Gianluca Zambrotta

A World Cup winner on the right

Italian defender who rose through the youth ranks at Como and arrived at the club from Juventus. He had just won the World Cup with Italy and was deemed the best full back of the time. A highly competitive player, his game was based on his extraordinary physique, and he played regularly in his two seasons in a blaugrana shirt. Later played for Milan and in 2014 retired at Chiasso in the Swiss league.

Full biography:

Gianluca Zambrotta arrived in Barcelona with the World Cup under his arm. The Italian had won the trophy in Berlin, where Italy beat France on penalties. His success at international level contrasted with his difficulties at his club, Juventus, who had been demoted to Serie B due to a match-fixing scandal. Zambrotta opted to move to Barça in the summer of 2006. In the two seasons that he wore the blaugrana colours he was a regular starter for the team at right back. In total he played 85 games from 2006-07 to 2007-08, the two with Frank Rijkaard on the bench. In the following season, and with the arrival of Guardiola, he signed for Milan where he played for four seasons. He ended up retiring at a small club in the Swiss league, FC Chiasso, in 2014 at the age of 37.

Honours:

1 Spanish Super Cup (2006-2007)

World Cup winner with Italy in 2006

98 international caps for Italy