Today, Mark Iuliano, former defender of Juventus and the Italian national team, celebrates his 50th birthday. Thanks to our Italian colleagues from Corriere Della Sera, a look back at the career of a player who has known as many peaks as controversies. It is today a fan and promoter of padel.

Mark Iuliano is more than 200 appearances in Serie A and a title of vice-champion of Europe with Italy in 2000. From his humble beginnings in Salernitana in 1991, to his retirement from sport at the age of 38, his career is rich. At the heart of his career, nine seasons under the colors of Juventus, and this famous incident in 1998 with Ronaldo remain engraved in the memories.

Juventus and the tackle on Ronaldo: His time at Juventus was crowned with success: four Scudettos, three Italian Super Cups, a Club World Cup, an Intertoto and a European Super Cup. But it is above all his contact with Ronaldo during the Juve-Inter match in 97/98 which is still subject to controversy. Iuliano refutes the accusations of fault and defends his integrity: "This episode made me immortal", he confesses.

Mark Iuliano padel
Mark Iuliano padel
Mark Iuliano padel

However, the victories are sometimes eclipsed by the defeats: three lost Champions League finals and the 2000 European Championship which escaped against France. But Mark remains proud: “In Turin, I learned to win, but also to lose”.

Renowned teammates: During his career, Iuliano rubbed shoulders with great figures of football, such as Del Piero, Inzaghi, Nedved, Trezeguet, Buffon, and in particular Zinedine Zidane. Their relationship goes beyond the pitch: "A great man before being a unique player", says Iuliano of Zidane who also became a big fan and actor of padel in France.

Dark moments: In 2008, Iuliano tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine. Two years of disqualification followed. He evokes the personal tensions and the anguish of a ending career to explain this gap. Fortunately, he was able to count on the unfailing support of his family.

As a coach, his career is also experiencing a stir. In 2013, after a defeat against Novare, he was accused of assaulting a referee. The incident, according to some sources, is linked to racist insults by the referee towards one of his players. Iuliano's father steps up to defend his son: “Mark is not violent. He is incapable of the slightest violence.

Iuliano is now passionate about Padel, regularly frequenting the grounds in the company of former teammates. His life is the reflection of a colorful career. It is also the story of a man who, despite the hardships, was able to get up and move forward.

CP: Instagram page of Mark Iuliano

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovers the padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since padel is part of his life. You often see him touring France going to cover the major events of padel French.

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