Marco Biagianti

Marco Biagianti

Personal information
Full name	Marco Biagianti
Date of birth	14 April 1984 (1984-04-14) (age 27)
Place of birth	Florence, Italy
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Catania
Number	27
Youth career
2002–2003	Fiorentina
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2003–2004	→ Fano (loan)	30	(0)
2004–2005	→ Chieti (loan)	27	(1)
2005–2006	Pro Vasto	44	(1)
2006–	Catania	106	(3)
National team‡
2009–	Italy	0	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 October 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 7 October 2011

Marco Biagianti (born 14 April 1984 in Florence) is an Italian footballer who currently plays for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A, and on July 9, 2011, was assigned captaincy of the club.

Club Career

ACF Fiorentina

Biagianti began his career with former Serie A giants ACF Fiorentina, in 2002, during the club's financial troubles that led to their relegation to the Serie C2. After spending his early career with the club's youth system, the central midfielder was promoted to the first team for the 2003–2004 season, but was instantly loaned out to Serie C2 side Fano Calcio. During his first full season as a professional footballer, Biagianti managed 30 first team appearances, and returned to Florence for the start of the 2004–2005 season. However, Fiorentina again opted to loan the youngster out, and he joined A.S.D. Chieti, who were playing in the Serie C1 at the time. In his lone season with Chieti, Biagianti made 26 league appearances and scored a single goal. It was his first professional goal. Following his return to Tuscany, after the second loan deal expired, Biagianti was surprisingly sold to another third division club, in the form of F.C. Pro Vasto.

Pro Vasto

In August 2005, Biagianti officially transferred to F.C. Pro Vasto of the Italian Serie C1. He made a total of 31 league starts, and scored 1 league goal, but it was not enough to save his club from relegation to the Serie C2. He started the new season as a regular starter and racked up 15 appearances in all competitions, before transferring to Serie A club, Calcio Catania in January 2006.

Calcio Catania

Biagianti was scouted by Catania chief, Pierto Lo Monaco in 2005, and negotiations began in December 2005, and led to his January transfer to the Sicilian club. In his first half-season with Catania, Biagianti made just 2 league appearances, but in his second season, became a more integral part of the team. He appeared in over 20 mathces in all competitions, during the 2007–2008 season, and earned a guaranteed starting place for the 2008–2009 season, under then-coach Walter Zenga. Biagianti made 34 Serie A appearances alone, and helped Catania to safely avoid relegation concerns. Biagianti maintained his status as a starter during the 2009–10 Serie A campaign and went on to make 36 league appearances, appearing more than any other player in the first team. He also managed to score 3 league goals, helping lead Catania to a 12th place league finish, a record high points total for the club in Serie A and to a quarter final position in the Coppa Italia. Since joining Calcio Catania he has been one of their most influential players. Because of his superb performances, Biagianti has been linked with moves to Serie A giants A.C. Milan, Juventus, Fiorentina, and A.S. Roma, but despite these rumours Biagianti has reiterated his desire to remain in Sicily. Biagianti, unfortunately missed much of the Serie A 2010-11 campaign due to injury, and made just 13 appearances, his fewest in a season with the Sicilians since his first at the club. The club did however reach a record points total in a Serie A season for a third consecutive season. On July 9, 2011, Biagianti was assigned captaincy at the club.

International career

On May 29, 2009 Biagianti received his first call up to the Italian national football team as he was named in the squad for the friendly against Northern Ireland that took place on June 6, 2009. Also named in the squad was teammate Giuseppe Mascara. Biagianti remained on the bench for that game, however. Biagianti was linked with a possible place in Marcello Lippi's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but eventually failed to make the 23-man roster chosen by Lippi.

External links

• Gazzetta Dello Sports player profile
• http://www.marcobiagianti.fan-club.it
• http://www.goal.com
• http://www.transfermarketweb.com

Persondata
Name	Biagianti, Marco
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	14 April 1984
Place of birth	Florence, Italy
Date of death
Place of death