Position: Midfielder
Born: 17.09.77
Club: Roma

Simone Perrotta remains one of the lesser known faces in the squad outside of his homeland, but nevertheless has become a significant part of the international set-up in recent years.

Part of the Under-21 team that won the European Championship in 2000, Perrota was promoted to the senior squad directly after the 2002 World Cup.

His work ethic and battling attitude endeared him to the then-national coach Giovanni Trapattoni and the 28-year-old was rewarded with five straight starts in the final games of the qualifying campaign for Euro 2004.

Joining Brescia as a teenager, the tough-tackling midfielder quickly stood out in Serie B and a move to Juventus followed.

Unable to make at an impact in Turin, Perrotta was loaned out to Bari who he helped avoid relegation in the 1999/2000 season.

The following year Bari went down but newly-promoted Chievo were suitably impressed with his energetic displays and crisp passing and spent a then club record fee to secure his services.

The 2001/2002 season saw Perrotta help the tiny club from Verona shock the whole of Italy by finishing fifth in Serie A and qualify for the UEFA Cup.

The next two seasons saw him emerge as Chievo enjoyed a European adventure and further established themselves before a move to Roma.

England fans will no doubt be disappointed when they learn Perrotta was eligible to play for England.

Born near Manchester, a young Perrotta spent the first six years of his life in England and will no doubt leave the English FA cursing the one that got away.