Tavano started his professional career with Pisa before being sold to a minor Florence team, Rondinella, then in Serie C2.

[2] He received a call-up from the Italy national team in April 2006,[3] when manager Marcello Lippi held trials for the 23-man squad that would go on to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but he never made his international debut.

Tavano then returned to Italy for a loan spell with Roma, where he mostly served as a reserve player for the main Giallorossi strikers.

[6] He received the number 10 jersey, previously retired in honour of Igor Protti and unretired that year under explicit request from the former amaranto star.

Tavano agreed to stay at Livorno also in their 2008–09 Serie B campaign to try to lead his team back into the top flight.