Luciano Zauri
Encyclopedia
Luciano Zauri is an Italian footballer who plays for Lazio
.
in a 4–0 loss at home to Roma
.
He spent the following season with Chievo Verona before returning to Bergamo
with Atalanta in the 1998–99
season. Zauri then spent the following five seasons with Atalanta, three of which were in Serie A and two in Serie B
.
, was sold to Lazio
, Lazio paid €5.65 million to acquire Zauri. With Lazio, Zauri won the 2003-04 edition of the Coppa Italia.
He became a regular at Lazio and evolved into a leader on the pitch. In January 2007, following the sale of World Cup
winner and captain Massimo Oddo
to Milan
, Zauri was chosen as the new captain.
Zauri played a pivotal role in helping the club reach the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League and scored his first goal in the competition in the 1–1 draw to Olympiacos
. His contract with Lazio expired in the summer of 2007, and then he was offered a new 5-year contract and eventually re-signed with the club.
In the summer of 2008, he was loaned to Fiorentina
with the option to buy out the player. He played all 10 European matches for Viola.
but sometimes moved to left back, likes the 0-2 lost to ACF Fiorentina in September, ahead Reto Ziegler
as left back and Stankevičius as starting right back.
Zauri returned to Lazio on July 1, 2010 and played a few friendlies
for the club, as fullback Aleksandar Kolarov
was sold. Sampdora loaned him in again on the 19 August. As a consequence Marius Stankevičius
was loaned to Valencia
from Genoa.
. He made his Azzurri debut on 5 September 2001 against Morocco
. He then played the first match after the 2002 FIFA World Cup
, a friendly match against Slovenia
. He also played twice at UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying matches as a starter in October 2002. However, after he played the friendly match against Turkey
on 20 November 2002, he never played for Azzurri again, although he was called up to the first match after the 2006 FIFA World Cup
, a friendly match against Croatia
, by new coach Roberto Donadoni
.
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
.
Atalanta
Zauri made his debut in Serie A in the 1996–97 season with AtalantaAtalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
in a 4–0 loss at home to Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
.
He spent the following season with Chievo Verona before returning to Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
with Atalanta in the 1998–99
Serie A 1998-99
AC Milan won their 16th Scudetto, led by coach Alberto Zaccheroni. Lazio finished second, losing the title on the last day. Inter with an often Injured or rested Ronaldo had a disastrous season, finishing in 8th position, whereas Juventus impressive start was cut short by a bad injury to Alessandro...
season. Zauri then spent the following five seasons with Atalanta, three of which were in Serie A and two in 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...
.
Lazio
In 2003, following Atalanta's relegation, Zauri, along with teammate Ousmane DaboOusmane Dabo
Ousmane Dabo is a retired French footballer.He has previously played for Rennes, Internazionale, Vicenza, Parma, Monaco, Atalanta, Lazio, Manchester City and New England Revolution. He has represented France three times at full international level...
, was sold to Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
, Lazio paid €5.65 million to acquire Zauri. With Lazio, Zauri won the 2003-04 edition of the Coppa Italia.
He became a regular at Lazio and evolved into a leader on the pitch. In January 2007, following the sale of World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
winner and captain Massimo Oddo
Massimo Oddo
Massimo Oddo, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Serie A club Lecce, on loan from Milan. He was part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup.-Club career:...
to Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
, Zauri was chosen as the new captain.
Zauri played a pivotal role in helping the club reach the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League and scored his first goal in the competition in the 1–1 draw to Olympiacos
Olympiacos CFP
----Olympiacos Club of Fans of Piraeus, , , transliterated Olympiakos Sindesmos Filathlon Pireos, is the most popular multisport club and the most successful in Greece, based in Piraeus....
. His contract with Lazio expired in the summer of 2007, and then he was offered a new 5-year contract and eventually re-signed with the club.
In the summer of 2008, he was loaned to Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
with the option to buy out the player. He played all 10 European matches for Viola.
Sampdoria
On July 10, 2009, Zauri moved to Sampdoria on a loan deal with the option to buy out the player. He played in the right back position ahead Marius StankevičiusMarius Stankevicius
Marius "StankyLeg" Stankevičius is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays for the Serie A club S.S. Lazio, as a defender . He was the Lithuanian player of the year in 2008 and 2009.-International career:...
but sometimes moved to left back, likes the 0-2 lost to ACF Fiorentina in September, ahead Reto Ziegler
Reto Ziegler
Reto Ziegler is a Swiss footballer who plays for Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe.-Early career:Ziegler was in the summer of 2004 signed by Tottenham Hotspur to a contract initially meant to begin on 1 January 2005, when his contract with Grasshoppers expired...
as left back and Stankevičius as starting right back.
Zauri returned to Lazio on July 1, 2010 and played a few friendlies
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
for the club, as fullback Aleksandar Kolarov
Aleksandar Kolarov
Aleksandar Kolarov is a professional association footballer playing for Premier League side Manchester City and the Serbian national team....
was sold. Sampdora loaned him in again on the 19 August. As a consequence Marius Stankevičius
Marius Stankevicius
Marius "StankyLeg" Stankevičius is a Lithuanian professional footballer who plays for the Serie A club S.S. Lazio, as a defender . He was the Lithuanian player of the year in 2008 and 2009.-International career:...
was loaned to Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
from Genoa.
International career
Zauri has made five appearances with the Italian national teamItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. He made his Azzurri debut on 5 September 2001 against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
. He then played the first match after the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, a friendly match against Slovenia
Slovenia national football team
The Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. The team played their first match in 1992 after the split of Yugoslavia in 1991....
. He also played twice at UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying matches as a starter in October 2002. However, after he played the friendly match against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
on 20 November 2002, he never played for Azzurri again, although he was called up to the first match after the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
, a friendly match against Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
, by new coach Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni
Roberto Donadoni is an Italian football manager and former player, last in charge of Serie A club Cagliari.An attacking midfielder or winger known for pace and technique, he was a pillar of the powerhouse AC Milan teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and one of the pioneers of Major League...
.