Christian Panucci
In 1996, he followed his former Milan coach Fabio Capello to Real Madrid, and was a starting right-back for the Spanish side, winning a La Liga title in 1997, and his second UEFA Champions League in 1998.A talented prospect, he was originally brought in as a younger, more attack-minded alternative to the incumbent right-back Mauro Tassotti, who had held the position for over a decade, and was expected to be a back-up.However, Panucci began to work his way into the starting lineup under manager Fabio Capello, appearing in 19 league matches and scoring twice as Milan won domestic and European titles.He also demonstrated his versatility by lining up at left-back in the 1994 UEFA Champions League final, while Tassotti played on the right, and Paolo Maldini and Filippo Galli in the centre, filling in for the injured Franco Baresi and the suspended Alessandro Costacurta, who were normally the club's starting central defensive pair; despite several important absences, Milan defeated Barcelona 4–0 to win the title.Panucci had one of his best offensive seasons in 1995–96, scoring five goals, while helping to form the league's tightest defence, and one of the greatest of all time, alongside internationals Baresi, Maldini, and Costacurta,[a] as Milan regained the Italian championship.This was a strong period for Real Madrid on the field, as the club immediately won the league in 1997, but a chaotic one on the sidelines as managers Capello, Jupp Heynckes, Guus Hiddink, and John Toshack followed one another in rapid succession.[3] In August 2000, he was sent on loan to Chelsea,[13] where he scored once in the UEFA Cup against St. Gallen,[14] but only made 8 appearances in the Premier League, failing to find the back of the net.[18] He was sent off in the second Derby della Capitale of the 2008–09 season after a heated on-pitch clash with Lazio player Stephan Lichtsteiner following his hard challenge on the Swiss defender.Despite missing out on the European Championship squad, he was named the captain of the Italy national team that took part at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, under his former youth coach Maldini.[24] In the first half of regulation time, Panucci had also conceded a controversial penalty, after referee Byron Moreno judged him to have pulled down Seol Ki-Hyeon in the box; Ahn's spot kick was saved by Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, however.Despite his performances and the lack of genuine quality Italian right-backs, he was ignored by manager Marcello Lippi, with whom he had fallen out in his days at Inter Milan, during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, as Italy went on to win the final tournament in Germany.[2] Panucci expressed his delight at earning his 50th Italy cap in the stadium where he began his career for the Azzurri in the 2–0 win over Georgia in their Euro 2008 qualifying tie in Genoa at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.He was primarily renowned for his ability in the air as a footballer, frequently scoring with his head from set pieces; his aerial prowess, along with his accurate distribution, precise crossing, good technical skills, and ability to make attacking runs down the flank, also allowed him to contribute offensively to his team's play, with goals and assists; with 34 goals in Serie A, he is among the most prolific defenders in the history of the Italian league.In his later career, as he lost his pace, he mainly played as a central defender, where he stood out for his leadership, tenacity, and tactical intelligence, earning the nickname "El Grinta" from commentator Carlo Zampa.[37] Panucci left his job as a pundit on 19 March 2012 to accept an offer from Maurizio Zamparini as team manager of Palermo, working alongside director of football and scouting chief Luca Cattani.
TernanaSavonaRight backAC MilanReal MadridInter MilanChelseaMonacoItaly U21RussiaLivornoAlbaniafootballUEFA European Under-21 Championship1994 France1996 SpainfootballermanagerdefenderSerie AUEFA Champions LeagueBarcelonaPaolo MaldiniFranco BaresiAlessandro CostacurtaMauro TassottiBravo AwardFabio CapelloLa LigaCoppa ItaliaSupercoppa Italianayouth levelunder-21 European ChampionshipsItalian senior national team1996 Olympics2002 FIFA World CupUEFA Euro 2004UEFA Euro 2008Russia national football teamAlbania national team1991–92 Serie A1992–93 season1994 UEFA Champions League finalFilippo GalliWorld CupArrigo Sacchifollowing seasonUEFA Super CupJuventusVélez Sársfield1994 Intercontinental CupChampions League final1995–96Bosman rulingCarlos SecretarioRoberto Carlosleague in 1997Jupp HeynckesGuus HiddinkJohn ToshackChampions LeagueCesare Maldini1998–99 seasonIntercontinental Cup1999–2000Marcello LippiCoppa Italia finalUEFA CupSt. GallenPremier Leaguesecond half of the season2001–02 campaign2001 Supercoppa Italiana2006–07 season2007–08 season2007 Supercoppa ItalianaCicinho2008–09 seasonRegginaAtalantaNapoliLuciano SpallettiDerby della CapitaleStephan LichtsteinerUdineseseasonBolognaItaly national under-21 football team1994 FIFA World CupSloveniaUEFA Euro 1996captain1996 Summer Olympics1998 FIFA World CupDino ZoffUEFA Euro 20002002 World CupGiovanni TrapattoniSouth KoreaSeol Ki-hyeonAhn Jung-hwanByron MorenoGianluigi BuffonEuro 2004Antonio CassanoSweden2006 FIFA World CupqualifyingRoberto DonadoniEuro 2008GeorgiaScotlandFaroe IslandsStadio Luigi Ferrarisinjury-timeEuro 2008 qualifying Group BEuropean Championship finalsRomaniaFabio Quagliarellaright-backcentrewing-backcentral defenderSKY ItaliaMaurizio ZampariniPalermo