Alex Song

Profile Football Stars | Alex Song | Song was called-up for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and was the only Cameroonian named in the Team of the Tournament. Known for his colorful hair dye, Song also possesses a French passport. Song was born in Douala, Cameroon and lost his father at the age of three.

Song joined the Bastia youth team in 2003-04 and became a part of the first team the following season with 31 appearances. Bastia were playing in French Ligue 1 during the time Alex Song had a stint there. Song was Noted for his high versatility  While playing for Bastia, he was selected as a part of French U-16 football team. He later chose to represent Cameroon his country of birth. During his time at Bastia, he attracted attention from numerous clubs, Including Inter, Juventus, Manchester United, Lyon, and Middlesbrough. During his time at Bastia Song made a total of 32 league appearances.

Song impressed Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger as a trialist during Arsenal's pre-season training camp in Austria, and Arsenal secured his services on loan for the 2005-06 season on 11 August 2005. Song made his Premiership debut during Arsenal's 2-0 win against Everton on 19 September 2005 as a substitute. He played in several UEFA Champions League matches and made several Premiership starts near the end of the season, when first team players were injured or being rested. Song again assisted van Persie who scored a volley, during a match against Everton roomates also proved to be the only goal as the 125th anniversary game ended 1-0 to Arsenal. Song also assisting Showed his skills in the following matches: In an FA Cup match against Leeds United, Song played a wonderful through ball past Leeds United's four returning players to the legend, Thierry Henry. Song played a wonderful overhead pass to Theo Walcott and claimed an assist against Aston Villa on 24 March 2012. Arsenal went on to win the game 3-0.

Song was first capped by Cameroon in 2005. He was named in the Cameroon squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He played for Cameroon in their first group match, a 4-2 defeat against holders Egypt; he replaced Stéphane Mbia at half time, joining his cousin Rigobert on the pitch.  Song was called-up for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and was the only Cameroonian named in the Team of the Tournament.  Song was included in the Cameroonian squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He did not Appear in his side's opening loss to Japan, but played the full 90 in Cameroon's disappointing 2-1 loss to Denmark.

Personal information
Full name Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong
Date of birth 9 September 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Douala, Cameroon
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Midfielder

Club information
Current club Barcelona
Number 25

Youth career
2001-2004 Bastia

Senior career
Years Team Apps
2004-2006 Bastia 32 (0)
2005-2006 Arsenal (loan) 5 (0)
2006-2012 Arsenal 138 (7)
2007 Charlton Athletic (loan) 12 (0)
2012-Barcelona 0 (0)

National team
2002-2003 France U16 6 (0)
2003-2004 Cameroon U17 3 (0)
2008 Cameroon U23 3 (0)
2005 Cameroon 30 (0)

Honours

Club
Arsenal
     UEFA Champions League
         runners-up (1): 2005-06
     Football League Cup
         runners-up (2): 2006-07, 2010-11

International
Cameroon U17
     African U-17 Championship: 2003

Cameroon
     African Cup of Nations runners-up: 2008
     2011 LG Cup (Morocco)

Individual
     Africa Cup of Nations Best XI: 2008, 2010

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Gianluca Zambrotta

Profile Football Stars | Gianluca Zambrotta | Zambrotta began his professional career with his hometown club, Como Calcio at the age of 17 in 1994. In his first season, he played only one match. In 1995, however, Como were Promoted to Serie B and Zambrotta started to play more regularly for the first team. In the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, he made 47 appearances and scored 6 goals.

In 1997, Zambrotta's Serie A career began when his great potential was spotted by Bari boss Eugenio Fascetti. Zambrotta was snapped up by Fascetti after Bari had won promotion to Serie A. In his first year in the top flight, Zambrotta played on the left wing and scored two goals in 27 appearances. In the 1998-99 season, following the departure of Nicola Ventola, Zambrotta exploded on to the scene. After the transfer to Juventus on 1 July 1999, Zambrotta continued his upward momentum. He made 32 league appearances with one goal in the first season he played for Juventus. In his second season for Juventus, 2000-01, Zambrotta made 29 league appearances and scored three goals.

On 4 August 2006, after his holiday Following the World Cup, Zambrotta reported to his new club for the first time in Los Angeles, United States where FC Barcelona stayed for Their pre-season tour in the U.S. Zambrotta's official debut in Barça shirt was on 17 August against local rivals Espanyol in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup. On 17 March 2007, he scored his first goal in the league game against Recreativo. He also netted goals in matches against Atletico Madrid at Vicente Calderon Stadium (Atlético record home loss - 0-6) and Tarragona. In two seasons with the club, Zambrotta made 58 league appearances, scoring three goals, before his return to Italy. He was Heavily tipped to join Milan, or return to former club, Juventus.

On 31 May 2008, Zambrotta signed a three-year contract with Milan. Zambrotta would reportedly be earning € 4 million per year. Later That year he won the Serie A title with Milan, and the Super Cup. Decided not to renew Milan the contracts of Several of Their veteran players and Zambrotta was one of Those along with Filippo Inzaghi, Mark van Bommel, Alessandro Nesta and Gennaro Gattuso. He played his final game for Milan against Novara on 13 May 2012 .

In his second game for the U21 against Wales on April 22, 1998, he scored the 2nd goal of Italy on the 43rd minute and helped Italy to win the game 2-1. On 9 July 2006, Zambrotta played his first major final tournament with the national team after he missed the Euro 2000 final. Coincidently, France was Italy's opponents on both Occasions. Zambrotta's ability to play in multiple positions on either flank contributes great flexibility to the Italian squad, and earned him a place in the 23 man 2006 World Cup All-Star squad. Zambrotta was also selected for the 2010 World Cup but was Unable to help the team progress to the second round. Although Italy in 2010 has a poor performance he remained the only bright spot for the team.

