Name	Daniele De Rossi
Height	6' 1"
Naionality	Italian
Date of Birth	24 July 1983
Place of Birth	Lido di Ostia, Italy
Famous for

Daniele De Rossi, Cavaliere (July 24, 1983) is an Italian footballer who plays for AS Roma. Among his titles, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, and the bronze medal gained at 2004 Athens Olympic Games, all with the Italy national football team, are the most prestigious.

He is a strong midfielder who can play in both defensive and attacking position; his playing style is often compared to Steven Gerrard's one.

Career
De Rossi, born in Rome and a product of the A.S. Roma youth system (where his father, former Roma player Alberto De Rossi, is a coach), made his first-team debut in October 2001 against Belgian side RSC Anderlecht in the UEFA Champions League. He made his Serie A debut on 3 May 2003; his first Serie A start, and his first goal, came one week later against Torino Calcio.

After graduating from the A.S. Roma youth set-up, De Rossi has gradually become a key midfield player for the club. Strong, with good vision on the ball and a combative mentality, De Rossi won the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and in the same year collected a bronze medal with the Italy national football team at the Athens Olympics.A few weeks after returning from Greece, De Rossi earned his first cap in the senior squad, scoring on his debut in the 2006 FIFA World Cupâ„¢ qualifying game against Norway (2-1).

De Rossi was praised by referee Mauro Bergonzi after he had scored a goal with his hand in a match against Messina. Bergonzi allowed the goal until De Rossi showed a great piece of fair play when admitting to the referee that he had pushed the ball in with his hand, the goal was disallowed and Roma went on to win 2-1.

De Rossi was named to the Italian national team in 2006. During a 2006 FIFA World Cup group play match against the United States, De Rossi received a straight red card after he elbowed Brian McBride in the face. McBride left the pitch bloodied, but returned after treatment and later required three stitches. De Rossi later apologized to McBride (who subsequently praised De Rossi as "classy" for approaching him after the match). [1] De Rossi was banned for four matches and fined CHF 10,000.[2]

De Rossi returned for Italy in the final, coming on as a substitute on the 61st minute for Roma team mate Francesco Totti. In the penalty shoot-out at the end of the match (which finished 1-1) De Rossi scored Italy's third penalty to help his country win their fourth FIFA World Cup.

De Rossi has played in all of Italy's Euro 2008 qualifying games thus far, scoring a goal against Georgia, he even has been given the honour of wearing the number 10 shirt since team mate Francesco Totti has not returned to the Azzurri since the World Cup final.

De Rossi is also known for is powerful right foot; he has scored many goals from a distance. Numerous pundits have declared De Rossi the future and next superstar for the Italian national team and also Roma; this hope was renewed when he has been nominated Best Young Player of the Serie A in 2006 Oscar del Calcio.

International
De Rossi has capped 25 times for the Italian National Team and was a member of the 2006 World Cup Champion squad. At only 23 years old, he should be a prominent member of the Azzurri for years to come and lead a new age of Azzurri members, with the careers of several older members of the team coming to an end.

Personal
Married Tamara Pisnoli, the mother of his daughter Gaia and ex-ballerina of Mediaset, Sarabanda on May 18, 2006.
source: wikipedia.org
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