Alberto Gilardino Italian footballer, world champion Date of Birth: 05.07.1982 Country: Italy

1. Early Career
2. Breakthrough at Parma
3. Success with AC Milan
4. Trophies with Italy
5. World Cup Victory and International Success
6. Prominent Club Career

Early Career

Alberto Gilardino, a legendary Italian footballer, began his professional career at Piacenza in the 1999/2000 season, making 17 appearances and scoring 3 goals. The following season, he joined Hellas Verona, contributing 5 goals in 39 league appearances.

Breakthrough at Parma

In 2002, Gilardino's career ascended when he was transferred to Parma for a fee of €12 million, fulfilling the request of his former Verona coach, Cesare Prandelli. Gilardino netted 5 goals in his first season at Parma, followed by an impressive 23-goal haul in his second. This remarkable performance earned him the second-top scorer position in Serie A for the 2003/2004 season. He repeated this feat in the subsequent season, scoring another 23 goals. In total, Gilardino tallied an impressive 50 goals for Parma in 96 Serie A matches.

Success with AC Milan

On July 17, 2005, Gilardino was acquired by AC Milan for a transfer fee of €24 million. While he scored 17 league goals for the Rossoneri, his performances in the UEFA Champions League were not as impressive, with no goals in 12 appearances. However, he played a crucial role in the club's semi-final victory over Manchester United on May 3, 2007, scoring one of the goals that sealed a 3-0 win and secured Milan's spot in the final against Liverpool. In the final, he played only two minutes after coming on as a substitute for Filippo Inzaghi, who had scored the winning goal in Milan's 2-1 triumph.

Trophies with Italy

Gilardino's international career highlights include representing Italy at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he won a bronze medal. He also played a key role in Italy's victory at the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Additionally, Gilardino holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer for Italy's Under-21 team.

World Cup Victory and International Success

Gilardino was part of Italy's squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He made crucial contributions in the tournament, scoring against the United States in the group stage and providing an assist in the semi-final match against Germany, where he also hit the crossbar in extra time. Gilardino also captained the national team in a friendly match against South Africa in 2007.

Prominent Club Career

After his stint at Milan, Gilardino joined Fiorentina in 2008. He made a significant impact, scoring 19 Serie A goals in his first season and becoming a fan favorite. In 2011, he transferred to Genoa, where he signed a 4.5-year contract. Gilardino has consistently demonstrated his goal-scoring abilities throughout his club career, amassing numerous accolades and achievements.