Massimo Ambrosini
A hardworking midfield player who took time to break into the AC Milan ranks,
Massimo Ambrosini began his career with Serie B side AC Cesena and graduated
to their first team at the age of 17 during the 1994/95 season. Milan coach
Fabio Capello then won the race to sign him the following year, and despite
facing tough competition to break into the all-star Milan side, Ambrosini was
given a handful of games as the team romped to the Serie A championship. Only
used marginally more in 1996/97, Ambrosini was sent on loan to Vicenza Calcio,
where he was a key member of the team that successfully preserved their Serie
A status. Recalled to the San Siro, Ambrosini at last made a first-team place
his own as the Rossoneri won back the Scudetto in 1999, and he made his
international debut in March of that year against Croatia. Ambrosini continued
as a Milan regular the next season, which ended with an appearance as
substitute for Italy in the EURO 2000? final.

However, a knee injury limited his matches at club and international level over
the following two campaigns and he was unavailable for selection for the 2002
FIFA World Cup finals.