• Republic denied by last-gasp Italy Substitute Alberto Gilardino ...

  Portsmouth Today - Found Oct. 10, 2009 Substitute Alberto Gilardino broke Republic of Ireland hearts as a last-gasp equaliser got World Cup holders Italy out of jail following the 2-2 ...

• Are outbursts by coaches acceptable?

  Times Online - Found Nov. 15, 2009 They promptly went two goals down against their unfancied opponents, before a hat-trick from Alberto Gilardino gave them a 3-2 victory.

• Lippi ready for Dutch launchpad

  Soccer365.com - Found Nov. 13, 2009 Palladino, who returns to the side after a two-year absence, will partner Mauro Camoranesi and Alberto Gilardino up front.'I like the idea of... Lippi Expects To See Growth - Orange UK Explore All

  Orange UK

• Italy vs Holland Preview

  ESPN Star - Found Nov. 14, 2009 Genoa's Raffaelle Palladino, who returns to the side after a two-year absence, will partner Mauro Camoranesi and Alberto Gilardino up front.

• Brady talks up Ireland's chances

  Irish Times - Found Nov. 12, 2009 And Brady believes that performance, when only an 89th minute Alberto Gilardino equaliser denied the home side a famous win, shows Giovanni...

• Brady: Republic's Time Has Come

  Orange UK - Found Nov. 12, 2009 However, substitute Alberto Gilardino levelled at the death to secure group victory for Italy and, ultimately, pitch the Republic into battle... Explore All

  Orange UK

• McGeady glad of Irish break as Celtic strife takes its toll

  The Scotsman - Found Nov. 11, 2009 ... and were within added time of securing a famous 2-1 victory at Croke Park last month when substitute Alberto Gilardino rescued the visitors. Celtic?s McGeady glad to escape Glasgow atmosphere - STV.tv Explore All

  STV.tv

• Mental battle key for Ireland says Trapattoni

  The Independent - Found Nov. 11, 2009 Related articles However, substitute Alberto Gilardino snatched a point for the reigning world champions as Marcello Lippi's men hit back in... Google a Flu Shot - ABC News 32 years on, man accused of Capt. Nairac's murder - The Independent Young calls time on England career - The Independent Son speaks out about George Best's downfall - The Independent Explore All

• Italy team at World Cup 2010

  Telegraph - Found Nov. 20, 2009 ... be taking the group to the final round of matches until Alberto Gilardino's decisive late goal. Later, Italy striker Gilardino said: "The game...

• Vargas Edges Viola To Victory

  Orange UK - Found Nov. 8, 2009 De Silvestri headed the ball on towards Alberto Gilardino - who poked the ball wide from close range. Soon after the break, Gilardino's hopeful...

This article's introduction section may not adequately summarize its contents. To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines, please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points. (September 2009)

Alberto Gilardino

Personal information
Date of birth	5 July 1982 (1982-07-05) (age 27)
Place of birth	Biella, Italy
Height	1.84 m (6 ft +1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Fiorentina
Number	11
Youth career
	Piacenza
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2000	Piacenza	17	(9)
2000–2002	Verona	39	(14)
2002–2005	Parma	96	(55)
2005–2008	Milan	94	(40)
2008–	Fiorentina	46	(23)
National team‡
2000–2004	Italy U-21	30	(19)
2004–	Italy	39	(16)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 November 2009. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2009

Alberto Gilardino, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI¹² (born 5 July 1982 in Biella, Piedmont) is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Fiorentina.

Club career

Early years

Gilardino started his career at Piacenza, playing his first match in Serie A in the 1999-2000 season. That first season he made 17 league appearances and scored 3 goals.

"Gila", as he is often nicknamed, was sold to Verona in 2000, scoring only five goals in his two seasons at the club where he made 39 league appearances.

Parma

His career was launched on the international stage in 2002, after he transferred to Parma on the explicit request of former Verona coach Cesare Prandelli. Gilardino scored five goals in his first season, and netted 23 times in his second season. That total in the 2003-04 campaign made him the second-most prolific Serie A scorer. The success in club level and U-21 level earned him a contract extension until June 2007.³ He repeated this feat in 2004-05, scoring another 23 goals and finishing as the second-best scorer in Serie A once again. He scored 50 goals for Parma in only 96 appearances in Serie A.

