UEFA honours
UEFA European Championship: runner-up 2012
UEFA European Under-19 Championship: winner 2003

• Began his career at AS Livorno Calcio, winning promotion to Serie A in 2003/04 after four seasons in the lower leagues; thereafter joined Juventus, who sold him on to ACF Fiorentina in a part-ownership deal.

• Won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship with Italy in 2003 and appeared at the Olympic Games in Athens the following year; earned selection for the Team of the Tournament at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Netherlands, where he scored two goals (versus England and the Czech Republic) in his four matches.

• Made his senior Azzurri debut while at Fiorentina − in a friendly against Finland on 17 November 2004 − but did not emerge as a regular until three years later, going on to make three appearances at UEFA EURO 2008, including a standout display against eventual winners Spain in the quarter-final.

• Back with Juventus in 2005/06, making his UEFA Champions League bow and winning the Scudetto, which was later revoked due to the sporting fraud scandal; remained with the club following demotion to Serie B and subsequent promotion back to the top flight.

• A Serie A runner-up in 2008/09, he became a tower of strength for both club and country over the next two seasons, enhancing his reputation in UEFA club competition and also starting all three games for the Azzurri at the 2010 FIFA World Cup; helped the Bianconeri win their 28th league title in 2011/12.

• Made five appearances in the Azzurri backline as Italy finished as runners-up to Spain in UEFA EURO 2012.