Stefano Bettarini
Stefano Bettarini is an Italian retired professional footballer who played as a defender, and a television personality. He played once for the Italy national team. He was a contestant on Grande Fratello VIP, 2016 and currently a host presenter in L'Isola dei Famosi.
Club career
Early career
Born in Forlì comune, Emilia-Romagna, Bettarini spent his childhood at Buonconvento comune, in the Province of Siena, Tuscany. He then spent his youth career at a local side of Staggia Senese, a village in Poggibonsi, in the Province of Siena. He was signed by Internazionale in 1990. After first being loaned to Baracca Lugo, Bettarini joined Serie B side Lucchese and played four successive Serie B seasons, including one at Salerno. In June 1996, he was signed by Serie A side Cagliari but the team were relegated in 1997.Fiorentina
In July 1997, he was signed by Fiorentina and priced at 3 billion Italian lire. After a limited chance, he was loaned to Bologna on 30 January 1999.Venezia
On 2 September 1999, he was signed by Serie A side Venezia for 4 billion lire transfer fee. He signed a four-year contract. He followed the team relegated in 2000 and promoted back to Serie A in 2001. But the Venice side relegated again in 2002.Sampdoria
After Maurizio Zamparini the owner of Venezia, purchased Palermo, Zamparini bought most of the squad to Sicily, except some players such as Bettarini. Bettarini then joined Serie B side Sampdoria on a free transfer, as Venezia had to reduce the salary expenditure. He signed a reported two-year contract.According to Bettarini himself, Venenzia had sent a letter to him, accusing that he rejected the transfer to Palermo and then Brescia in mid-2002 transfer window, thus unable to pay his wage for 2002–03 season. However, he denied that he rejected the moves to Palermo nor Brescia.
Match-fixing and Parma
In August 2004, he was banned 5 months for match-fixing. Antonio Marasco, Roberto D'Aversa, Generoso Rossi, Maurizio Caccavale and Alfredo Femiano were also banned. Bettarini denied he was guilty and was wrongly included in the investigation.In January 2005, he left for Parma. Bettarini made his club debut on 3 February 2005, against Bologna as starter. That match Gialloblu lost 3–1. He then continued as one of the starting XI. On round 28 against Atalanta, he was substituted by Matteo Contini in the 16th minute. He then out of a month due to injury. He came back to field on round 32 against his former club Sampdoria, but substituted by Paolo Cannavaro in the second minute. That season Parma reached the semi-final of the UEFA Cup; Bettarini retired at the end of the season.