very important.

Playing for Palermo and the Asian Cup

After the World Cup, Mark signed a four-year contract with Palermo. He played regularly in Serie A and in European competitions. In October 2006, Mark scored an amazing goal for Australia. It was in an Asian Cup qualification match against Bahrain. He hit the ball in the air with a volley into the net. This goal was compared to his first goal for Palermo earlier that season.

In March 2007, he scored his ninth international goal against China. A hamstring injury in May made him miss some games. But he recovered in time for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. He played in Australia's first two Asian Cup matches. Australia was knocked out by Japan in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout.

In February 2008, Mark returned to the national team for Australia's first World Cup qualification match against Qatar. He scored Australia's third goal in that game. He also played a full game against China.

Later Career in Italy and the Middle East

After the Asian Cup, Mark was almost transferred to Premier League club Manchester City in England. He wanted a new challenge. However, the transfer did not happen, and he returned to Palermo. He continued to play regularly for Palermo, sometimes as a winger or a forward.

On 3 July 2010, Mark signed a two-year contract with Lazio. He scored his first goal for Lazio in a cup game in October 2010.

In 2011, he moved to the Middle East. He signed with UAE Pro-League side Al-Nasr Dubai. Then, in 2012, Mark joined Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa. He played there until he retired in 2015.

Mark Bresciano's Playing Style

Mark Bresciano was known as one of Australia's most skilled footballers. He had a great ability to score goals. He usually played on the left side of the midfield. But he could also play as a forward, behind the main strikers, or in the middle or right side of the midfield. He was a very flexible player who helped both in attack and defence. He was also very good at taking free kicks and corners.

Mark was also famous for his "Spartacus" goal celebration. After scoring, he would stop in the spot where he shot from. He would clench his fists by his side and raise his chin. He would stand still until his teammates came to celebrate with him.

Mark Bresciano's Personal Life

Bresciano in 2009.

Mark Bresciano's first name is Mark, not "Marco," even though some people call him Marco. He said his birth certificate says Mark, but he was named after his grandfather Marco.

Mark's father is Italian, and his mother is Croatian. His younger brother, Robert, also plays soccer. In May 2006, Mark married his childhood sweetheart, Renée Capitanio. They had their first daughter, Alessia, in February 2007. Their second daughter, Montana, was born in May 2009.