Angelo Palombo is one those players who goes quietly about his work, dispatching his midfield duties with a minimum of fuss and sacrificing personal glory for the good of the team.<\/P>
Palombo learned his trade at Fiorentina, turning out for the club's youth teams before turning professional and making his maiden Serie A appearance in 2001. The financial problems that then engulfed La Viola forced his sale to Sampdoria shortly afterwards.<\/P>
Since that move in 2002 he has formed an essential part of the Samp line-up, playing over 200 Serie A matches for the Genoa side and establishing himself as a favourite with the fans. While not the most gifted or athletic of players, Palombo never shows anything less than complete commitment and utter devotion to the cause.<\/P>
A UEFA European Under-21 Championship winner in 2004 and a bronze medallist at Athens the same year, he graduated to full international duty in Roberto Donadoni's first game in charge after Germany 2006. Since Marcello Lippi returned to the post, Palombo has been called upon as cover for injured first-choice players.<\/P>","3316B2DB0B85B0BE":"Angelo Palombo","68B71F6A7FE5F18E":"77kg","D21B7B52C3154356":"1","52D34B1F24A26AA271F2BD571AA0152C":"1","6F2A70628678CF42F2F15CA1EF3BF952":"","53F6A06F211D096A":"Sampdoria","7850BFBCDDAACDE9":"Angelo Palombo","156AB99B762676230C18DFFD85A3FAED":"","0DC344593C67F298":"6185","4EFF01CD2A1AA8474DF07D17EF0164A9":"Italy","71450CE0B6A0CA84C96E1AF31F3CA129":"1981-9-25","e_index":4};