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PLACE : SAVONA
International Debut 09/07/1994 v Slovenia (drew 1-1)
Christian Panucci's career has been marked by ups and downs but he has saved his best football for when he has played under present coach Fabio Capello. The Italian right-back began his career at AC Milan when Capello was in charge, followed the current AS Roma coach to Real Madrid and is back with his mentor in the eternal city. He was part of a championship-winning team on the first two occasions and just missed out this season. Although he has had his disagreements at Chelsea, Internazionale and Monaco, Panucci, solid in defence and with an eye for goal, has a winner's mentality appreciated by both Capello and Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni. Panucci signed for Roma on loan from Monaco in September 2001 to join up with Fabio Capello ? seemingly the only coach he is able to get on with. Roma president Franco Sensi and Capello had been at loggerheads over the club's failure to land Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro the previous summer and Panucci's signing seemed to be a peace offering from the club supremo.Panucci, however, surprised the Giallorosso fans with a string of impressive performances in the 2001-02 season. He was asked to play at left-back, right-back and at right midfield and constantly did well for the team. His consistency was rewarded with a surprise call-up to the Italy squad after a lengthy absence for the friendly international against the USA in February 2002.Panucci's much-travelled career has seen him play for Genoa, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Internazionale, Chelsea and then Monaco, but the talented right-back has never really settled at any of these clubs.Peculiarly, Panucci came through the youth ranks at Genoa as a centre-forward. When he joined the first-team, though, he was quickly converted into a defender. His athleticism, pace and strength were so impressive that he could play anywhere across the backline.
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