Antonio Di Natale Club: Udinese Born: Naples, 13/10/77 Position: Striker Ht/Wt: 1.70m/65kg Serie A debut: Como 0-2 EMPOLI, 14/9/02 Season Club Div Apps Gls 1996-97 Empoli B 1 1997-98 Empoli A - - Sept 97 Iperzola C2 33 6 1998-99 Varese C1 4 Oct 98 Viareggio C2 25 12 1999-00 Empoli B 25 6 2000-01 Empoli B 35 9 2001-02 Empoli B 38 16 2002-03 Empoli A 27 13 2003-04 Empoli A 33 5 2004-05 Udinese A 33 7 2005-06 Udinese A 35 8 2006-07 Udinese A 30 11 International debut: ITALY 1-1 Turkey, 20/11/02 International apps/gls: 9/2

he was quickly drafted into the first team at the Carlo Castellani. “I have beautiful memories of my time there – also, my wife is originally from the city,” revealed Di Natale. “Luciano Spalletti gave me my debut at 18 when we were at Empoli, then he wanted me at Udinese,” he noted, perhaps dropping the biggest hint about his destination next season. “I can only thank him for what he has done for me. Knowing how he works, I knew that he would be a success at Roma.” A career best tally of 16 goals fired the club into Serie A in 2002 and his performances in the top flight soon earned him an Italy debut and alerted Udinese. The formidable attacking partnership formed with Iaquinta and David Di Michele took his new club into fourth spot and a Champions League spot in his first season. Despite elimination in the group stage, Di Natale established that he could cut it at Europe’s highest level as he hit three goals against Werder Bremen. But ultimately that campaign was a write-off for Udinese and the long-term consequence for Di Natale was that he had to watch Italy’s World Cup celebrations from his home rather than playing a role. However, his quality this season has allowed him to become the only player without a World Cup medal to have played regularly under Roberto Donadoni. His appearance as a substitute against Ukraine in October was followed by a start against Georgia and a goal against Turkey in November. His addition to the set-up gives the Azzurri the fearsome pace they had been lacking. Against Scotland, his acceleration allowed Italy

After breaking into the Giro Azzurro with Giovanni Trapattoni, Antonio Di Natale has now won the confidence of present boss Roberto Donadoni

to break from midfield with startling speed – a devastating asset for the forthcoming qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania. “I had made a few appearances under Giovanni Trapattoni before going through a lean period,” the forward stated. “It’s always pleasing to come into the squad and I’m glad to be back. In my head I only had thoughts of Udinese, my only desire was to do well for them. When the call-up from Donadoni came that was just a great bonus.” While pace is obviously his best attribute, his role as Udinese’s fantasista is also something he could replicate for La Nazionale. With Francesco Totti missing and Del Piero ageing, there is a vacancy for a commanding player to fill their No 10 role over the next few steps of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. It is a number he already wears at club level – a homage to his idol Diego Maradona. Di Natale himself sees his role in a slightly different position. “As a youngster I tried to be like Vincenzo Montella – he is a player with characteristics similar to mine,” he revealed, suggesting he may prefer an outand-out attacking role rather than playing wide on the left or as a trequartista. Having made his 100th appearance for Udinese this season he will feel he has been a hard-working and loyal servant over the past three years. “For now the only thing that counts is to win the next game for Udinese,” he comments, but deep down you suspect that this little lad has an eye on another crack at the Champions League next term with one of Italy’s big boys.

POCKET DYNAMOS The best of the rest of Serie A’s short men, past and present

Amarildo 1.67m This 1960s Brazilian is perhaps the shortest ever player to dazzle the peninsula. A Scudetto winner at Fiorentina, he also had spells with Milan and Roma.

Diego Maradona 1.68m Napoli’s Argentine master is the greatest of all the mini maestros to ever grace Serie A. His mazy runs and sense of leadership took the Neapolitan club to two Serie A titles.

Angelo Colombo 1.68m Colombo’s success in the 1960s is all the more remarkable given that he was a goalkeeper. A Scudetto winner with Juventus as understudy to Roberto Anzolin, he is best remembered for his spell at Cagliari.

Gianfranco Zola 1.68m ‘Magic Box’ had all the tricks and spells to bamboozle his taller opponents during his spells at Napoli, Parma and Cagliari.

Giuseppe Galderisi 1.68m Top scorer for Verona when they shocked the peninsula to snatch the 1985 Scudetto. He also played for Juventus.

Antonio/Emanuele Filippini 1.68m The twins share more than just their height and birthday. Both made their debuts for Brescia at Inter in 1997 and up until 2004 had always played together. Antonio is currently at Livorno while Emanuele is at Bologna.

Alessandro Rosina 1.68m Torino’s Azzurrini striker will be hoping to pick up some tips from Under-21 Coach Gianfranco Zola. The tiny terrier has been the Granata’s star man this season.

Kurt Hamrin 1.69m The slight-in-stature Swede was a goal machine for Fiorentina in the 1960s, racking up a tally of 150. He also represented Juventus, Milan and Napoli.

Bruno Conti 1.69m The World Cup winning Roma legend didn’t let his size hamper his fighting spirit. Has since gone on to Coach the Giallorossi – and bore a slightly taller son, Daniele, Cagliari’s 1.78m midfielder.

Franco Causio 1.70m Another daintily sized World Cup winner, ‘The Baron’ had spells at eight clubs in his career but is most famous for his decade at Juventus between 1970 and 1981.

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