1. Overview
Rodrigo Ferrante Taddei is a Brazilian-Italian former professional footballer renowned for his exceptional versatility on the field. Primarily a midfielder, Taddei demonstrated the ability to play in almost every position, including as a goalkeeper in one instance for SE Palmeiras. His career spanned from Brazil, where he began with Palmeiras, to a significant and long tenure in Italy with AC Siena and most notably AS Roma, where he spent nine seasons, contributing to multiple Coppa Italia victories and showcasing his unique skills, such as "The Aurelio" move. He concluded his professional playing career with AC Perugia Calcio.
2. Early Life and Background
Rodrigo Ferrante Taddei was born on 6 March 1980, in São Paulo, Brazil. He stands 70 in (177 cm) tall and weighs 176 lb (80 kg). He holds dual Brazilian and Italian nationality, with his great-grandparents originating from the Italian cities of Perugia and Turin. This dual heritage made him eligible to represent both the Brazilian and Italian national football teams.
3. Player Career
Rodrigo Taddei's professional football career began in Brazil before he moved to Italy, where he spent the majority of his playing days, establishing himself as a highly adaptable and valuable player across multiple clubs.
3.1. Brazil Career
Taddei began his professional career in Brazil with SE Palmeiras, playing for the club from 2000 to 2002. During his time there, he made 25 appearances and scored 1 goal. His versatility was evident even in these early years; on one occasion, he notably played as a goalkeeper for Palmeiras after the team's regular starting goalkeeper was sent off during a match.
3.2. Italy Career
Taddei's extensive career in Italy saw him play for three different clubs, adapting his style to the demands of Italian football and becoming a prominent figure, particularly during his time at AS Roma.
3.2.1. AC Siena
In September 2002, Taddei moved to Italy and signed with AC Siena, which was then a Serie B team. He quickly became a key player for Siena, helping the Tuscan club achieve promotion to Serie A in his first season, winning the Serie B title. He continued to play for Siena for two more seasons in Serie A, making a total of 74 appearances and scoring 14 goals before his departure in 2005. His contributions were particularly crucial in helping the team avoid relegation after he recovered from a severe car accident in late 2003.
3.2.2. AS Roma
Taddei joined AS Roma on 3 June 2005, signing a five-year contract on a free transfer after his contract with Siena expired. His initial gross salary was 1.75 M EUR in the first season, increasing to 2.23 M EUR for the subsequent four seasons. Before joining Roma, Taddei had also attracted interest from other major Italian clubs like Juventus, Lazio, and Internazionale, as well as English Premier League clubs.
He made his debut for Roma on 28 August 2005, in a 3-0 away victory against Reggina in Serie A. His arrival coincided with the appointment of coach Luciano Spalletti, who adopted a zero-top system for the 2005-06 Serie A season, where Taddei became a key right-sided midfielder. In his first season, Taddei experienced European football, helping Roma reach the last 16 of the 2005-06 UEFA Cup, where they were eliminated by Middlesbrough on away goals. He concluded his debut season with an impressive 9 goals in 53 appearances across all competitions.
On 18 October 2006, during a UEFA Champions League group stage match against Olympiacos, Taddei gained significant attention for performing a unique skill move he later dubbed "The Aurelio." This move, named after AS Roma assistant manager Aurelio Andreazzoli, involved controlling the ball with his right foot, moving it behind his left standing leg, and then bringing it forward again with the same right foot, akin to a rabona, to bypass an opponent. Later that year, on 23 December 2006, he scored an acrobatic goal in a 2-0 win over Cagliari.
Taddei played a crucial role in Roma's European campaigns. On 4 April 2007, he scored the opening goal in Roma's 2-1 victory over Manchester United in the first leg of the 2006-07 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. Although he missed the second leg due to injury, which saw Roma lose 7-1 at Old Trafford, his contribution was vital. He ended the 2006-07 by winning his first major trophy, the 2006-07 Coppa Italia, a title Roma successfully defended the following season, defeating Internazionale on both occasions. On 5 March 2008, he scored a goal in a 2-1 away win over Real Madrid in the 2007-08 UEFA Champions League round of 16, which allowed Roma to advance to another quarter-final against Manchester United. During his tenure, Roma also achieved four Serie A second-place finishes and were four-time Coppa Italia runners-up, alongside their two Coppa Italia victories.
