Date of birth: 18 January 1985 (age 26)
Place of birth: Caravaggio, Italy
Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position: Midfielder
Place of birth: Caravaggio, Italy
Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position: Midfielder
Club career
Atalanta
Montolivo began his career in Serie B with Atalanta. At the age of 18, he made his debut during the 2003–04 season. He played 41 matches and scored four goals, helping Atalanta gain promotion to Serie A. In his first season in Serie A, he played 32 times and scored three goals. However, his efforts were in vain as Atalanta were relegated back down to Serie B.
Fiorentina
Montolivo moved to Fiorentina in the summer of 2005. Initially Atalanta retained part-ownership of the player but the following summer they relinquished that option as Fiorentina took full ownership.
During the 2006–2007 season Montolivo's first-team chances were limited, partly due to the fact that he was still an inexperienced player and partly because manager Cesare Prandelli had a relatively stable and reliable squad of players at his disposal.[citation needed] The young man's talents did not go unrecognised though. He became a fixture in Italy's Under-21 team, coached by Pierluigi Casiraghi.
The 2007–2008 season started well for the Viola midfielder: in the first match day he was as one of the best on the field against Empoli, against which he also scored a splendid goal from a lob. The season follows between ups and downs, but Montolivo confirms himself during the course of the championship as one of the best talents in Italian Football.
In early 2010, due to the departures of then-captain Dario Dainelli and vice-captain Martin Jørgensen, Montolivo was appointed captain of the Tuscany-based club. At the end of the 2010–11, Montolivo refused to sign a contract extension, which had a year remaining.
International career
On 10 October 2006, Montolivo scored the winning goal when Italy's under-21 team beat Spain 2–1 and qualified for 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.
On 17 October 2007, Montolivo debuted for the Azzurri in a 2–0 friendly win against South Africa. He was also called up for Italy's provisional squad before the Euro 2008 tournament. However Coach Roberto Donadoni would eventually omit him from the final list of 23.
Montolivo was summoned by Pierluigi Casiraghi to participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, scoring one goal in the tournament. After playing a bit-part role at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, he started all 3 games at the 2010 FIFA World Cup partnering Daniele De Rossi as a replacement for the injured Andrea Pirlo. He scored his first senior international goal on 10 August 2011 in a friendly against Spain. Montolivo scored the opening goal in a match that Italy won by two goals to one.
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