Mark Bresciano

Mark "Marco" Bresciano (Italian pronunciation: [breʃˈʃano]; born 11 February 1980) is an Australian football (soccer) player who last played for Qatar Stars League side Al-Gharafa as a midfielder. He represented Australia at all youth levels, including appearances at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2000 Olympic Games. For several years he was a regular member of the Australian national team, and represented Australia at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. Since the age of 19 he played senior club football in Italy with Empoli, Parma, Palermo and Lazio before moving to the United Arab Emirates.

Biography

Early days in Australia

Bresciano grew up in Rosanna, Melbourne. He began playing football locally and later progressed to the first team of Victorian Premier League side Bulleen Lions in 1995 at the age of 15. He made little impact until his third year in the first team, scoring four goals in four league games and helping Bulleen to the 1997 VPL grand final. Bresciano's reputation began to grow and he was selected in an Australian Schoolboys squad that toured the United Kingdom in 1996. In 1997, he featured prominently in Australia's unsuccessful U17 World Cup qualifying campaign, scoring five goals.