Cristian Zaccardo, Cavaliere Ufficiale OMRI , (born December 21, 1981 in Formigine, Modena) is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer, who plays for Serie A team US Palermo and the Italy national football team. He plays primarily as a right full back but is also capable of playing at centre back. He has recently signed a new contract with club Palermo which will keep him at the sicilian club until 2012 despite attracting the attention of other clubs, most notably Internazionale.
One of the best products of the Bologna youth system, Zaccardo debuted in the first team in 2001, under the direction of coach Francesco Guidolin, immediately becoming a regular for the rossoblu and Italy's "Under 21" national team. He left Bologna in 2004 to join his former coach Guidolin in Palermo.
