Stefano Bettarini

Early career

Born in Forlì comune, Emilia-Romagna, Bettarini spent his childhood at Buonconvento comune, in the Province of Siena, Tuscany. He then spent his youth career at a local side of Staggia Senese, a village in Poggibonsi, in the Province of Siena. He was signed by Internazionale in 1990. After first being loaned to Baracca Lugo, Bettarini joined Serie B side Lucchese and played four successive Serie B seasons, including one at Salerno. In June 1996, he was signed by Serie A side Cagliari but the team were relegated in 1997.

Fiorentina

In July 1997, he was signed by Fiorentina and priced at 3 billion Italian lire. After a limited chance, he was loaned to Bologna on 30 January 1999.

Venezia

On 2 September 1999, he was signed by Serie A side Venezia for 4 billion lire transfer fee. He signed a four-year contract. He followed the team relegated in 2000 and promoted back to Serie A in 2001. But the Venice side relegated again in 2002.

Sampdoria

After Maurizio Zamparini the owner of Venezia, purchased Palermo (and selling Venezia at the same time), Zamparini bought most of the squad to Sicily, except some players such as Bettarini. Bettarini then joined Serie B side Sampdoria on a free transfer, as Venezia had to reduce the salary expenditure. He signed a reported two-year contract. According to Bettarini himself, Venenzia had sent a letter to him, accusing that he rejected the transfer to Palermo and then Brescia in mid-2002…

Bettarini received his only national team call-up in 2004, a warm-up friendly match in Palermo, against the Czech Republic before the start of UEFA Euro 2004, on 18 February. Bettarini's club teammate Sergio Volpi, as well as Parma's Simone Barone, also received their first call-up. During the experimental match, Bettarini played as one of the starting XI, and was replaced by Giuseppe Pancaro in the 79th minute. Italy manager Giovanni Trapattoni used all of his 22-men squad on the field, and made seven substitutions at half time; the match ended in a 2–2 draw.

Bettarini was married to Italian television host Simona Ventura between 1998 and 2004; the couple had two children together.