Biography
Who is Mark Bresciano?
Early life and career beginnings
Mark Bresciano was born in Melbourne, Australia, and spent his childhood years growing up in the suburb of Rosanna. He developed his footballing skills locally before joining the Victorian Premier League team Bulleen Lions in 1995 at the age of fifteen. By 1997, his performance improved significantly as he scored four goals in four league games and helped his side reach the grand final. During his time as a high school student at Marcellin College, Mark also gained experience with the Australian Schoolboys squad and participated in the under-17 national team qualifying matches.
After finishing school, he joined the Australian Institute of Sport and signed with the Carlton Soccer Club for the 1997-98 National Soccer League season. Mark made his debut in the seventeenth round of the competition. He remained a regular starter for the rest of that year, helping the club reach the finals. During his tenure with Carlton, he demonstrated his scoring ability, including a crucial injury time goal in the elimination semi-final that secured the club a spot in its first grand final appearance.
Playing soccer in Italy
In 1999, Mark Bresciano moved to Europe to join the Italian club Empoli, which was competing in Serie B at the time. He became a consistent starter for the team over the next several seasons. During his third year with Empoli, he scored ten goals, helping the club achieve a fourth-place finish and promotion to the top-tier Serie A. His success in Italy caught the attention of larger clubs, and he eventually moved to Parma in 2002 for a transfer fee of seven million euros.
Mark faced various physical challenges due to injuries during his time at Parma, yet he maintained a strong presence on the field. In the 2003-04 season, he scored eight goals in 33 appearances, which was the highest tally for any midfielder in the Serie A league that year. His performance helped Parma qualify for the UEFA Cup. Later in his Italian career, Mark signed a four-year contract with Palermo in 2006, where he continued to play first-team football in both domestic league matches and European competitions.
International career with Australia
Mark Bresciano had a long and impactful career playing for the Australian national team, eventually earning 84 caps and scoring 13 goals. He made his senior international debut on June 1, 2001, in a Confederations Cup match against France. Throughout his career, he represented Australia in three separate FIFA World Cup tournaments. One of his most significant contributions occurred during the 2006 World Cup qualification process when he scored the winning goal against Uruguay, which pushed the match to a penalty shootout that Australia ultimately won.
Beyond the World Cup, Mark participated in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup winning team and two AFC Asian Cup tournaments. He was also involved in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where he gained early experience on the global stage. His time with the national squad included playing under various coaches and alongside teammates like Vince Grella. He concluded his playing career with a four-year stint in the Middle East, playing for clubs in the UAE Pro League and the Qatar Stars League before retiring in 2015.
Birthday and age
Mark Bresciano was born on February 11, 1980, which makes Mark 46 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Mark shares the date with 67 other famous people.
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