Francesco Scardina

He began his career in the youth team of Juventus, being called up for the first time by Marcello Lippi at the age of 16 for matches in Coppa Italia against Venice, without however starting. In the winter transfer window of the 2001-2002 season he was sent on loan to Cesena in Serie C1, but after 6 appearances from the bench he was recalled by Juventus and joined the first team, being called up for some matches of 2000–01 UEFA Champions League and Serie A. In the next year he initially played in the Super League Greece with a loan to PAOK where he played some matches of the Greek Football Cup (won in that season by the team from Thessaloniki), then returned to Italy on loan in the month of January and played the final part of the season in Serie C1 as a starter with the team L'Aquila Calcio, which in that season finished penultimate in the standings but then won the play-out against the Paternò team. At the end of that season he was lined up by the coach Augusto Gentilini also as a full-back, both left (his natural side) and right side, since he had a good ductility. In the 2003–2004 season he was bought in co-ownership by Crotone, which in that season was coached by Gian Piero Gasperini, that had already been his coach in the Juventus youth team; and participated in the championship of Serie C1 in which he could play regularly as starter (34 matches, 1 assist and 1 goal against the Teramo team) and won promotion to Serie B. He stayed in Calabria for another season and a…

He played 9 matches with the Italy national under-18 football team, making his debut in the selection of Francesco Rocca on 10 May 2000 against Czech Republic U18 as substitute for Giuseppe Sculli.

Scardina was born in Turin to parents of Palermite origin and raised in Pasta, a small hamlet of the town of Rivalta di Torino. His football legends are Paolo Montero and Carles Puyol. In 2013 he obtained the UEFA B Licence, receiving the qualification to coach any amateur team or youth selection.