Career
Tavano started his professional career with Pisa, then being sold to minor Florence team Rondinella, then in Serie C2. He then joined Empoli, where he slowly established himself as one of the stars of the small Tuscan team. During the 2006 January transfer window, several Italian football pundits claimed that Real Madrid were interested in signing Tavano, but he eventually signed for Valencia during Summer 2006.
His time in Spain, however, proved out to be unsuccessful, as he fell out with coaching staff after making statements in the press which led to him being a sub player for the majority of the short stay which he has had. Tavano then returned to Italy for a loan spell with Roma, where he mostly served as a reserve player for the main giallorossi strikers.
In 2007 he was permanently signed by Livorno, for a reported €5.5 million and signed a 4-year contract. He received the #10 jersey, previously retired in honour to Igor Protti and unretired that year under explicit request from the former amaranto star. Despite being the club top scorer in his comeback season in Tuscany, his side did not manage to escape from relegation. Tavano agreed to stay at Livorno also in their Serie B 2008–09 campaign in order to try to lead his team back into the top fllght.
He scored a hat-trick at Avelino on the opening round, the first round 1 hat trick since 1994. He would than score at Piacenza, before standing back to back with a team mate in celebration. He missed a penalty against old club Empoli with the score 1-1, before Antonio Busce scored Empoli's winner. Tavano would, however, get a goal in the 5-2 win over Frosinone, on the way to 25 for the season, giving him the capocannionaire title, and ensuring promotion through the playoffs after missing out on automatic promotion to Bari and Parma. However he had a hard season in Serie A, as Livorno were the only newly promoted team to go down. He scored the winner at Roma, but only scored 4 other goals. He was also inconsistent, so much so that one fan interrupted training to slap him. He was still described as important. New manager Giuseppe Pillon said, "He is a fundamental player but must be motivated. I believe he has a desire for revenge after a poor Serie A Season."
Read more about this topic: Francesco Tavano
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