Cristian Daniel Ledesma

Club

International

As of match played 29 August 2015

Ledesma acquired Italian citizenship in 2008 through marriage to an Italian woman he met during his spell at Lecce; this made him eligible at international level for both Argentina and the Italy (Azzurri), as he had never been capped with the Selección before. On 14 November 2010, Ledesma accepted a call-up by Italy manager Cesare Prandelli for a friendly match against Romania, thus becoming the third oriundo to become part of the Azzurri senior squad in the last ten years, the other two being Mauro Camoranesi and Amauri.

Ledesma confirmed in summer 2019 that he had retired from football and would continue as a coach for the Ledesma Academy, where he should be in charge of training children from 5 to 15 years. In September 2019 he took over on his first role as a first team manager, coaching Promozione amateurs LUISS, the football branch of the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli. He left the club in October 2021, overseeing a promotion to Eccellenza. In March 2022 he was named new head coach of Eccellenza amateur side Cimini. In July 2022, Ledesma joined Frosinone as a youth coach in charge of the Under-17 team. On 27 September 2024, Ledesma was appointed interim head coach of Serie C club Ascoli, a club for which he was working as youth coach in charge of the Under-19 team. He returned to work for the Under-19 team after only one game, a 0–1 loss to Rimini.

Early career

Born in Morón, Buenos Aires, Ledesma grew up in Puerto Madryn, in the province of Chubut. He later returned to the capital, joining the youth system of Boca Juniors in 1997 at the age of 14. In 2001, Ledesma moved to Italy and joined Lecce, whose sporting director Pantaleo Corvino decided to bring him to Salento. Initially assigned to the Primavera squad, he made his first team – and Serie A – debut on 10 March 2002, starting in a 1–2 away loss against Atalanta. After suffering relegation, Ledesma was promoted to the main squad. He scored his first goal for the club on 1 December 2002, netting the last in a 1–1 Serie B draw at Hellas Verona. Ledesma appeared in 29 matches during the campaign, as Lecce returned to the top tier at the first attempt. He scored his first goal in the main category on 9 November 2003, netting his team's second in a 2–2 away draw against Perugia. Ledesma was an ever-present figure for the Giallorossi during the following campaigns, being also captain.

Lazio

In July 2006, after suffering another relegation, Ledesma signed a four-year deal with Lazio for a €5.3 million fee. He made his debut for the club on 19 August 2006, starting in a 4–0 Coppa Italia home routing of Rende. During his first season in the capital, Ledesma established himself as a key player despite a difficult start. His first moment of magic came in December 2006 during a Derby della Capitale against historical rivals AS Roma, when he scored a strike…