Milan

He made an estimated €24 million transfer to A.C. Milan on 17 July 2005.⁴ Though he scored 17 domestic goals for Milan, he failed to find his offensive form in Milan's 2005-06 Champions League campaign, going goal-less in all 12 matches.⁵ Gilardino's European offensive output the next season was equally disappointing, with only two goals. One of his two goals, though, helped Milan seal a decisive 3-0 win over Manchester United in the second leg of the semi-finals on 3 May 2007, which put them back into the Champions League final and set up a rematch with Liverpool. He played only two minutes as a substitute for Filippo Inzaghi in Milan's 2-1 victory. Gilardino led Milan in 2006-07 Serie A scoring with 12 goals; no other Milan player hit double figures.

Gilardino contributed a brace in Milan's 5-1 defeat of Lazio on 7 October 2007 (which marked his first domestic goal following a double in Milan's 5-2 victory over Ascoli on 18 April), and likewise for his first Champions League scores of the season in a 4-1 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on 24 October.

Fiorentina

Gilardino during a 3-0 loss to Lazio on September 24, 2008.

On 25 May 2008, Fiorentina sporting director Pantaleo Corvino confirmed that a deal to sign Gilardino from Milan had been completed.[1] On 28 May 2008, the deal was confirmed; Gilardino moved for €15 million and signed a five-year deal. Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli previously guided Gilardino when the pair were with Parma. His first goal with the Violas arrived in the first leg of the third qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League 2008–09 against Slavia Prague, where he scored the second goal of the match. On 31 August, Gilardino scored on his Serie A debut against Juventus in the 89th minute to tie the game at 1–1. In the successive league match, he supplied an assist to Adrian Mutu to open the score in the match against Napoli, but Fiorentina still finished on the losing side by suffering a 1–2 defeat at the Stadio San Paolo. In the first match from the Champions League group stages against the French of Olympique Lyonnais, he scored two goals in the first half to give Fiorentina a two-goal cushion, only to be cancelled by two second-half goals from Frédéric Piquionne and Karim Benzema. Gilardino finished the 2008-09 season with 19 Seria A goals and was instantly beloved by the Viola faithful. Among the highlights of his season was a double against Roma and an astonishing tight angle shot against Genoa while being marked by three defenders.⁶

International career

Gilardino played with Italy in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, winning the bronze medal. He also led Italy's Under 21 team to victory in the 2004 European Under-21 Football Championship.

Gilardino is currently the all-time top scorer for the Italy National Under-21 team.

He was a member of the Italy squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He played in the first two matches, scoring a goal against the United States with a diving header, then coming on as a substitute in the semifinal match against Germany, hitting the post in extra time and providing the pass for Alessandro Del Piero's stoppage-time goal that sealed the Azzurri's 2-0 victory.

On 17 October 2007, Gilardino assumed the team captaincy for the first time in his international career after Daniele De Rossi was substituted during Italy's 2-0 friendly win over South Africa. He returned to the national team on 20 August, 2008 and scored the first of Italy's two goals in an international friendly against Austria, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

In June 2009, Marcello Lippi called Gilardino up for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. Gilardino played a friendly match against New Zealand in Pretoria, South Africa days before Italy's first match, netting two goals and displaying a wonderful performance.

Olympic medal record
Competitor for  Italy
Men's Football
Bronze	2004 Athens	Team Competition

On 10th October 2009, Gilardino scored what he describes as the most important goal of his career so far, scoring in the 89th minute against Ireland. This enabled them (Italy) for the 2010 World Cup to try and defend the title they won in 2006.

On 14th October 2009, Gilardino scored a hat trick in the final 13 minutes of the game against Cyprus to cap a 3-2 victory for Italy.

Honours

Club

• UEFA Champions League: 1
  • 2006-07
• UEFA Super Cup: 1
  • 2007
• FIFA Club World Cup: 1
  • 2007

National team

• FIFA World Cup: 1
  • 2006
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1
  • 2004

Individual

• Serie A Footballer of the Year: 1
  • 2005
• Italian Footballer of the Year: 1
  • 2005
• Serie A Young Footballer of the Year: 1
  • 2004
• UEFA European Under-21 Championship Golden Player: 1
  • 2004

Career statistics

Correct as of May 17, 2009.

¹European Competitions include the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
²Other Tournaments include the FIFA Club World Cup and Italy national under-21 football team.

