Emanuele Giaccherini

Cesena

Born in Bibbiena, Tuscany, Giaccherini started his professional career at Romagna team Cesena. He scored 15 goals in the group stages of the Campionato Nazionale Primavera in the 2003–04 season. He was then sent out on loan to Lega Pro clubs Forli, Bellaria Igea and Pavia for four seasons. Cesena was relegated to the Lega Pro Prima Divisione in 2008, when Giaccherini returned and was partnered with Simone Motta in attack. Cesena came top of the Prima Divisione in June 2009. Due to their good defensive record Cesena finished as runner-up in the 2009–10 Serie B season and was therefore promoted to Serie A, where Giaccherini was partnered with Guilherme do Prado, Dominique Malonga, Ezequiel Schelotto and Cristian Bucchi in attack, none of whom managed to hit double figures. In August 2010 Cesena offered a new contract to Giaccherini as his current contract was due to expire in 2012. In the 2010–11 Serie A season Giaccherini remained a first-choice starter and was partnered with wing-forward Schelotto and Erjon Bogdani. The club once again reached the top of the table but went on a winless run after the third match as a result of which Luis Jiménez replaced Schelotto as Giaccherini's new attacking partner. Giaccherini managed to score in seven matches that season, including a goal in a 2–0 win against Milan and once in a 2–3 loss to Inter. He also scored a brace on 6 March as Cesena beat Sampdoria 3–2, and managed 3 more goals in the last 7 matches of the…

Euro 2012

Giaccherini was included in Cesare Prandelli's 23-man squad for UEFA Euro 2012. He won his first cap for Italy starting as a left wing-back in a 3–5–2 formation against World Cup champions and defending European Champions Spain on 10 June. Italy eventually reached the final of the tournament, facing Spain once again, and suffering a 4–0 defeat.

2013 Confederations Cup

Giaccherini opened the scoring after only 19 seconds of Italy's pre-Confederations Cup friendly against Haiti in Rio de Janeiro on 11 June 2013, played to raise funds for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The goal was the fastest in Italy's history, one second quicker than Salvatore Bagni's goal against Mexico in 1984. Giaccherini was included in the 23-man Italy squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. Giaccherini played in every match of the tournament and was one of Italy's most important players throughout the competition; in the opening game against Mexico on 16 June, he assisted Mario Balotelli's match-winning goal. In Italy's second match against Japan, a pass across goal by Giaccherini was deflected by Atsuto Uchida, who scored an own goal; the match ended 4–3 to Italy, qualifying them for the semifinals of the tournament for the first time in their history. Giaccherini scored Italy's temporary equaliser against hosts Brazil in the final group match, although they eventually lost the match 4–2. He started in the semifinal against Spain, which ended in a 0–0…

Giaccherini was a consistent, energetic, quick, hard-working, and versatile player. He was capable of aiding his team defensively, but also offensively, due to his ability to make attacking runs, exploit spaces, get on the end of passes, and stretch defences; which along with his reliable distribution, allowed him to contribute to his teams' offensive plays with goals and assists. A diminutive and technically gifted player, he was initially deployed as a winger on either flank early in his career, due to his speed, dribbling ability, agility, acceleration, and balance, which aided him in beating opposing players in one on one situations. He was capable of playing anywhere in midfield, however, and was most commonly deployed as a central midfielder, as a mezzala, as a wing-back, or as an attacking midfielder. He was also been used as a second striker.

Club

International

Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Giaccherini goal.