Cannavaro, Fabio

AC Parma & Italy

Birthdate: September 13, 1973
Birthplace: Naples, Italy
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 72 kg
Position: Defender
International: 34 caps, 0 goals
World Cups: 1 (1998)
Previous Clubs: Napoli
Transfer Fee: -
Like his club and international colleague Gianluigi Buffon, Cannavaro first caught the eye in Cesare Maldini’s U-21 side, and was a European champion in 1994 and 1996. Born and bred in Naples, Cannavaro was a ballboy in the San Paolo stadium during SSC Napoli’s Diego Maradona-inspired glory years in the late 1980’s and it was with his hometown club that he began his career. After joining Napoli at the age of 16, he worked his way through the club’s youth ranks before making his Serie A debut against Juventus aged only 20. In 1995 he moved to Parma AC where he picked up UEFA Cup and Italian Cup winners’ medal in 1998/99. The tough-tackling defender reads the game well, and is an excellent man-marker. He forms a fine partnership with Frenchman Lilian Thuram in the Parma back line while, at international level, he has developed a great understanding with Alessandro Nesta.