In July 1997, he was signed by Fiorentina and priced at 3 billion Italian lire.[2] After a limited chance, he was loaned to Bologna on 30 January 1999.[3]
Venezia
On 2 September 1999, he was signed by Serie A side Venezia for 4 billion lire transfer fee.[4] He signed a four-year contract.[5] 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 (and selling Venezia at the same time), 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.[6] He signed a reported two-year contract.[7]
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 [sic]. However, he denied that he rejected the moves to Palermo nor Brescia.[8]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2010)
In January 2005, he left for Parma.[11] Bettarini made his club debut on 3 February 2005 (round 22), against Bologna as starter. That match Gialloblu lost 3–1. He then continued as one of the starting XI. On round 28 (13 March) against Atalanta, he was substituted by Matteo Contini in the 16th minute. He then out of a month due to injury.[12][13] He came back to field on round 32 (20 April) 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.
International career
Bettarini received his only national team call-up in 2004, a warm-up friendly match in Palermo, against the Czech Republic before the start of UEFA Euro 2004, on 18 February. Bettarini's club teammate Sergio Volpi, as well as Parma's Simone Barone, also received their first call-up.[14] During the experimental match, Bettarini played as one of the starting XI, and was replaced by Giuseppe Pancaro in the 79th minute. Italy manager Giovanni Trapattoni used all of his 22-men squad on the field, and made seven substitutions at half time; the match ended in a 2–2 draw.[15][16]
Personal life
Bettarini was married to Italian television host Simona Ventura between 1998 and 2004; the couple had two children together.[17]
References
^"Biografia" [Biography]. Il sito ufficiale di Stefano Bettarini (Autobiography) (in Italian). Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
^Alessio Da Ronch , Franco Calamai (11 July 1997). "Fiorentina da corsa". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^"Bettarini va alla Sampdoria Livorno-Balleri: c' è l' accordo". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan: RCS MediaGroup. 13 September 2002. Retrieved 25 April 2010. ...disposto a cedere il cartellino a costo zero pur di liberarsi di uno stipendio oneroso...
^Grimaldi, Filippo; Longhi, Guglielmo (30 August 2002). "Samp instancabile: preso Cois". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Milan: RCS MediaGroup. Retrieved 9 January 2019.