A longtime Juventus fan, being an admirer of Michel Platini, he was also influenced by Paolo Maldini's professionalism and sportsmanship,[2] and entered Empoli FC's youth academy, beginning his career as a right winger before moving into defence.

After nearly 150 official matches, Birindelli ended his career with Empoli and moved to Juventus in 1997, managed at the time by Marcello Lippi, joining an already strong squad – which featured young prodigies Alessandro Del Piero and Zinedine Zidane – and arriving alongside Edgar Davids and Filippo Inzaghi.

He made his league debut in a 2–0 victory over US Lecce on 31 August, but his first competitive appearance had taken place in the Supercoppa Italiana defeat of Vicenza Calcio.

Birindelli and Juventus initially started 2006–07 with a 30-point deduction as a further punishment for their role in the match-fixing scandal, but it was ultimately reduced to nine, which allowed for another Cadetti conquest for the player and the subsequent promotion.

[6] However, the team suffered relegation from the second tier at the end of the campaign, and then excluded from Italian football due to financial issues.

In July 2010 Birindelli retired from active football, immediately being named assistant coach in the Zambia national team led by countryman Dario Bonetti.