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Giancarlo Antognoni
Giancarlo Antognoni (Marsciano, April 1st 1954) Former Italian mid-fielder. Acclaimed for his career with Fiorentina, and in the National line-up, spanning the Seventies and Eighties. World Champion, with Italy in 1982.
ON THE FIELD
Fiorentina bought Antognoni from Asti Ma.co.bi., a Piedmont team in Series B, in 1972, for 435million! (Italian Lira, at the time.)The “purple” President, Ugolino Ugolini succeeded in carrying him off to Florence, despite the Asti club’s vicinity to Torino (rumour has it, that the Grenadines already had their eye on the talented youngster from Umbria). The big debut in Series A took place at Verona, October 15th 1972, when Antognoni was just eighteen-and-a-half: he came out sporting the number 7. Through the Seventies, up to the mid-Eighties, he inherited the captaincy from Brizi and Ennio Pellegrini. Acquired in the same period as Moreno Roggi, Mimmo Caso, Vincenzo Guerini and Claudio Desolati, Antognoni found himself leading a squad who won their first, and only, big prize while wearing purple: the Coppa Italia, conquering Milan, 3-2, in the final held in Rome. While playing for Fiorentina, in 1981, Antognoni clashed with Genoa goalkeeper, Silvano Martina, suffering life-threatening head injuries. (It is told that without the prompt intervention of Genoa club medic, Prof.Pierluigi Gatto – who stormed onto the field, without waiting for the referee’s permission - ,coupled with the skillful assistance of Ennio “Pallino” Raveggi (Fiorentina ‘s “legendary” club physiotherapist), who was able to effect CPR, Antognoni may well have expired on the pitch. Three years later, another clash, this time with Sampdoria’s Luca Pellegrini, left him with an exposed fracture of the tibia and fibula, which kept him out of action for months. When he finally made his return after the second injury, it is said that Antognoni found himself at odds with the Purples’ trainer, Aldo Agroppi, who frequently gave preference to the young Onorati. As a result, the trainer was attacked downtown by a group of enraged Purple fans. During 1986-87, alongside Ramon Diaz, Antognoni pulled Fiorentina through a sticky championship battle. At the end of that season, after 341 matches and 61 goals, Antognoni quit Fiorentina , for the Swiss side Lausanne, where he saw out two seasons. On April 25th 1989, he played his last match. 40,000 fans turned out to the Artemi Franchi Stadium (which was being rebuilt at the time), to say Good-bye, and were rewarded with a Lap of Honour.
Antognoni wore his Nation’s colours on 73 occasions (scoring 7 times): for the first time on November 20th 1974, Holland vs Italy (3-1), and finishing in Prague, losing 2-0 to Checkoslovakia, on November 16th 1983. No other Italian player to date, has worn the number ten shirt as many times. In the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, he may have been dogged by foot injury. Four years later however, in Spain he became World Champion. He netted a ball against Brazil (4-2), but the goal was disallowed for a (mistaken) off-side. A foul tackle by the Pole, Wladyslaw Zmuda, in the semi-final, denied him the chance to participate in the final in Madrid.
IN MANAGEMENT
Upon his return to Florence, he accepted the invitation of the Purple Club, working his way through the ranks under the auspices of the Cecchi Goris, first Mario, then Vittorio, to finally become General Director, taking on the technical responsibility of the team, alongside Luciano Chiarugi, at the end of the 1992-93 season, which culminated in the side’s demotion. Having received no confirmation from Fatih Terim, and possibly at odds with the President, he resigned in 2001, to take a break from the world of Football, and dedicate himself to his private life. Having overcome some health problems, he then took up the Federation’s offer to work with the national youth teams, a position he still fulfills. On October 8th 2008, he returned to the pitch at Artemio Franchi, in a charity “ friendly “ between Fiorentina and Milan, for Stefano Borgonovo…where the Florentines showed him an undiminished affection.
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Palmarès
- Coppa Italia
- 1974/75
- Coppa di Lega Italo Inglese
- 1975/76
- Campionato del mondo
- 1982
