Christian Maggio

Christian Maggio

200px Maggio with Italy in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Christian Maggio
Date of birth	(1982-02-11) 11 February 1982
Place of birth	Montecchio Maggiore, Italy
Height
Position(s)	Right back / Wing-back
Team information
Current team	Napoli
Number	11
Youth career
1997–2000	Vicenza
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2003	Vicenza	38	(1)
2003–2006	Fiorentina	56	(2)
2006	→ Treviso (loan)	11	(0)
2006–2008	Sampdoria	60	(11)
2008–	Napoli	213	(20)
International career‡
2000–2001	Italy U18	5	(1)
2000–2002	Italy U20	24	(3)
2002	Italy U21	2	(0)
2008–2014	Italy	34	(0)
Medal record Representing Italy Association football UEFA Euro Poland & Ukraine 2012 FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:19, 21 February 2016 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 March 2014

Christian Maggio (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkristjan ˈmaddʒo]; born 11 February 1982) is an Italian footballer who plays as a right back for Serie A club Napoli and Italian national team. A dynamic and tenacious right sided player with an eye for goal, Maggio has been deployed as an attacking-minded fullback/wingback, although his preferred role is that of right-sided wide midfielder/winger in a 3-5-2 formation, which allows him to make attacking runs. Due to his composure, pace, positioning, anticipation and stamina, he is capable of aiding his team both offensively and defensively. Maggio is a strong, athletic player, who is effective in the air; he also possesses reliable technique, tackling, tactical intelligence, crossing ability, and distribution.

Club career

Vicenza

Maggio began his career at Vicenza making his Serie A debut in the 2000–2001 season, finishing the campaign with six appearances. However, despite some success on a personal level, Vicenza were subsequently relegated to Serie B at the end of the season. Maggio stayed with Vicenza until 2003, making 38 appearances in total while managing to score just 1 goal. Half of the registration rights was also sold to Parma in June 2002 for 4 billion lire (€2.066 million) (undisclosed cash plus Paolo Guastalvino) In June 2003 the co-ownership deal was renewed.

Fiorentina

In 2003, Maggio signed for ACF Fiorentina from Parma. In June 2004 Fiorentina acquired another half from Vicenza. Maggio appeared regularly for Fiorentina until they were promoted from Serie B for the 2004–2005 season. He played 13 times in 2005–06 Serie A and only 3 times in 2006–07 Serie A. Overall, Maggio played 56 games for The Viola, scoring 2 goals over a 4-year period, including spend 1.5 seasons on loan. Maggio was loaned to Sampdoria for €150,000 in 2006–07 season. At the end of loan Sampdoria signed him in another co-ownership deal for €1.5 million.

Sampdoria

However, it was not until Maggio signed for U.C. Sampdoria that he began to fulfil the potential he had shown when playing for Italy at youth level. Some very impressive performances during the 2007–2008 season resulted in nine goals from twenty-nine appearances. At the end of season Sampdoria acquired another half for €1.95 million. He was immediately re-sold to Napoli for €8 million.

Napoli

During his time at Napoli he has continued to perform consistently. 18 October 2009 saw Maggio score a 90th-minute goal to help seal a 2–1 comeback victory over Bologna, as Fabio Quagliarella had scored a late equalizer for the hosts. Maggio continued his good form as he scored the only goal of the game on 25 October, helping Napoli defeat Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. On 24 January 2010 Maggio scored a wonderful volley against Livorno. He took up a position near the corner of the penalty area as a long cross-field pass descended towards him. As this raking pass came across his body from his left shoulder he volleyed it first time, with great power, swerving over the goalkeeper into the top corner.

On 6 December 2010, Maggio scored a last gasp goal which saw Napoli secure all three points in a 1–0 defeat of Palermo. Maggio usually functions as a right midfielder/winger for Napoli since they play in a 3–4–2–1 formation. He had played at right back for the majority of his career. However, since he started playing on the wing, his quality has improved and he is arguably better as a right winger rather than a right back considering his greatly improved attacking skills.

File:Christian Maggio and Ashley Young England-Italy Euro 2012.jpg

Maggio battling England's Ashley Young for the ball during their quarterfinal match-up at Euro 2012

During the 2011–12 season, he had many great performances and improved his attacking abilities, netting three goals and providing five assists in 33 league games for Napoli. Maggio provided assists for two of his side's goals in their enthralling 3–3 draw with Juventus on 29 November 2011. In the second leg of Napoli's Round of 16 tie with eventual winners Chelsea, Maggio limped off the field in the 37th minute with an injury. Napoli eventually lost 5–4 on aggregate after extra time, as Maggio missed the next seven games and his side only won once. He helped his team to win the 2011–12 Coppa Italia that season over Serie A champions Juventus; this was Napoli's first trophy since 1990, under Maradona. His performances led to him being named in 2011–12 Serie A Team of the Season, the first such honour of his career.

International career

Called up by Marcello Lippi, he made his debut with the Italian national team on 19 November 2008, in a friendly match against Greece, coming on as a substitute for Mauro Camoranesi in the 61st minute. He took part at the 2010 World Cup, where he played in the third group stage match, as the back up of Gianluca Zambrotta.

Under new head coach Cesare Prandelli he became a regular in the right back position, and he took part at the UEFA Euro 2012. Maggio appeared in the first two group games for Italy at the Euros, a 1–1 draw with holders Spain and another 1–1 draw with Croatia. Maggio also appeared in Italy's 4–2 penalty shootout victory over England in the quarterfinals, as Italy progressed to the final losing 4–0 to group rivals Spain. Maggio also participated in the 2013 Confederations Cup for Italy, where he helped the Italians to finish in third place.

He was named in the provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but was one of seven players cut from the final squad, after missing much of the previous season due to injury.

Honours

Club

Napoli

• Coppa Italia: 2011–12, 2013–14
• Supercoppa Italiana (1): 2014

International

Italy

• UEFA European Championship: Runner-up 2012
• FIFA Confederations Cup: Third Place 2013

Individual

• Oscar del Calcio (3):

Serie A Team of the Year: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13

External links

• Player profile on Napoli's official website
• FIFA Profile