With around 20 stations in his football career, it comes as no surprise that Paolo Rizzo is a household name in Franconia and beyond. Born in San Pietro Vernotico in Italy, he was taken to Forchheim by his parents as a baby and grew up there. He took his first steps at SpVgg Jahn Forchheim. When his parents separated, he moved to Stuttgart to live with his aunt at the age of 15. As a young player, he was allowed to train with the A-youth team of SpVgg 07 Ludwigsburg, which played in the Junior Bundesliga. He benefited from this very good training throughout his later career. Before returning to Forchheim, the youth player played for VfB Neckarrems.