On 21 February 2009, Taddei scored a goal in a 1-0 victory against his former club, Siena. On 7 June 2010, Roma announced that Taddei had signed a new four-year contract, with a gross annual salary of 2.80 M EUR for the first three years and 1.90 M EUR in the final year. He continued to contribute key goals, including one in a 2-0 win over Juventus in the 2010-11 Coppa Italia quarter-finals on 27 January 2011.
In the 2011-12 season, he scored one goal in 24 matches. Under coach Zdeněk Zeman in the 2012-13 season, Taddei often played as a full-back, though he made only 6 appearances across all competitions that season. New coach Rudi Garcia moved him back to midfield for the 2013-2014 season, where he scored 2 goals in 20 appearances. His goal against Parma on 2 April 2014 was his first for Roma since December 2011. Just two games later, he scored his final goal for Roma, opening the scoring in a 3-1 victory over Atalanta.
A notable moment in his Roma career also includes a goal scored in the Derby della Capitale against Lazio on 19 March 2008, when a clearance from Lazio's Valon Behrami deflected off Taddei's left shoulder and into the net. After nine years with AS Roma, during which he played almost 300 games and scored 31 goals in all competitions, Taddei left the club at the end of the 2013-14 season after failing to reach an agreement for a contract renewal.
3.2.3. Perugia
On 21 July 2014, after two months as a free agent, Taddei signed a contract with AC Perugia Calcio in Serie B. He scored his first goal for Perugia in a 2-0 win against FeralpiSalò in the second round of the Coppa Italia. His first Serie B goal for the club came on 20 September in a 2-2 draw with Vicenza, a result that kept Perugia at the top of the Serie B table. Taddei remained with Perugia for two seasons, making 40 appearances and scoring 3 goals, before his contract concluded in July 2016, marking the end of his professional playing career.
4. Play Style and Versatility
Rodrigo Taddei was primarily a midfielder, but his most defining characteristic was his remarkable versatility. Throughout his career, he demonstrated the ability to play effectively in almost every position on the field, with the exception of central defender. He was deployed as a right midfielder, on both wing-back positions, and as an inside midfielder during his time at AS Roma. His adaptability allowed coaches to utilize him in various tactical setups, making him a valuable asset to every team he played for. This exceptional flexibility even extended to him playing as a goalkeeper for Palmeiras on one occasion. He was right-footed.
5. International Career
Due to his dual Brazilian and Italian citizenship, Rodrigo Taddei was eligible to represent both the Brazilian and Italian national teams. Despite his consistent performances at club level, he was never called up to the Brazil national team. Although then-Italy coach Roberto Donadoni showed interest in calling him up for the Azzurri, Taddei publicly stated in February 2009 that he would accept a call from Marcello Lippi, who was the Italy coach at the time. However, he ultimately did not receive a call-up from either national team throughout his career.
6. Personal Life
In late 2003, while playing for AC Siena, Rodrigo Taddei was involved in a severe car accident. The incident resulted in his younger brother, Leonardo, tragically losing his life. His teammate, Pinga, was also injured in the accident. Despite the profound personal tragedy and serious injuries he sustained, Taddei made a remarkable recovery and returned to playing for Siena, demonstrating immense resilience.
7. Honours
Palmeiras
- Copa do Brasil: 1998
- Torneio Rio - São Paulo: 2000
- Copa dos Campeões: 2000
- Copa Libertadores runner-up: 2000
- Copa Mercosur runner-up: 2000
Siena
- Serie B: 2002-03
Roma
- Coppa Italia: 2006-07, 2007-08
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2007