Riccardo Montolivo

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Riccardo Montolivo
Personal information
Full name	Riccardo Montolivo
Date of birth	January 18, 1985 (1985-01-18) (age 23)
Place of birth	Caravaggio, Italy
Height	1.81 m
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	ACF Fiorentina
Number	18
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2003-2005 2005-	Atalanta Fiorentina	073 0(7) 090 0(5)
National team2
2004-2007 2007-present 2008	Italy U-21 Italy Olympic team	020 0(3) 001 0(0) 001 0(0)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 18, 2008. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of February 5, 2008. * Appearances (Goals)

Riccardo Montolivo (born 18 January 1985 in Caravaggio, Bergamo) is an Italian footballer. He currently plays in the role of attacking midfielder for ACF Fiorentina of Serie A league. He is also nationally known as a good deep-lying forward. Riccardo is known for his excellent skill and vision, good touch with both feet and an eye for the goal.

[edit] Club career

Montolivo started his career with Atalanta. At the age of 18, he made his debut in the 2003–04 season. He played 41 matches and scored four goals in this season, and helped Atalanta to gain promotion to Serie A.

In his first season in Seria A, he played 32 times and scored three goals. However, his efforts were not enough to let Atalanta to avoid immediate relegation for the team.

Montolivo moved to Fiorentina in the summer of 2005, in a co-ownership bid. In 2006, Fiorentina got full ownership.

As he was not an experienced midfielder, he was rarely first choice for coach Claudio Cesare Prandelli in his first season with Fiorentina.

[edit] International career

Montolivo was one of the main players of the Under-21 national team of Italy coached by Pierluigi Casiraghi, and widely considered as one of the most promising youngsters in the country. He has been tipped to be the next Totti.^{[citation needed]}

On 10 October 2006, Montolivo scored the winning goal when Italy beat Spain 2-1 and qualified for 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship [1].

On 17 October 2007, Montolivo debuted fot the Azzurri in a 2-0 friendly win against South Africa.

Preceded by Daniele De Rossi

Serie A Young Footballer of the Year 2007

Succeeded by current holder

v • d • e ACF Fiorentina – current squad 1 Frey • 2 Krøldrup • 3 Dainelli • 4 Donadel • 5 Gamberini • 6 Potenza • 7 Semioli • 9 Osvaldo • 10 Mutu • 11 Gilardino • 12 Lupatelli • 15 Mazuch • 16 Hable • 17 Papa Waigo • 18 Montolivo • 19 Gobbi • 20 Jørgensen • 21 Ujfaluši • 22 Kuzmanović • 23 Pasqual • 24 Santana • 25 Avramov • 29 Pazzini • 32 Vieri • 54 Da Costa • 99 Cacia • Coach: Prandelli

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