Roberto Di Matteo was born on 29 May 1970 in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, to an Italian family originally from Paglieta. His parents had emigrated to Switzerland prior to his birth. He has a sister named Concetta, who is visually impaired.
Between 1988 and 1991, Di Matteo began his professional football career with FC Schaffhausen, a local Swiss club, where he played primarily as a defender. He later joined FC Zürich and subsequently moved to FC Aarau in 1992. His performances in the Swiss league earned him a move to Italy, where he signed with Lazio in the summer of 1993 on a free transfer.
At Lazio, Di Matteo transitioned into a midfield role and became a regular starter under managers Dino Zoff and later Zdeněk Zeman. His time in Italy helped establish his reputation and paved the way for his future move to English football.
Roberto Di Matteo made his debut for the Italy national team under manager Arrigo Sacchi on 16 November 1994. Substituting for Demetrio Albertini in the 55th minute, he featured in a UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying match against Croatia, which Italy lost 2–1. He earned his first international start in a friendly against Turkey on 21 December 1994, contributing to a 3–1 victory.
Di Matteo played in two of Italy’s group-stage matches at UEFA Euro 1996, facing Russia and Germany. Later, he was selected for the squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and appeared in group matches against Chile and Cameroon. His final appearance for the national team came in that tournament. Over the course of his international career, he earned 34 caps and scored two goals, including one in a friendly victory over Slovakia on 28 January 1998.
Di Matteo joined Chelsea Football Club in 1996 and became a key midfielder during his tenure. Known for his technical talent and composure, he famously scored the opening goal in the 1997 FA Cup final, helping Chelsea to their first major trophy in over two decades. However, at the start of the 2000–2001 season, he suffered a severe leg injury during a UEFA Cup match, which ultimately led to his retirement from professional football in 2002.
Despite his premature retirement, Chelsea fans continued to honor him, and in 2002 he was named in the club’s greatest-ever XI.
| Birth Date: | 29 May, 1970 |
| Age: | 49 yrs |
| Occupations: | Association football player Association football manager |
| Citizenship: | Switzerland |
| Birth Place: | Schaffhausen |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | Association football player and manager |
| Net Worth 2021: | 5 million |
