A consistent, authoritative defensive midfielder with a ferocious long-range shot, Marco Donadel has been an ACF Fiorentina player since 2005, when he joined the Viola from AC Milan following a succession of loan moves. He was the captain of Italy's 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championship-winning team.

• Came through the youth ranks at Milan and made Serie A debut in March 2001 aged 17 but struggled to make first-team breakthrough and was despatched on season-long loan to US Lecce in 2002/03.

• Helped Lecce win promotion to Serie A but spent 2003/04 campaign on loan at Parma FC, where Cesare Prandelli was the coach and Alberto Gilardino the main striker.

• Despite representative successes in 2004 - with the Azzurrini in Germany, where he played all five matches for Claudio Gentile's triumphant team, and at Athens Olympic Games, where he won a bronze medal – he was sent out on loan again, to UC Sampdoria.

• Reunited with Prandelli at Fiorentina in 2005 and became a mainstay of team, reaching UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 2007/08 and helping club to successive fourth-place finishes in next two Serie A campaigns.

• Just one UEFA Champions League appearance in 2008/09 but all six in 2009/10 group stage (four from start) as Fiorentina qualified for last 16 as group winners.

Did you know?
Donadel was born in Conegliano, the birthplace of Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero.