Rodrigo Taddei

Football player infobox
playername = Rodrigo Taddei


fullname = Rodrigo Ferrante Taddei
height = height|m=1.77
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1980|3|6|df=y
cityofbirth = São Paulo
countryofbirth = Brazil
currentclub = AS Roma
clubnumber = 11
position = Right winger, Attacking Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2000-2002 2002-2005 2005-
clubs = Palmeiras Siena AS Roma
caps(goals) = 25 (1) 74 (14) 91 (19)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = April 18, 2008
ntupdate =

Rodrigo Ferrante Taddei (born March 6 1980 in São Paulo) is an Italo-Brazilian footballer who currently plays for AS Roma in the Italian Serie A. He plays as a right midfielder or attacking midfielder well known for his dribbling, versatility and footballing brain.

Club career

He started his career in Brazil with Palmeiras, then moving to Italy in September 2002 and signing for A.C. Siena, a Serie B team at the time. He was one of their stars and helped the Tuscan team earn promotion to Serie A.

However, in late 2003, Taddei was fighting for his life, after he was hurt in a serious car accident. His younger brother, Leonardo, died in the accident and his team mate Pinga was also hurt. After recovering from the accident, Taddei went back to play for Siena, helping his team to avoid relegation.

After another season with Siena, characterized by several quarrels with the presidency because of his refusal to a contract extension, Taddei left on a Bosman free transfer and joined AS Roma in 2005. This was despite being followed by several major european clubs including Juventus, Lazio and Inter Milan plus a number of English Premier League clubs.Fact|date=November 2007

Joining Roma has now offered him the chance to perform on the European stage, he has contributed vastly to their good performances, supplying Roma with skill, pace, and technique on the flanks. Taddei scored the important opening goal in Roma's 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the first leg of the 2007 Champions League quarter finals. Unfortunately, Taddei was injured in the warm up of the second leg, and was ruled out of the match.

Rodrigo Taddei has become well-known for his footballing piece of magic performed in a Champions League group stage match against Olympiacos FC on October 18 2006 which he later called "The Aurelio" after AS Roma assistant manager, Aurelio Andreazzoli. [ [http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct21e.html channel4.com - Football Italia ] ]

He is considered a key player by A.S. Roma manager Luciano Spalletti. The Tuscan manager has often publicly admitted Taddei's fundamental role within his squad, as the Brazilian unites technique, great knowledge of the game, perfect positioning, but most of all, an incredible amount of devotion seeing how he runs constantly throughout the match in an almost unstoppable manner. The fans commonly refer to him as one of those players who possesses 4 lungs instead of 2. A sympathetic way to recognize his extraordinary (almost supernatural) work throughout each and every match, which surpasses that of a number of his teammate's.

Roma supporters recognize his extraordinary devotion. Taddei is also known for his common celebration with which he celebrates each goal. He puts his hand under his shirt, over his heart and moves it back and forth to provide the illusion of his heart beating. A way to show his great devotion to the Roma colors, and to show exactly how much each goal for the "giallorossi" truly means to him. Although, it originated from the death of his brother which he inevitably found hard to overcome, and with which he wishes to remember him.

International career

Taddei, who also owns Italian citizenship, has never been capped by the Brazil national football team. This could allow him to play for Italy. However, he has stated publicly that he would not be interested in taking a position on the squad from a native-born Italian. [ [http://www.footballitaliano.tv/amauri%E2%80%99s-patriot-act-871/ Five - Football Italiano] ]

Honours

*Coppa Italia(Italian Cup): 2007, 2008 (A.S. Roma)
*Supercoppa Italiana (Italian Super Cup): 2007 (A.S. Roma)
*Runner-up Supercoppa Italiana (Italian Super Cup): 2006 (A.S. Roma)
*Runner-up Coppa Italia (Italian Cup):2006 (A.S. Roma)
*Runner-up Serie A: 2006,2007,2008 (A.S. Roma)
*Momentary Italian Record of 11 consecutive victories in the Serie A (A.S. Roma)

External links

References