Cristian Molinaro
Encyclopedia
Cristian Molinaro is an Italian
footballer who plays as a left-back for Bundesliga
club VfB Stuttgart
.
, on 30 July 1983 to Emilio, who is a high school P.E. teacher, and Franca, who is an elementary school teacher and raised in Moio della Civitella, near Salerno. Cristian has two brothers, both of them older than he is: Bartolomeo, a chartered accountant, and Angelo, a humanities teacher. Cristian has a surveyor diploma and naturally his favourite subjects at school were humanities. Molinaro began playing football at age five in the Gelbison team. He always played as a left winger in those days. When he joined Salernitana's youth academy he was moved to left-back.
of Serie B
.
in 2005, he was signed by Juventus F.C.
on free transfer, who immediately loaned him to A.C. Siena
, along with half of the player's rights, for a nominal transfer fees of €500.
championship bought him back for €2.5M and he signed a contract until 2012, as the team lacked a left-back in the previous season after Giorgio Chiellini
moved to central back.
During the 2007–08 Serie A season, his first season at Juventus, Molinaro started in 30 league matches and was a first team regular. He scored one goal. On 28 November 2008, Molinaro extended his deal with Juventus until 2013. After the deal, Molinaro stated, "I am really happy. It means I have earned it. I have been able to fulfil many dreams here at Juventus like playing in the Champions League for example."
In the 2008–09 season, he continued to play as a regular.
and Uruguayan Martín Cáceres
in the summer, Molinaro signed a loan deal with VfB Stuttgart
on 5 January 2010 which initially saw him stay at the club until the end of the 2009–10 season. On 1 June 2010, VfB Stuttgart took advantage of a contract option and signed Molinaro permanently until June 2014. Juventus announced that on 14 June they received €3.9M transfer fees and the deal was completed.
. He made his debut on 10 August 2010, starting in the match against Côte d'Ivoire
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
footballer who plays as a left-back for Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
club VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
.
Early years
Cristian Molinaro was born in Vallo della LucaniaVallo della Lucania
Vallo della Lucania is a town and comune in the province of Salerno in the Campania region of south-western Italy...
, on 30 July 1983 to Emilio, who is a high school P.E. teacher, and Franca, who is an elementary school teacher and raised in Moio della Civitella, near Salerno. Cristian has two brothers, both of them older than he is: Bartolomeo, a chartered accountant, and Angelo, a humanities teacher. Cristian has a surveyor diploma and naturally his favourite subjects at school were humanities. Molinaro began playing football at age five in the Gelbison team. He always played as a left winger in those days. When he joined Salernitana's youth academy he was moved to left-back.
Salernitana
Molinaro started his career at SalernitanaSalernitana Calcio 1919
Salerno Calcio, or simply Salerno is an Italian association football club from Salerno, Campania.The club is not the legitimate heir of the former Salernitana Calcio 1919, but there is however a sports continuity between the two companies thanks to Article 52 NOIF of FIGC, and the fact that they...
of Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
.
Siena
When Salernitana went bankrupt and started again in Serie C1Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
in 2005, he was signed by Juventus F.C.
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
on free transfer, who immediately loaned him to A.C. Siena
A.C. Siena
Associazione Calcio Siena is an Italian football club based in Siena.The club currently plays in Serie A, having gained promotion from Serie B at the end of the 2010-2011 season....
, along with half of the player's rights, for a nominal transfer fees of €500.
Juventus
In June 2007, Juventus which won the Serie BSerie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
championship bought him back for €2.5M and he signed a contract until 2012, as the team lacked a left-back in the previous season after Giorgio Chiellini
Giorgio Chiellini
Giorgio Chiellini is an Italian footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Juventus. He is a centre back, who started his career playing as a left back.-Livorno:...
moved to central back.
During the 2007–08 Serie A season, his first season at Juventus, Molinaro started in 30 league matches and was a first team regular. He scored one goal. On 28 November 2008, Molinaro extended his deal with Juventus until 2013. After the deal, Molinaro stated, "I am really happy. It means I have earned it. I have been able to fulfil many dreams here at Juventus like playing in the Champions League for example."
In the 2008–09 season, he continued to play as a regular.
Stuttgart
With the arrival of Italy international Fabio GrossoFabio Grosso
Fabio Grosso, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Juventus. Grosso is primarily a left wingback, but can also play as left back. He is also a free kick, penalty kick and corner kick specialist...
and Uruguayan Martín Cáceres
Martín Cáceres
José Martín Cáceres Silva is an Uruguayan professional footballer who plays for Sevilla FC in La Liga.His primary position is central defender, but he can also operate at right or left back.-Early years:...
in the summer, Molinaro signed a loan deal with VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
on 5 January 2010 which initially saw him stay at the club until the end of the 2009–10 season. On 1 June 2010, VfB Stuttgart took advantage of a contract option and signed Molinaro permanently until June 2014. Juventus announced that on 14 June they received €3.9M transfer fees and the deal was completed.
International career
Molinaro received his first international call-up on 6 August 2010 under new head coach Cesare PrandelliCesare Prandelli
Cesare Claudio Prandelli is an Italian football coach and former player. He is currently the manager of the Italy national football team.-Playing career:...
. He made his debut on 10 August 2010, starting in the match against Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
.