Paolo Cannavaro

Cannavaro was born in Naples on 26 June 1981.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=48242/profile/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110211109/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=48242/profile/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 November 2010 |title=Paolo Cannavaro |publisher=UEFA |access-date=23 July 2013 }} He is the younger brother of former football defender Fabio Cannavaro.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1509953.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210122541/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1509953.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2011 |title=Captain Cannavaro paving his own way |publisher=FIFA |date=14 September 2011 |access-date=23 July 2013 }} His nephew and son of Fabio Cannavaro, Christian, is also a footballer, who currently plays as a midfielder for Benevento and previously played for Paolo's former club Sassuolo.{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/115716/benevento-complete-double-swoop|title=Benevento complete double swoop|publisher=Football Italia|date=17 January 2018|access-date=17 January 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzamercato.it/benevento/altro-colpo-del-benevento-preso-cannavaro-junior/?intcmp=cannavaro-figlio|title=Altro colpo del Benevento: preso Cannavaro Junior|publisher=gazzamercato.it|language=it|author1=Nicolò Schira|date=17 January 2018|access-date=17 January 2018}}

His son Manuel (born in 2002) is also a footballer, in the role of central midfielder.{{cite web|url=https://www.calcionapoli1926.it/altro/il-figlio-darte-manuel-cannavaro-ha-firmato-col-taranto-di-montervino/|title=Il figlio d'arte: Manuel Cannavaro ha firmato col Taranto di Montervino|publisher=CalcioNapoli1926.it|language=it|date=21 August 2021|access-date=1 December 2021}}

Cannavaro made his professional debut for his hometown side Napoli during the 1998–99 season in Serie B, while he was 17 years old. The following season he was signed by Parma, playing alongside his older brother Fabio in his first season at the club. Paolo's debut for Parma came when he replaced his brother as a substitute in Parma's 4–1 victory against Lecce.

Verona took the player on loan during the 2001–02 season; Cannavaro made 25 appearances for the club, scoring his first professional goal. The following year he returned to Parma where he spent much of the time as a substitute for the following two seasons (2002–03 and 2003–04). During the 2004–05 season, Cannavaro became more active in the first team at Parma, making 24 appearances and scoring 4 goals from defence, also helping the club to reach the 2004–05 UEFA Cup semi-final.

File:Paolo Cannavaro - SSC Neapel (4).jpg in 2009]]

As Napoli had been recently promoted back into Serie B and were looking to build a squad with potential, Cannavaro was brought back to his first club in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.sscnapoli.it/client/render.aspx?root=713&content=0|publisher=SSC Napoli|title=Cannavaro Paolo|language=it|access-date=11 July 2009}} After helping to re-establish the club in the top flight of Italian football in his first season back, Cannavaro was installed as the team's captain the following season and subsequently played a key role in the club's resurgence, helped his team to qualify for the UEFA Cup in 2008: he later also helped his team to earn a spot in the Champions League in 2011 and lifted the club's first major trophy in more than 20 years when Napoli defeated Juventus 2–0 in the Coppa Italia final in Rome on 20 May 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/78417/juventus-vs-napoli/report? |title=Juventus 0-2 Napoli: Cavani and Hamsik clinch Coppa Italia and dash double dreams of Turin giants |publisher=Goal.com |date=20 May 2012 |access-date=23 July 2013 }}

The following season, Napoli were defeated by Juventus 4–2 in extra time in the 2012 Supercoppa Italiana in Beijing on 11 August.{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/351707?campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=5739 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103020420/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/351707?campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=5739 |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Juventus 4–2 Napoli|date=14 August 2012|work=ESPN FC|access-date=23 August 2012 }}

On 31 January 2014, Cannavaro joined Sassuolo on loan for the remainder of the season for free,U.S. Sassuolo Calcio S.r.l. bilancio (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2014 (in Italian), [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.] helping the newly promoted club to avoid relegation. Sassuolo signed Cannavaro outright for a fee of €1,000 in the summer of 2014 on a three-year contract.

In December 2017, Cannavaro announced that he would be retiring from professional football at the end of the month;{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.in/football/sassuolo/story/3327670/paolo-cannavaro-retiring-to-join-brother-fabio-at-guangzhou-evergrande|title=Paolo Cannavaro retiring to join brother at Guangzhou Evergrande|publisher=ESPN FC|date=28 December 2017|access-date=30 December 2017}} he made his final appearance in Serie A on 30 December, in a 1–1 away draw against Roma.{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/106554|title=Roma 1 - 1 Sassuolo|publisher=Football Italia|date=30 December 2017|access-date=30 December 2017}}

As a youngster, Cannavaro played for Italy under-21 national football team on 18 occasions between 2002 and 2004, notably representing the Italy under-21 side at the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where they reached the semi-finals. He followed in the footsteps of his older brother by earning his first and only call up for the Italian national senior team under manager Roberto Donadoni, on 13 October 2007, for a friendly match in Florence against South Africa on 17 October, although he did not make an appearance during the match.{{cite news|url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/oct14n.html|publisher=Channel4.com|title=Cannavaro Jr thanks Napoli|date=15 October 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttonapoli.net/notizie/paolo-cannavaro-convocato-in-nazionale-23084|title=Paolo Cannavaro convocato in Nazionale|publisher=TuttoNapoli.net|language=it|author=Filippo Cagno|date=13 October 2007|access-date=30 December 2017}}

