Gennaro Gattuso

Gennaro Gattuso is married to Monica Romano, a Scottish woman of Italian descent whom he met while playing for Rangers at an exhibition game in Toronto, Canada. They have a daughter named Gabriella and a son named Francesco.

Gennaro Ivan Gattuso was born on January 9, 1978 in the small town of Corigliano Calabro in Calabria, Italy, to Francesco and Costanza Gattuso. He grew up playing football on the beach.

Gennaro Gattuso began his career in the youth academy of Umbrian side, A.C. Perugia Calcio, in 1990 and was offered his first professional contract with the club in the summer of 1995. Despite his promotion to the first team of the club, he played only ten games in the next two years before being transferred to Scottish club Rangers F.C.

After Walter Smith, who brought him to the Scottish club, left the club in 1998, new manager Dick Advocaat, who took Smith's place, played him in out-of-position as a right-back. Despite scoring five goals from 34 matches for the Rangers, he was transferred to newly promoted Serie A club Salernitana for £4 million in October 1998 and had a successful season playing 25 matches.

He caught the attention of A.C. Milan which signed him in the summer of 1999, following which he debuted for the club in a league match against Chelsea on September 15, 1999. Following his promotion to the starting line-up, he played his first Milan-derby match on October 24, 1999 where he demonstrated exceptional maturity and tenacity while facing Inter Milan striker Ronaldo, and earned praise from Milan fans.

Impressed with his ball-winning capacity, Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti used him in a deeper role as a defensive midfielder in an attacking combination with midfield playmaker Andrea Pirlo. This partnership played a crucial role in Milan's domestic and international successes at Coppa Italia, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup in 2003, and the Serie A and Supercoppa Italiana wins in 2004.

His contract with the club was renewed twice during this time in June 2003 and October 2004, and he was part of the Milan team that reached the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final. After playing his 300th game for the club in a Champions League match against Lille on 26 September 2006, his contract was extended for another year.

Gennaro Gattuso was called to the Italy under-18 side for the 1995 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championships in which Italy finished runners-up to Spain.

He represented Italy at the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, which Italy won by defeating Czech Republic in the final.

He made his senior international debut against Sweden on February 23, 2000 and had his first start for Italy against England on November 15, 2000 during which he scored the only goal. He represented Italy at the senior level 73 times, playing in the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004, 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, 2009 Confederations Cup, and the 2010 World Cup.

He played a crucial role in Italy's World Cup win in 2006 and was named the 'Man of the Match' for his performance in their 3–0 victory over Ukraine in the quarter-finals. He took the captain's armband after Fabio Cannavaro was substituted during a friendly against Greece on November 19, 2008.