Personal information
Full name Gianluca Zambrotta
Date of birth 19 February 1977 (age 35)
Place of birth Como, Italy
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1/2 in)
Playing position Full back

Club information
Current club Free Agent

Senior career
years Team
1994-1997 Como 48 (6)
1997-1999 Bari 59 (6)
Juventus 1999-2006 217 (6)
2006-2008 Barcelona 58 (3)
2008-2012 Milan 84 (2)

National team
1999-2010 Italy 98 (2)

Honours

Club
Juventus
     Serie A: 2002, 2003, 2005 (canceled), 2006 (canceled)
     Supercoppa Italiana: 2002, 2003
     UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

FC Barcelona
     Supercopa de España: 2006

AC Milan
     Serie A: 2010-11
     Supercoppa Italiana: 2011

International
     FIFA World Cup: 2006

Individual
     UEFA Euro 2004 Team of the Tournament
     UEFA Team of the Year: 2006
     FIFPro World XI: 2006
     2006 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team

Orders
     Omri Ufficiale BAR.svg
     4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: (2006)
     Cavaliere Omri BAR.svg
     5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: (2000)

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Andrea Pirlo

Profile Football Stars | Andrea Pirlo | Pirlo has played for the Italian U-15 youth teams, U-18 and U-21, captaining and leading the latter to victory in the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship as the Golden Player and top scorer of the tournament. Pirlo was born in Flero, Lombardy, Italy. His brother Ivan plays for a Serie C2 club in Brescia. Pirlo made his debut for Brescia against Reggina. After breaking into the Brescia first team, Pirlo was spotted by Internazionale coach Mircea Lucescu, WHO signed the playmaker. Pirlo was Unable to break into the first squad, however, and Internazionale finished eighth in the 1998-99 Serie A campaign. Pirlo was shipped off on loan to the club he made his debut against in 1995, Reggina.

After three seasons on the Internazionale books, Pirlo was sold to Fierce rivals Milan for 35 billion Italian lire (about € 18 million). That transfer windows the two clubs also swapped Cristian Brocchi for Guly; Paolo Ginestra for Matteo Bogani. Milan played host to Genoa on 25 September 2010, Pirlo lifted Provided a lovely ball over the top of the defense to set the striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic free to score the solitary goal of the game. On 2 October Pirlo scored a 40-yard field goal against Parma to give Milan Their first away win of the 2010-11 season. On 14 May 2011, Pirlo Appeared in his last match for Milan, coming on as a half-time substitute for Massimo Ambrosini as the club with a Celebrated Their Title 4-1 victory over Cagliari. In his last season in Milan, Pirlo Appeared only in the league 17 times notching just one goal and three assists.

In 2011, Juventus signed Pirlo as a free agent on a contract That will last until 2014. His debut with Juventus was a friendly match against Sporting Clube de Portugal, the which They lost 2-1. Antonio Conte played him alongside younger midfielders Marchisio and new signing Arturo Vidal in a three-man midfield. Pirlo and Juventus also finished runners up to SSC Napoli in the Coppa Italia final.

Pirlo captained Italy to an Under-21 European Championship in 2000 (wearing the number 10 jersey and winning the award for best player) and semi-finalists in 2002. Pirlo played for Italy at the 2000 Summer Olympics, won the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. Pirlo was a member of the Italian Squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In Italy's first match in the tournament, Pirlo scored the opening goal against Ghana, and subsequently set up a goal for Vincenzo Iaquinta to seal a 2-0 victory , as the midfielder was named Man of the Match. On 24 June, Pirlo produced a man-of-the-match performance against England as Italy won 4-2 on Penalties after the game had finished 0-0 in extra time.  In the semi-final round, on June 28, Pirlo once again put up a man-of-the-match performance against Germany, a match the which Italy won 2-1. Pirlo won three Man of the Match Awards for Euro 2012, equaled amongst with Andrés Iniesta of Spain and was elected to be part of the team of the tournament.

Personal information
Full name Andrea Pirlo
Date of birth 19 May 1979 (age 33)
Place of birth Flero, Lombardy, Italy
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1/2 in)
Playing position Midfielder

Club information
Current club Juventus
Number 21

Youth career
Brescia 1994-1995

Senior career
years Team
1995-1998 Brescia 47 (6)
1998-2001 Internazionale 22 (0)
Reggina 1999-2000 (loan) 28 (6)
2001 Brescia (loan) 10 (0)
Milan 2001-2011 284 (32)
2011-Juventus 37 (3)

National team
1998-2002 Italy U-21 37 (15)
2000-2004 Olympic Italy 9 (1)
2002-Italy 89 (10)

Honours

Club
Milan
     Serie A: 2003-04, 2010-11
     Coppa Italia: 2002-03
     Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
     UEFA Champions League: 2003, 2007
     UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007
     FIFA Club World Cup: 2007

Juventus
     Serie A: 2011-12

International
     UEFA Under-21 European Championship: 2000
     2004 Summer Olympics - Bronze medal
     FIFA World Cup: 2006
     UEFA Euro: 2012 - Silver medal

Individual
     UEFA European Under-21 Championship Golden Player: 2000
     UEFA European Under-21 Championship top scorer: 2000
     2006 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament
     FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball Award: 2006
     2006 FIFA World Cup Final Man of the Match
     FIFPro World XI: 2006
     UEFA Euro 2012 Team of the Tournament

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