Cristian Zaccardo

Cristian Zaccardo, Italian orders of merit, (born December 21, 1981 in Formigine, Province of Modena) is a world cup-winning Italy football (soccer) who plays for Serie A team U.S. Città di Palermo and the Italy national football team. He plays primarily as a right full back but is also capable of playing at centre back. He has recently signed a new contract with club Palermo which will keep him at the sicilian club until 2012 despite attracting the attention of other clubs, most notably Internazionale.

One of the best products of the Bologna F.C. 1909 youth system, Zaccardo debuted in the first team in 2001, under the direction of coach Francesco Guidolin, immediately becoming a regular for the rossoblu and Italy's "Under 21" national team. He left Bologna in 2004 to join his former coach Guidolin in Palermo. Zaccardo is best known for knocking in an own goal on his team (Italy) while playing the United States in the FIFA World Cup 2006.