Christian Maggio

Christian Maggio (born 11 February 1982) is an Italian former footballer who played as a right-back, as a wing-back, or as a right winger.

Maggio began his career at Vicenza making his Serie A debut in the 2000–2001 season, finishing the campaign with six appearances.

However, despite some success on a personal level, Vicenza were subsequently relegated to Serie B at the end of the season.

Half of the registration rights were also sold to Parma in June 2002 for 4 billion lire (€2.066 million, for an undisclosed cash plus Paolo Guastalvino).

Maggio stayed with Vicenza until 2003, making 38 appearances in total while managing to score just 1 goal.

In June 2003 the co-ownership deal was renewed.

In 2003, Maggio signed for ACF Fiorentina from Parma.

Maggio appeared regularly for Fiorentina until they were promoted from Serie B to Serie A during the 2003–04 season.

In June 2004 Fiorentina acquired another half from Vicenza.

During the 2004–05 season, he played 13 times, while in the 2005–06 Serie A season, he only appeared 3 times due to injury; in January 2006, he was loaned to Treviso in order to gain playing time, making 11 appearances, although the club was relegated at the end of the season.

Overall, Maggio played 56 games for The Viola, scoring 2 goals over a 4-year period, including spending 1.5 seasons on loan.

Maggio was loaned to Sampdoria for €150,000 in the 2006–07 season.

At the end of loan Sampdoria signed him in another co-ownership deal for €1.5 million.

However, it was not until Maggio signed for U.C. Sampdoria that he began to fulfil the potential he had shown when playing for Italy at youth level.

Some very impressive performances during the 2007–08 season resulted in nine goals from twenty-nine appearances.

At the end of season Sampdoria acquired another half for €1.95 million.

He was immediately re-sold to Napoli for €8 million.

During his time at Napoli he has continued to perform consistently.

A dynamic and hard-working offensive full-back, prior to joining Napoli in 2008, Maggio played for Italian clubs Vicenza, Fiorentina, Treviso, and Sampdoria.

With Napoli he has won two Coppa Italia titles and the Supercoppa Italiana.

A former Italy international level, he represented the Italy national football team on 34 occasions between 2008 and 2014, and took part at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2012 (winning a silver medal), and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (winning a bronze medal).

18 October 2009 saw Maggio score a 90th-minute goal to help seal a 2–1 comeback victory over Bologna, as Fabio Quagliarella had scored a late equaliser for the hosts.

Maggio continued his good form as he scored the only goal of the game on 25 October, helping Napoli defeat Fiorentina at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

On 24 January 2010 Maggio scored a wonderful volley against Livorno.

He took up a position near the corner of the penalty area as a long cross-field pass descended towards him.

As this raking pass came across his body from his left shoulder he volleyed it first time, with great power, swerving over the goalkeeper into the top corner.

On 6 December 2010, Maggio scored a last gasp goal which saw Napoli secure all three points in a 1–0 defeat of Palermo.

During this period, Maggio usually functioned as a right midfielder/winger for Napoli in a 3–4–2–1 formation under manager Walter Mazzarri.

He had initially played at right back for the majority of his career; however, since he started playing as a right winger, the quality of his performances improved, and he particularly excelled in this new position due to his attacking skills.

During the 2011–12 season, his performances and attacking abilities continued to improve, as he netted three goals and provided five assists in 33 league games for Napoli.

Maggio provided assists for two of his side's goals in their enthralling 3–3 draw with Juventus on 29 November 2011.

He helped his team to win the 2011–12 Coppa Italia that season over Serie A champions Juventus; this was Napoli's first trophy since 1990, under Maradona.

His performances led to him being named in 2011–12 Serie A Team of the Season, the first such honour of his career.

In the second leg of Napoli's Round of 16 tie with eventual winners Chelsea, Maggio limped off the field in the 37th minute with an injury.

Napoli eventually lost 5–4 on aggregate after extra time, as Maggio missed the next seven games and his side only won once.

After a decade with the club, he joined Benevento in 2018.

Maggio left Napoli in May 2018 after a decade at the club, during which time he made over 300 appearances and became the player with the sixth-highest number of appearances for the club.

On 6 July 2018, Maggio signed with Serie B club Benevento.

He became the team captain.

On 21 September 2018, he scored in a 4–0 win against Salernitana.