International goals

Alberto Gilardino international goals. ⁷

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	October 13, 2004	Parma, Italy	Belarus	4–3	Win	FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualification
2.	February 9, 2005	Cagliari, Italy	Russia	2–0	Win	Friendly
3.	August 17, 2005	Dublin, Ireland	Republic of Ireland	1–2	Win	Friendly
4.	October 12, 2005	Lecce, Italy	Moldova	2–1	Win	FIFA World Cup 2006 Qualification
5.	November 12, 2005	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Netherlands	1–3	Win	Friendly
6.	March 1, 2006	Florence, Italy	Germany	4–1	Win	Friendly
7.	April 30, 2006	Geneva, Switzerland	Switzerland	1–1	Draw	Friendly
8.	June 17, 2006	Kaiserslautern, Germany	United States	1–1	Draw	FIFA World Cup 2006
9.	September 6, 2006	Saint-Denis, France	France	1–3	Loss	UEFA Euro 2008 Qualification
10.	August 20, 2008	Nice, France	Austria	2–2	Draw	Friendly
11.	June 10, 2009	Pretoria, South Africa	New Zealand	4–3	Win	Friendly
12.	June 10, 2009	Pretoria, South Africa	New Zealand	4–3	Win	Friendly
13.	October 10, 2009	Dublin, Ireland	Republic of Ireland	2–2	Draw	FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualification
14.	October 14, 2009	Parma, Italy	Cyprus	1–2	Win	FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualification
15.	October 14, 2009	Parma, Italy	Cyprus	2–2	Win	FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualification
16.	October 14, 2009	Parma, Italy	Cyprus	3–2	Win	FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualification

Personal life

• When he scores, he often celebrates "playing the violin" – he gets down on his knees and imitates a violinist.
• Gilardino is close friends with former Milan teammate Daniele Bonera; they were also teammates at Parma. Gilardino once dedicated one of his goals to Daniele's baby daughter Talitha.
• Gilardino became engaged to Alice Bregoli on 31 March 2006⁸ and had their first baby, a girl Ginevra, on 2 March 2008.
• He was born the day of Italy’s 3-2 group stage victory over Brazil in the 1982 World Cup, which was ultimately won by Italy.
• Gilardino was featured on an episode of the hit Italian show Scherzi a Parte, which has a similar premise to the American show Punk'd.

References

External links

• Profile at ACF Fiorentina official site
• (Italian) National Team stats at FIGC official site
• FootballDatabase.com provides Gilardino's profile and stats
• Fan site
• Profile at calcio57.com
• Alberto Gilardino FIFA competition record

Alberto Gilardino - Navigation boxes and awards v • d • e Italy squad – 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalists 1 Pelizzoli • 2 Chiellini • 3 Moretti • 4 Ferrari • 5 Bonera • 6 De Rossi • 7 Pinzi • 8 Palombo • 9 Gilardino • 10 Pirlo • 11 Sculli • 12 Gasbarroni • 13 Barzagli • 14 Bovo • 15 Donadel • 16 Del Nero • 17 Mesto • 18 Amelia • Coach: Gentile v • d • e Italy squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup Winners (4th title) 1 Buffon • 2 Zaccardo • 3 Grosso • 4 De Rossi • 5 Cannavaro • 6 Barzagli • 7 Del Piero • 8 Gattuso • 9 Toni • 10 Totti • 11 Gilardino • 12 Peruzzi • 13 Nesta • 14 Amelia • 15 Iaquinta • 16 Camoranesi • 17 Barone • 18 Inzaghi • 19 Zambrotta • 20 Perrotta • 21 Pirlo • 22 Oddo • 23 Materazzi • Coach: Lippi v • d • e Italy squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup 1 Buffon • 2 Santon • 3 Grosso • 4 Chiellini • 5 Cannavaro • 6 Legrottaglie • 7 Pepe • 8 Gattuso • 9 Toni • 10 De Rossi • 11 Gilardino • 12 De Sanctis • 13 Gamberini • 14 Amelia • 15 Iaquinta • 16 Camoranesi • 17 Rossi • 18 Palombo • 19 Zambrotta • 20 Montolivo • 21 Pirlo • 22 Dossena • 23 Quagliarella • Coach: Lippi v • d • e Serie A Footballer of the Year 1997: Mancini | 1998: Ronaldo | 1999: Vieri | 2000: Totti | 2001: Zidane | 2002: Trezeguet | 2003: Nedvěd & Totti | 2004: Kaká | 2005: Gilardino | 2006: Cannavaro | 2007: Kaká | 2008: Ibrahimović v • d • e Serie A Young Footballer of the Year 1997: Inzaghi | 1998: Nesta | 1999: Totti | 2000: Baronio | 2001: Cassano | 2002: Brighi | 2003: Cassano | 2004: Gilardino | 2005: Pazzini | 2006: De Rossi | 2007: Montolivo | 2008: Hamšík v • d • e Italian Footballer of the Year 1997: Mancini | 1998: Del Piero | 1999: Vieri | 2000: Totti | 2001: Totti | 2002: Vieri | 2003: Totti | 2004: Totti | 2005: Gilardino | 2006: Cannavaro | 2007: Totti | 2008: Del Piero