The Great Italian Player Thread [Post-1990]

[gazza]

Amazing stuff Cassano. Your dedication is truly amazing. My favorite is R. Baggio. My first memory of football is him in the World Cup.

reped. :)

[Garibaldi]

It's about time we celebrate and revere our great players!!!

My two favorite all time players for Italia..... Roberto Baggio - a great ambassador for Italian Football and GIanfranco Zola - a magician !

Baggio and Zola, my favorites.

Viva La Roma!!

Viva L ' Italia!!!!

[Duck Manson]

that pic of Baggio is terrible by the way. he looks chubby. almost american.

[fizer]

Ravanelli la leggenda vivente; un uomo un perche penna biaca ritorna alla juveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee c'e servi come il pane(altro che quella donneta di Del Piero).
Azz altrimenti altri 10 anni di attesa per una coppa dei campioni.
VIULEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENZAAAAAAAA (diego Abatantuomo rulla anche se milanista doc) :p

[LA CURVA SUD ROMA]

G_D bless Roby, I love you brother :(

[elpipeman]

The Great Dino Zoff


http://biografieonline.it/img/bio/d/Dino_Zoff.jpg

[Cassano]

I realized that I still have two more biographies to do, and I never finished them. Plus, I have a sudden urge to do these again.
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Angelo Di Livio

http://www.123football.com/players/d/angelo-di-livio/angelo-di-livio4.jpg

Angelo Di Livio was born in Rome on July 26, 1966. He is nicknamed "Il Soldatino" [Little Soldier] because of his stature and his combative play. Di Livio is known as being a leader on the field, and he never gives up. He was a part of the Roma first team in the 1984-85 season, but did not make an appearance. Roma decided to let him go and he was picked up by Reggiana. He was somewhat nomadic, moving to Nocerina, then Perugia, and then Padova. When he began to impress at Padova, Juventus decided to pick him up. He remained with Juventus until the 1998/1999 season, winning three Italian league titles, a Coppa Italia, two Italian Super Cups, the UEFA Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup. He was known as a combative midfielder that was everywhere on the pitch. During this time, he made his debut for the Azzurri on September 6, 1995 against Slovenia. For Italy, he played in Euro '96, World Cup '98, Euro 2000, and at 36 years old was called up to play in World Cup 2002. Because of his "never say die" reputation, Trappatoni put him in as a sub in the game against South Korea to win some balls in midfield. After the 1998/99 season, he was sold to Fiorentina, where he won a Coppa Italia, but the team was relegated and in shambles. Di Livio dedicated himself to La Viola, going with them to Serie C2 and enjoying the ride all the way until they reached Serie A. He was 38, and did not figure much throughout the season. Dino Zoff, the Fiorentina manager near the end of the season, started playing Di Livio regularly when they were in relegation trouble. Angelo inspired the squad and it came down to the last matchday against Brescia. Fiorentina won, and when the final whistle blew, Di Livio started screaming at the top of his lungs in joy, "E Finita! E Finita!" (It's Finished!). After the season, Di Livio wanted to get a new contract offer, but Fiorentina didn't give him one. They talked about giving him a coaching job, but that never came. Lucchese offered him a contract, but he said no thanks and just retired.

[Cassano]

Enrico Chiesa

http://www.repubblica.it/2005/a/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/22giornata/sienacagliari1/stor_5755322_27410.jpg

Enrico Chiesa was born December 29, 1970 in Genoa. He started his career with Sampdoria, starting off as a 17 year old in 1987/88, but only made 1 appearance in 3 seasons. Samp loaned him out to Teramo and Chieti, for the next two seasons, playing in Serie C2 one year and C1 another. He scored 11 goals in 55 appearances between the two teams. When thhe 92/93 season rolled around, Sampdoria decided to take him back, and he made 26 appearances in Serie A, scoring only one goal. Sampdoria decided that the young talent needed more experience in the top division, and loaned him out to newly-promoted Cremonese. He was a vital part of the Cremonese squad, scoring 14 times in 34 games, leading Cremonese to an unlikely salvezza. With the departure of Roberto Mancini, Sampdoria took Chiesa back for the 1995/96 season, and Chiesa became one of the best strikers in Serie A. He scored 22 goals in 27 appearances, and earned a call-up to Euro '96. With the Azzurri, Chiesa made 16 appearances, scoring 7 goals. He was a last-minute replacement for the injured Ravanelli at World Cup '98. After Euro '96, Parma bought Chiesa. He did a good job at Parma, scoring many goals, but Chiesa has had many injuries during his career, and without them would've probably been more prolific. After the 98/99 season, Fiorentina needed to buy good players to keep Gabriel Batistuta happy and in Florence. Chiesa was brought in, but was also fighting for a place with Predrag Mijatovic, and only scored 6 goals. The next season, Batistuta left, and the team was plagued with financial problems and injuries. Chiesa was relied on to perform and did. He scored 22 goals in 30 games, but Fiorentina were relegated. After that, he had a spell at Lazio, but was injured a lot and figured in few matches. With his contract up, Chiesa decided to follow the 'Baggio route' and join a smaller squad where he could play most of the time. He found that team in Siena, and has been playing there since, leading them to consecutive salvezza's. He is one of the top active scorers in Serie A, scoring over 120 goals. He has also recently said that he has no intention of retiring anytime soon and will play until he isn't physically able anymore.

[dor02]

Great stuff as always Cassano.

If you are interested in creating these profiles again, I was wondering if you could do one on former Juve player Giancarlo Marocchi? I don't know a lot about him.

[Cassano]

Great stuff as always Cassano.

If you are interested in creating these profiles again, I was wondering if you could do one on former Juve player Giancarlo Marocchi? I don't know a lot about him.

You got it...