Federico Balzaretti

Balzaretti began his playing career at the age of 6 for hometown club Torino, playing in the various youth teams. He soon gained a reputation as an athletic wing-back with enormous potential, and was soon loaned out to provincial sides Varese and Siena between 1999 and 2002.[2] A local, Balzaretti identified with the supporters and shortly became a symbol for Torino supporters, kissing the badge under the curva at the end of games.[2]

In 2004–05, he was heavily involved in the campaign for promotion, which brought the team back to Serie A. However, the promotion, achieved on the field, was lost during the difficult pre-season retreat after the bankruptcy of Torino Calcio. Balzaretti, as all the other players, were released and allowed to come to agreements with other teams.

On 15 August 2005, Balzaretti was signed by cross-city rivals Juventus on a free transfer.[2] "It was a hard decision," Balzaretti said.[2] "But I only moved to Juve because I was promised I would stay and not be sold. I can't lie that the thought of staying in Turin, my home, was a big factor." His first wife, Jessica, was then pregnant with daughter Lucretia, influencing his stay in Piedmont. The move was interpreted as an act of betrayal by the Torino faithful (Balzaretti, having previously sworn eternal love for his former club)[3] which have, ever since, booed and insulted him whenever he returns to Turin.[4]

In 2005–06 he was part of the first team for the bianconeri, often playing as regular under orders of coach Fabio Capello, and finally winning the Serie A league. His first ever senior goal came on 17 February 2007, in Serie B, as Juventus beat Crotone 5–0.

Balzaretti at Fiorentina

Balzaretti was sold to Fiorentina in July 2007 for €3.8 million fee,[5] but failed to adjust with the Viola as he made only six appearances in the first half of the Serie A 2007-08, and was subsequently signed by Palermo on a 3½-year contract in a permanent move (loan with an option to buy according to financial report) during the January transfer market,[6] also for €3.8m (€1.27m for loan[7] plus €2.53m[8]).

At Palermo, Balzaretti took the #42 jersey as a homage to his father, who was born in 1942; in his tenure with the Sicilian side, he immediately established himself as a mainstay, playing regularly for the rosanero also in the following seasons and establishing as one of the most praised Italian left backs.

In January 2010, Balzaretti signed a new 3½-year contract.[9]

Balzaretti warming up prior to a friendly game against Chelsea

On 1 August 2012, Balzaretti signed a three-year contract with Roma, for a fee of €4.5 million.[10] He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Catania, during the 2012–13 season.[11] He scored his first goal for Roma in the Derby della capitale match against Lazio, on 22 September 2013; Roma won the game 2–0.[12] During his second season at the club, however, Balzaretti suffered a severe case of athletic pubalgia following Roma's match against Sassuolo, on 10 November 2013, which threatened to end his career; due to the pain in his pelvis, he had to undergo several operations.[13] He finally returned to the pitch on the final match of the 2014–15 season, in a 2–1 home defeat to his former club Palermo, on 31 May 2015.[14]

On 12 August 2015, Balzaretti declared his retirement from professional football. He stated that failing to fully recover from the hip injury that he had battled with for the past two years was the reason for him to quit for good at the age of 33. The following is taken from Balzaretti's public statement:

"I am retiring from Football. Unfortunately the injury I've had is forcing me to hang up my boots. It has been a difficult decision to make, but I can't continue playing the way I want to, at 100 percent. Last year, in my last news conference here, I said I wanted to get back on the field and play one more match for Roma. I managed to play 90 more minutes with Roma and I'd like to thank everyone here for making that last dream come true. I'm happy to have spent the last few months of the season with this group and I am delighted we secured second place."[15]

He will stay with Roma through management, working under Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini. He stated, “I will now form part of the sports management staff here at Roma. It's something I like and feel is right for me."[16]

Source:[25][26]

Juventus[27]

• Serie B: 2006–07

Roma[27]

• Coppa Italia: 2012–13 Runner-up

Italy[27]

• UEFA European Championship: 2012 Runner-up

• Serie A Team of the Year: 2011–12[28]