Francesco Toldo

Francesco Toldo (born December 2, 1971 in Padua, Italy) is an Italy football (soccer) goalkeeper, who currently plays for F.C. Internazionale Milano.

Club

Toldo came up with A.C. Milan; however, he never played a game with the club. Instead, the Italian giants loaned him out to Trentino Calcio 1921 and Ravenna Calcio from 1991 to 1993. Toldo then joined ACF Fiorentina, and became the club's starter for eight seasons, winning the Coppa Italia twice, and playing a UEFA Champions League for the Viola. After Fiorentina faced bankruptcy, he transferred to F.C. Internazionale Milano in 2001, where he was the number one until the summer of 2005, when Brazilian keeper Júlio César Soares Espíndola relegated Toldo to the bench after Toldo elected to sit out Inter's summer friendly match tour of England. He regained the position of first choice keeper in February 2006 following his signing of a contract extension and a slip in form by César, not before rumours linked him both to U.S. Città di Palermo, A.C. Milan, and Fiorentina. The extension will keep him under contract with Inter until 2009.

National team

As of the end of 2004, Toldo has been cap (football) 28 times for Italy national football team. Despite facing competition from high profile keepers such as Gianluca Pagliuca, Angelo Peruzzi, and Gianluigi Buffon, Toldo was chosen to start in 2000 European Football Championship as Buffon broke his hand in a friendly match against Norway just eight days before the tournament started. Toldo helped his country to finish runner up behind France national football team. During the semi-final against the home team of Netherlands national football team, Toldo saved one penalty during the match and two during the shootout. In the final however he failed to save a crucial shot by Sylvain Wiltord as the game was nearing to a close with Italy ahead by one. France won in extra time with a goal by David Trézéguet.

He was an unused reserve in Italy's 1996 European Football Championship, Football World Cup 1998, Football World Cup 2002, and 2004 European Football Championship squads.