Alessandro Florenzi Italian Footballer From Rome

Early life

Alessandro Florenzi was born on 11 March 1991 in Rome. He came up through the youth academy of AS Roma, the club of his home city, and it was there that his professional career began.

Career

Florenzi made his Serie A debut on 22 May 2011, coming off the bench in place of Francesco Totti in a 3–1 win over Sampdoria. The following summer he was sent on loan to Crotone in Serie B, where he scored on his debut in August 2011 in a 2–1 home loss to Livorno. In June 2012 Crotone bought half of his registration rights for 250,000 euros, and Roma bought that half back the next month for 1.25 million euros.

Back in Rome for the 2012–13 season, he made his first start against Internazionale and scored his first goal for the club in the same match. He finished that campaign with 36 league appearances and three goals. On 31 July 2013 he scored and set up a goal in the MLS All-Star Game and was named its most valuable player. In 2013–14 he played in 36 of Roma's 38 league fixtures as the team finished second and returned to the Champions League. That season also produced a bicycle-kick goal against Genoa in January 2014.

His Champions League debut came in September 2014 as a substitute against CSKA Moscow. A year later, on 16 September 2015, he scored from about 50 yards against Barcelona after noticing the goalkeeper off his line, earning a 1–1 draw; the strike was one of three finalists for the 2015 FIFA Puskás Award. He suffered a cruciate ligament injury in October 2016 and a second tear of the same ligament in February 2017, and returned to the team in September 2017. In 2019 he became Roma's captain after Daniele De Rossi left.

Florenzi then spent several seasons on loan. He joined Valencia in January 2020 until the end of that season, and in September 2020 moved to Paris Saint-Germain, wearing the number 24 shirt. He won the Trophée des Champions in 2020 and started the 2021 Coupe de France final, a 2–0 win over Monaco. In August 2021 he went to AC Milan on loan, appearing 30 times and scoring twice as the club won the Serie A title in 2021–22, his first league championship. Milan made the move permanent on 1 July 2022 with a three-year contract. He won the Supercoppa Italiana on 6 January 2025, when Milan beat Inter 3–2 in Riyadh, and played his last match for the club on 24 May 2025 in a 2–0 home win over Monza. His contract expired on 30 June 2025, and on 27 August 2025 he announced his retirement from professional football.

For Italy, Florenzi played at under-20 and under-21 level. With the under-21 side he reached the final of the 2013 European Under-21 Championship, which Italy lost 4–2 to Spain. He made his senior debut on 14 November 2012 in a friendly against France under coach Cesare Prandelli, and scored his first senior goal on 15 October 2013 in a 2–2 World Cup qualifier against Armenia. He was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2016 under Antonio Conte. At UEFA Euro 2020, under Roberto Mancini, he came on as a second-half replacement for Emerson Palmieri in the final at Wembley, where Italy beat England on penalties after a 1–1 draw. Italy also reached the 2022 Finalissima.

Florenzi was known as a versatile player who could operate across midfield and on either flank, usually favouring the right side.

Recognition

In 2021 Florenzi was made a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. His individual honours include the Pallone d'Argento for 2015–16 and the Serie A Fair Play Moment of the Season for 2023–24. With clubs he won the Serie A title, the Supercoppa Italiana, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions, and with Italy the European Championship in 2021.