Name	Nicola Legrottaglie
Height	6′1"
Naionality	Italian
Date of Birth	October 20, 1976
Place of Birth	Gioia del Colle, Italy
Famous for

Nicola Legrottaglie (born 20 October 1976 in Gioia del Colle, Province of Bari) is an Italians Association football who plays as a defender for Serie A club Juventus F.C..

Early career
Legrottaglie began Nicola Legrottaglie career with A.S. Bari back in 1994 before moving to A.C. Pistoiese and A.C. Prato. In 1998, Nicola Legrottaglie joined A.C. ChievoVerona and, after loan spells with A.C. Reggiana 1919 and Modena F.C., returned to Chievo upon the side's Serie A 2001-02 in Serie A. .

Juventus
In the 2003 season, Nicola Legrottaglie was rewarded for being one of the top defenders in Chievo with a move to Turin giants Juventus. Juventus paid €7.55million to Chievo, which €0.45million was paid by selling half of registration rights of Giuseppe Sculli, Matteo Paro and Daniele Gastaldello.

Legrottaglie was a full member of the squad in the Serie A 2003-04, playing 21 games and scoring twice. However, new coach Fabio Capello did not provide Nicola Legrottaglie with any playing time the following year, and Legrottaglie had to move on loan to Bologna F.C. 1909 in the 2005 January transfer window (nine games plus relegation play-offs).

After that Nicola Legrottaglie returned to Juventus, only to be loaned out to A.C. Siena for Serie A 2005-06, together with Igor Tudor and some youth players. Nicola Legrottaglie was expected to play a role in Serie B 2006-07, as Juventus looked for experienced players to get them back up to the topflight, following the Calciopoli match fixing scandal. Legrottaglie ended up playing in only 10 games out of 42, with the addition of a red card (sports).

In Serie A 2007-08, Legrottaglie started where Nicola Legrottaglie left off the previous season - on the substitutes' bench. However, after the serious injury suffered by new signing Jorge Andrade, Nicola Legrottaglie was promoted to the starting eleven for the game against Reggina Calcio on September 26, scoring the opener in a 4-0 routing. Until the season's end, Legrottaglie paired with Giorgio Chiellini in central defense, as Juventus allowed only 9 goals in 14 games since Andrade's injury, finishing the season in third place.

Nicola Legrottaglie contract ran originally run until summer 2008 but, in October 2007, due to Nicola Legrottaglie excellent form, was awarded a 2-year extension.

In the 2008-2009 season, Nicola Legrottaglie continued to feature in the starting 11 despite the arrival of Olof Mellberg to Juventus. In September 2008, Nicola Legrottaglie signed a new contract which last until June 2011.

International career
On November 20, 2002, Legrottaglie made Nicola Legrottaglie Italy national football team debut, in a friendly match with Turkey national football team, in Pescara, and went on to appear in a further six matches in a one-year span, mostly friendlies.

Following Nicola Legrottaglie performances at Juventus, Legrottaglie received Nicola Legrottaglie first cap (football) in four years, appearing in a friendly against Austria national football team, filling in for injured teammate Chiellini in an August 18, 2008 contest held in Nice.

Personal life
Legrotttaglie achieved a regular Surveyor diploma and the subject Nicola Legrottaglie preferred at school was English.

Nicola Legrottaglie is known as one of the most religious Italian football players saying that Nicola Legrottaglie favorite book is The Holy Bible, which Nicola Legrottaglie credits to having helped Nicola Legrottaglie rediscover the joy of living and love for Nicola Legrottaglie fellow man.

Legrotttaglie has come out strongly against homosexuality, calling it a "sin" and a "fashion".