Andrea Ranocchia

Early career

Born in Assisi in the province of Perugia, Ranocchia started his career at Perugia then in Arezzo. Ranocchia played for Arezzo's Primavera team in 2005–06 season. He made his professional debut with the Arezzo senior side in Serie B under manager Antonio Conte during the 2006–07 season.

Genoa

Loan to Bari

In August 2008, Genoa purchased half of the registration rights of Ranocchia for €1.55 million and sent him on loan to Bari, rejoining Arezzo coach Conte, where he won the Serie B Championship, obtaining promotion to Serie A the following season, and forming a promising defensive partnership with fellow emerging Italian centre-back Leonardo Bonucci. On 26 June 2009 Genoa signed him outright for another €2.45 million from Arezzo; Genoa paid €4 million in total for him within a year.

Return to Genoa

On 1 July 2010, he moved back to Genoa. After a link with Inter Milan in February 2010, the clubs agreed a deal in June 2010 which involved the transfer of young striker Mattia Destro. The transfer became official on 20 July 2010, which Inter signed half of the registration rights of Ranocchia for €6.5 million and sent Destro on loan to Genoa with option to sign him in co-ownership deal (who later purchased outright for €4.5 million). Ranocchia also loaned back to Genoa for a season.

Inter Milan

On 27 December 2010, Inter bought the remaining 50% registration rights of Ranocchia from Genoa for €12.5 million, valuing…

On 21 August 2007, he made his debut with the Italy U21 squad in a friendly match against France, replacing Fabiano Santacroce. He took part at the 2009 U-21 Championship, where the Italy under-21 side reached the semi-finals, only to be defeated by eventual champions Germany. He made his debut with the Italy senior team on 17 November 2010, in a friendly match against Romania, which ended in a 1–1 draw. Ranocchia was named to Cesare Prandelli's 32 and 25-man provisional squads for UEFA Euro 2012, but was excluded from the final 23-man squad. Ranocchia was later also included in Prandelli's 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but not the final 23-man squad; however, he was one of the two Italian reserve players alongside Antonio Mirante who was kept on the standby list prior to the start of the competition, as a precaution, in case of injury to any of the squad's final players, following an injury scare to back-up goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. Under Prandelli's successor, Antonio Conte, Ranocchia was called up for Italy's Euro 2016 qualifying matches in August 2015.

Ranocchia has been described as a large, strong, aggressive, and physically imposing centre back, with good tactical knowledge and concentration, as well as an ability to read the game and time his tackles well. He predominantly drew praise for his aerial ability, making him a goal threat from set pieces, and former Inter centre back Marco Materazzi described Ranocchia as his heir due to his own aerial prowess. A former attacking midfielder, he was also known for being comfortable in possession due to his solid technique and reliable distribution, which allowed to him to play the ball out from the back or carry it out from the defence; these qualities initially led him to be compared to Alessandro Nesta in the Italian media, a player whom he admired. He was capable of playing in any position in a three–man defence, or as part of a central defensive partnership in a four–man back-line, although he was more suited to the former system; he was also occasionally used as a full-back on either side of the pitch. Regarded as one of the most promising Italian defenders of his generation in his youth, Ranocchia was regarded as one of the best defenders in Serie A in his early career, even winning the Premio Armando Picchi in 2011, which is awarded to the best Italian under-23 defender in Italy, and pertains to playing ability as well as personality and fair-play. Former Inter full-back and captain Javier Zanetti also praised Ranocchia for his leadership, which eventually saw him…

Club

International