Central defender Andrea Barzagli has made his way up from the lower reaches of professional football in Italy to force his way into the Azzurri squad. He had spells with lower league sides Rondinella, Pistoiese and Ascoli before making his mark in Serie A with Chievo during the 2003-04 season. The summer of 2004 proved to be a crucial spell in Barzagli's career as he was part of the Italy squads that won the European Under-21 Championship and collected bronze at the Athens Olympics, as well as moving to Palermo. The 25-year-old has been a regular in the Sicilian club's first team ever since and is now recognised as one of the best defenders in Serie A.