From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
Soccer hottie Stefano Bettarini turns 42 today.
Stefano Bettarini (born 6 February 1972) is a former Italian footballer. He played once for Italy national team.
Born in Forlì, Emilia–Romagna, Bettarini spent his childhood at Buonconvento, the Province of Siena, Tuscany. He then spent his youth career at Staggia Senese, Poggibonsi, the Province of Siena and then signed by Internazionale. After loaned to Baracca Lugo, Bettarini joined Serie B side Lucchese and played 4 successive Serie B seasons, including 1 at Salerno. In June 1996, he was signed by Serie A side Cagliari but the team relegated in 1997.
On 2 September 1999, he was signed by Serie A side Venezia for 4 billion Italian lire. He signed a 4-year contract. He followed the team relegated in 2000 and promoted back to Serie A in 2001. But the Venice side relegated again in 2002
After Maurizio Zamparini the owner of Venezia purchased Palermo, Zamparini bought most of the squad to Sicily and Bettarini refused. Bettarini then joined Serie B side Sampdoria on free transfer, as Venezia had to reduce the salary expenditure. He signed a reported 2-year contract.
In August 2004, he was banned 5 months for match-fixing. Antonio Marasco, Roberto D'Aversa, Generoso Rossi, Maurizio Caccavale and Alfredo Femiano were also banned. Bettarini denied he was guilty and was wrongly included in the investigation.
In January 2005, he left for Parma. Bettarini made his club debut on 3 February 2005 (round 22), against Bologna as starter. That match Gialloblu lost 1–3. He then continued as one of the starting XI. On round 28 (13 March) against Atalanta, he was substituted by Matteo Contini in the 16th minutes. He then out of a month due to injury. He came back to field on round 32 (20 April) against his former club Sampdoria, but substituted by Paolo Cannavaro in the 2nd minutes.
Bettarini received his only national team call-up in 2004, a warm-up friendly match before the start of UEFA Euro 2004. Team-mate Sergio Volpi and Parma's Simone Barone also received their first call-up. That experimental match Bettarini played as one of the starting XI and replaced by Giuseppe Pancaro in the 79th minutes. Giovanni Trapattoni used all of his 22-men squad on the field and made 7 substitutes at half time.
Bettarini was married to Simona Ventura and they had two children together.
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