Named club captain in August 2002, Matteo joined Leeds just three days prior to the start of 2000/01 in a £4.25 million move from Liverpool.  Making his Leeds debut in the legendary 1-0 victory over Italian giants AC Milan, Matteo proved his versatility to the team by playing at left-back and in midfield, but mainly in the centre of defence.  Now a Scotland international, Matteo joined Liverpool’s School of Excellence at the age of 11 where he played alongside Robbie Fowler, who would later follow him from Liverpool to Leeds.

Strange but true: Matteo, who has English parents and Italian grandparents, was in Glenn Hoddle’s England squads and has been capped at England Under-21 level.