A tall, reliable, experienced, dedicated and physically strong defender, Cannavaro was known in particular for his ability in the air.{{cite web|url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/0231-0e9507c8fdc6-2925d943fe6a-1000--notte-da-sogno-per-il-sassuolo-tris-all-athletic/|title=Notte da sogno per il Sassuolo: tris all'Athletic|publisher=UEFA|language=it|date=15 September 2016|access-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://corrieredelmezzogiorno.corriere.it/campania/sport/articoli/2008/08_Agosto/19/difesa_napoli.shtml|title=Bunker azzurro: la difesa funziona E Marino lavora per Jodlowiec|publisher=Il Corriere del Mezzogiorno|language=it|author1=Dino Manganiello|date=19 August 2008|access-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://sport.ilmattino.it/calcio/napoli_sassuolo_cannavaro_jr-2101223.html|title=Napoli-Sassuolo, mi ritorni in mente Cannavaro jr, l'uomo dei gol impossibili|publisher=Il Mattino|author1=Mimmo Carratelli|language=it|date=25 November 2016|access-date=3 March 2017}} A talented defender, although tactically he was capable of playing in a four-man back-line, he was not particularly quick, therefore, due to his elegance on the ball, technique, vision, awareness and passing ability, he performed best as a ball-playing centre-back in a three-man defensive line and was known for his ability to create chances or start attacking plays from the back after winning back possession; he was also capable of playing as a right-back, although this was not his preferred position.{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/napoli/opinioni/2013/04/16-318417/Prandelli,+Cannavaro+%C3%A8+da+Nazionale|title=Prandelli, Cannavaro è da Nazionale|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|author1=Alberto Polverosi|date=16 April 2013|access-date=3 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304113946/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/serie_a/napoli/opinioni/2013/04/16-318417/Prandelli,+Cannavaro+%C3%A8+da+Nazionale|archive-date=4 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/44703/cannavaro-variable|title=The Cannavaro variable|publisher=Football Italia|author1=Dave Taylor|date=2 February 2014|access-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/editoriale/conte-insiste-per-l-attacco-a-gennaio-vuole-gabbiadini-il-milan-propone-pazzini-e-riprovera-per-astori-enigma-llorente-inter-thohir-spuntano-i-cinesi-483742|title=Conte insiste per l'attacco: a gennaio vuole Gabbiadini. Il Milan propone Pazzini e riproverà per Astori. Enigma Llorente. Inter-Thohir, spuntano i cinesi...|publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb.com|language=it|author1=Enzo Bucchioni|date=13 September 2013|access-date=3 March 2017}} His main defensive skills were his anticipation, marking ability, tackling, concentration and strong mental attributes.{{cite web|url=http://www.spazionapoli.it/2013/09/16/cannavaro-tornato-adesso-benitez-pensa-schierarlo-anche-champions/|title=Cannavaro è tornato: adesso Benitez pensa di schierarlo anche in Champions|publisher=SpazioNapoli.it|language=it|date=16 September 2013|access-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadre/Napoli/12-03-2012/cannavaro-ricetta-londra-attenzione-primi-45-calma-81604618698.shtml|title=Cannavaro, ricetta per Londra "Attenzione ai primi 45' e calma"|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|date=12 March 2012|access-date=3 March 2017}} In spite of his reserved character, he was also known for his leadership qualities.{{cite web|url=http://archivio.panorama.it/sport/calciomercato/cannavaro-napoli-addio-inter-mazzarri|title=Esclusiva - Cannavaro via da Napoli? Risponde l'agente|publisher=Panorama|language=it|author1=Nicolò Schira|access-date=3 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304115215/http://archivio.panorama.it/sport/calciomercato/cannavaro-napoli-addio-inter-mazzarri|archive-date=4 March 2017|url-status=dead}}

Following his retirement from professional football in December 2017, Paolo joined his brother, manager Fabio Cannavaro, on the technical staff at Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande. They stayed at Guangzhou until September 2021, when they tended their resignations.{{cite web |language=it |accessdate=1 December 2021 |work=Corriere della Sera|date=23 September 2021 |url=https://www.corriere.it/sport/21_settembre_23/cannavaro-crisi-evergrande-tecnico-lascia-cina-risolto-contratto-1eaced04-1c84-11ec-89df-eb997219365d.shtml |title=Cannavaro e la crisi Evergrande, il tecnico lascia la Cina: risolto il contratto}}

He successively served as Fabio Cannavaro's assistant at Serie B club Benevento from September 2022 to February 2023,{{cite web |url=https://www.beneventocalcio.club/news/comunicatistampa/5059/comunicato-della-societa.shtml |publisher=Benevento Calcio |language=it |date=4 February 2023 |accessdate=4 February 2023 |title=COMUNICATO DELLA SOCIETA'}} and Udinese in the final part of the 2023–24 season.

