Paolo Bianco

Paolo Bianco

Personal information
Full name	Paolo Bianco
Date of birth	(1977-08-20) 20 August 1977
Place of birth	Foggia, Italy
Height
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
	U.S. Foggia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1994–1999	Foggia	98	(1)
1999–2004	Treviso	148	(6)
2004–2006	Catania	72	(2)
2006–2009	Cagliari	91	(4)
2009–2010	Atalanta	21	(0)
2010–2015	Sassuolo	96	(0)
International career
1998	Italy U21	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 March 2010

Paolo Bianco (born 20 August 1977) is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender.

Career

U.S. Foggia

Bianco started his career within the junior ranks of U.S. Foggia, in the Italian Serie B. In 1994, the player was promoted to the first team and began to make official league appearances for his hometown club. The player did not manage to break into the club's starting line-up in his first season, making just 13 appearances, but eventually earned well over 100 caps for the club in all competitions also netting 2 official goals. The central defender was then transferred to Serie B side Treviso F.B.C. 1993, in the summer of 1999, for an undisclosed transfer fee.

Treviso

Bianco's transfer to the northern club was a big step in the players career, as he instantly became a key member in the team, and eventually earned the captain's armband for his club. In his first season in Treviso, Bianco made 16 appearances, and followed that up with 22 starts the following season. His efforts were not enough to save his club from relegation, however, and he spent the next two seasons in the Serie C1. After 60 Serie C1 appearances, Bianco captained his team to promotion back into the Italian second division, and made 44 appearances for the club that season, more than any other player in the team. After 5 seasons, with the club, Bianco made 148 league appearances alone, and scored 6 goals, while making over 160 appearances for his club in all competitions. His good form led to a 2004 transfer to Serie B rivals Calcio Catania.

Catania

The player arrived at the Sicilian club in the summer of 2004. He became a regular fixture in the club's line-up and made 37 league appearances in his first season in Sicily. His impressive displays continued the following season as he made an additional 35 league appearances and helped guide the club to a second-place finish in the Serie B table, and hence, Serie A promotion. Despite helping to lead the club into the Serie A, the player was loaned to fellow Serie A side Cagliari Calcio in August 2006.

Cagliari

Following his transfer from one Italian island to the other, the defender instantly was inserted into the Sardinian club's starting eleven as well. His Serie A debut ironically came against former side, Catania. In his first season in the top flight, Bianco made a total of 35 league appearances and also scored a solo goal. In June 2007, the club excised the rights to buy him. His second season, proved to be much of the same as the player made 31 appearances as both a central defender and a right back. Bianco entered the 2008–09 Serie A campaign with just one year left on his contract. In January 2010 he signed a pre-contract with Atalanta.

Atalanta

Bianco made the move to Bergamo following the expiration of his contract with Cagliari on 1 July 2009. In his first season with Atalanta, Bianco made 21 league appearance, with 20 of them coming from the starting XI. Despite a close relegation battle towards the end of the 2009–10 campaign, between Livorno, Siena, Atalanta, Chievo, Udinese, and Bologna, his club failed in their efforts to avoid the bad fate. On 19 July 2010, his contract was terminated in mutual consent.

Sassuolo

Bianco made his debut on Sassuolo's defeat against Portogruaro. Bianco was re-signed by Sassuolo in a 1-year contract on 17 July 2014.

External links

• Gazzetta dello Sport player profile (Italian)
• Bianco in Sassuolo (Italian)
• Bianco in Sassuolo website
• Paolo Bianco at Soccerway