Lorenzo De Silvestri

Infobox Football biography
playername = Lorenzo De Silvestri
fullname = Lorenzo De Silvestri
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1988|5|23
cityofbirth = Rome
countryofbirth = Italy
height = height|m=1.85
currentclub = Lazio
clubnumber = 29
position = Right back
youthyears =
youthclubs = Lazio
years = 2006-
clubs = Lazio
caps(goals) = 26 (0)
nationalyears = 2007-
nationalteam = Italy U-21
nationalcaps(goals) = 9 (0)
pcupdate = May 11 2008
ntupdate = August 13 2008

Lorenzo De Silvestri (born May 23, 1988 in Rome) is a very promising Italian football defender currently playing for S.S. Lazio.

Playing characteristics

De Silvestri plays as an attacking right full back, known in Italian as a "terzino destro". His pace is useful for his attacking runs up the wing, and possibly his greatest attribute. Since making his Serie A debut, De Silvestri has continued to improve the technical and tactical aspects of his game under the guidance of manager Delio Rossi, and is becoming a very valuable player. He is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents of his generation.

Career

Lazio

A product of the highly successful Lazio youth system, De Silvestri was promoted to the senior team during the 2006-07 season, during which he made his first two league appearances.

His first senior appearance was a match in the Intertoto Cup in 2005 at the age of 17. His debut in Italian competiton came a year later, during a 4-0 Coppa Italia victory over Rende, scoring the fourth goal of the match.

De Silvestri then made his Serie A debut coming on as a substitute, in a 1-0 home loss to Fiorentina, on 22 April, 2007. He then made his first start in the penultimate match of the season at the Stadio Olimpico against Parma.

During the 2007-08 season, De Silvestri established himself as a regular in the Lazio side with several impressive performances as an attacking right back. He made 24 league appearances, as well as six in the UEFA Champions League, three as a starter and three as a substitute. His greatest effort in Europe, was a stunning game in which Lazio were unlucky not to beat Spanish champions Real Madrid, with De Silvestri completely outplaying Dutch winger Arjen Robben.

As a 19 year old home grown player, and a boyhood Lazio fan, De Silvestri also became a fans' favourite, with many considering him a potential successor of former captain, now Milan defender Alessandro Nesta.

In 2007, he signed a contract renewal with the club believed to be worth around 350,000 euros, keeping him at Formello until 2010.

On December 19, 2007, just over a year after his debut goal against Rende, De Silvestri scored again in the Coppa Italia, this time against Napoli. He dedicated his goal to his close friend and fellow Lazio fan Gabriele Sandri, who was shot dead by a policeman at a service area near Badia al Pino (AR).

International career

De Silvestri has represented Italy at every youth level.

Since september 2007 he is a menber of Italy U-21 squad. He was also called up by Olympic manager Pierluigi Casiraghi to play at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Titles

*2008 Toulon Tournament - (Italian under-21 national team)

Trivia

On November 19, 2007, English football magazine "World Soccer" included De Silvestri in their list of the 50 most promising talents. He and Andrea Russotto of S.S.C. Napoli were the only Italians to make the list. [ [http://www.corrieredellosport.it/notizie/notizia_7748.shtml Il Baby d'Oro - Corriere dello Sport] ]

External links

* [http://www.sslazio.it/cms/view/home/squadra/prima_squadra/giocatori/lorenzo_de_silvestri/s154/c126 Official SSLazio.it Profile]

References