On 29 June 2024, Cannavaro took on his first head coaching job at Serie C club Pro Vercelli.{{cite web |publisher=Pro Vercelli |url=https://www.fcprovercelli.it/news/prima-squadra/1036-benvenuto-paolo-cannavaro |title=Benvenuto Paolo Cannavaro! |date=2024-06-29 |accessdate=2024-07-03 |language=it}} On 28 November 2024, after a lacklustre start of the season, Cannavaro resigned from his post at Pro Vercelli together with his entire coaching staff composed by assistant Rolando Bianchi and fitness coach Nicandro Vizoco.{{cite web |publisher=Pro Vercelli |url=https://www.fcprovercelli.it/news/prima-squadra/1102-comunicato-ufficiale-dimissioni-mister-paolo-cannavaro |title=Comunicato Ufficiale Dimissioni Mister Paolo Cannavaro |date=2024-11-29 |accessdate=2024-11-27 |language=it}}

In December 2012, Cannavaro was handed a six-month ban for failing to report an attempt of match fixing by then-Napoli goalkeeper Matteo Gianello.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2012/12/24/3625132/fabio-cannavaro-defends-brother-paolo-over-match-fixing-ban |title=Fabio Cannavaro defends brother Paolo over match-fixing ban |publisher=Goal.com |date=24 December 2012 |access-date=23 July 2013 }} On 17 January 2013, the ban was revoked by the FIGC after appeal and Napoli's two-point deduction was reversed.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/european/2013/0117/363296-emotional-cannavaro-has-six-month-ban-revoked/ |title=Emotional Cannavaro has six-month ban revoked |publisher=RTÉ |date=17 January 2013 |access-date=23 July 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130117/napoli-penalty-paolo-cannavaro.ap/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130723225126/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130117/napoli-penalty-paolo-cannavaro.ap/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2013 |title=Napoli's 2-point penalty rescinded on appeal |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=17 January 2013 |access-date=23 July 2013 }}

In February 2015, Cannavaro, his brother Fabio and his sister-in-law Daniela were respectively handed six-month, ten-month and four-month prison sentences for breaching orders and entering Fabio's residence after it had been seized by authorities in 2009, amid an investigation into fraudulent activity and tax evasion; all three have appealed and will have their sentences suspended until the final judgement has been made.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.us/italy/story/2316926/fabio-cannavaro-appeals-10-month-jail-term-over-villa-report|title=Fabio Cannavaro appeals 10-month jail term over villa - report|publisher=ESPN FC|author1=Ben Gladwell|date=25 February 2015|access-date=24 September 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/25/fabio-cannavaro-10-month-jail-sentence|title=Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro handed 10-month jail sentence|work=The Guardian|date=25 February 2015|access-date=24 September 2015}}

In November 2017, following the Italy national football team's failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Cannavaro drew criticism in the media over a controversial Instagram post in which he blamed Italy missing out on the upcoming tournament on the influx of non-Italian footballers in Serie A over the previous 15 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/the-curious-rise-of-soccer-nationalism-coincides-with-a-larger-p-18071 |title=The curious rise of soccer nationalism coincides with a larger political movement |publisher=Calciomercato |last=Klimberg |first=Matthew |date=15 November 2017 |access-date=24 May 2020 }}

In July 2018, Cannavaro and former Napoli footballers Pepe Reina and Salvatore Aronica were subject to a hearing by the Italian Football Federation over links to the Esposito brothers, high-ranking members of the Camorra criminal organisation.{{cite web|title=Reina faces hearing over links with trio connected to mafia|url=https://soccer.nbcsports.com/2018/05/21/reina-faces-hearing-over-links-with-trio-connected-to-mafia/|website=NBC SPORTS|date=21 May 2018|access-date=26 May 2018}}

{{updated|25 January 2018

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;Napoli{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/paolo-cannavaro/17667/|title=P. Cannavaro|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=20 November 2015}}

• Coppa Italia: 2011–12

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• {{Instagram|paolocannavaro}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20151022072422/http://www.legaseriea.it/en/players/paolo-cannavaro/CANPA Lega Serie A Profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150603224512/http://aic.football.it/scheda/469/cannavaro-paolo.htm AIC Profile] {{in lang|it}}
• {{TuttoCalciatori|Cannavaro_Paolo}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053657/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=1739&squadra=1 FIGC Profile] {{in lang|it}}

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{{succession box|before=Gennaro Iezzo|title=Napoli captain|years=2007–2014|after=Marek Hamšík}}

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Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Naples

Category:Italian men's footballers

Category:Italy men's under-21 international footballers

Category:Italy men's youth international footballers

Category:Serie A players

Category:Serie B players

Category:SSC Napoli players

Category:Parma Calcio 1913 players

Category:Hellas Verona FC players

Category:US Sassuolo Calcio players

Category:Men's association football central defenders

Category:Guangzhou F.C. non-playing staff

Category:Serie C managers

Category:21st-century Italian sportsmen