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Franco Brienza (born March 19, 1979 in Cantù) is an Italian footballer, in the role of center/right winger, who plays for U.S. Città di Palermo in Serie A and also represented Italy at international level.

He began his footballing career with Foggia in the 1997/1998 season of Serie B. He is a speedy winger who can play on either flanks to great effect. He joined his current club Palermo in 2000/2001 and has played for the club in Serie C1, B and A. His Palermo career has been interrupted due to spells at Ascoli and Perugia respectively, although his best form has been with the rosanero.

His low tregetory helps him go unnoticed on the wing and his speed helps him beat players with ease. Brienza also has a knack of scoring goals and in the Serie A campaign of 2004/2005, he scored an impressive 10 goals in 33 games playing just behind Luca Toni. That year, Brienza was called up to the Italian national team and has been subsequently been capped by the Azzurri. He has just recently signed a new deal with Palermo, which will keep him tied to the club until 2009, quashing rumours of an exit for the diminitive forward.

Brienza has an exciting career ahead of him with Palermo, as the club is moving forward rapidly through the Serie A ranks, although this year has not been yet as productive for him as the last. In fact, Palermo coach Luigi Del Neri preferred to play a 4-4-2 formation, ruling out a 'free role' for Brienza and ensuring tough competition on the wings with the likes of Mario Alberto Santana, Massimo Bonanni and Mariano González. However, after Del Neri's firing, replaced by Giuseppe Papadopulo, and the departure of Bonanni, Brienza could have many more opportunities to show his full potential for the team.

• Brienza's profile (from US Palermo official website)