Christian Vieri

Birth Date: July 12 1973
Birth Place: Bologna
Birth Nation: Italy
Height: 185cm
Weight: 82Kg
Nationality: Italian
Position: Forward

Christian Vieri remains one of Italy's top strikers. Capable of scoring with both feet, the 30 year old is extremely dangerous off the ground. Although Vieri had trouble scoring in the Serie A this season, he netted four of Italy's five goals in their disappointing 2002 World Cup campaign. With 5 goals in the 1998 World Cup, the big Italian is definitely someone to count on.

Amazingly, it took some time before Christian Vieri broke into soccer stardom. Following 4 years of bouncing from club to club, he came to prominence in Torino scoring 8 goals during Juventus' 1997/1998 campaign. Armed with a Scudetto and a Champions League Runners Up medal, the striker made his way to Spain netting 24 goals in 24 matches for Atletico de Madrid. Another milestone his next season scoring Lazio's winning goal in the Champions League Final against Mallorca. His 1999 move to Inter set a new record transfer fee at more than 50 million US dollars.

Vieri has a history of butting heads with the coaches. From Radomir Antic at Atletico, to Marcelo Lippi at Juventus, and most recently Alberto Zaccheroni at Inter, Vieri will have to keep his cool around Trappattoni. Christian Vieri, scored Italy's 1,000th goal on his international debut in 1997.

Christian Vieri