Giancarlo Antognoni
Antognoni in 2011
Personal information
Full name Giancarlo Antognoni
Date of birth (1954-04-01) 1 April 1954
Place of birth Marsciano, Italy
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1972 Asti 27 (4)
1972–1987 Fiorentina 341 (61)
1987–1989 Lausanne-Sport 51 (7)
Total 419 (72)
International career
1974–1983 Italy 73 (7)
Medal record
 Italy
FIFA World Cup
Gold medal – first placeSpain 1982
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Giancarlo Antognoni (Italian pronunciation: [dʒaŋˈkarlo antoɲˈɲoːni]; born 1 April 1954) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. A skillful and creative offensive playmaker, regarded as one of the best Italian players of all time in his position,[1] he played most of his club career with Fiorentina, with whom they won the Coppa Italia and the Anglo-Italian League Cup in 1975.[2] At international level, he won the 1982 FIFA World Cup with the Italy national team, and he also represented his country at the 1978 FIFA World Cup, and at the 1980 UEFA European Championship, finishing in fourth place on both occasions. On 11 October 2010, he was awarded the "Legends of football" Golden Foot award.[3]

Club career

Antognoni was born in Marsciano. His career started in the Serie D with Asti Ma.Co.Bi., when he was only sixteen. In 1972, Nils Liedholm convinced him to join Fiorentina.

He made his debut in Serie A in October 1972 with Fiorentina, whom he later captained, also eventually inheriting the number 10 shirt. He won the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) during the 1974–75 season, as well as the 1975 Anglo-Italian League Cup that season, over West Ham.[2] He narrowly missed out on the Serie A title with Fiorentina during the 1981–82 season, losing out to rivals Juventus by a single point on the final match-day. Antognoni played 412 games with Fiorentina and scored 61 goals. Antognoni is regarded as a Fiorentina legend, and as one of the club's best ever players, as he played for the club throughout his entire Italian professional career between the 70s and 80s. He holds the record for the most appearances in Serie A for Fiorentina, with 341 appearances.[1][4][5]

In November 1981, Antognoni fractured his skull in two places and went into a coma for two days following an accidental collision with Genoa's goalkeeper Silvano Martina, which saw the latter's knee come into heavy contact with Antognoni's head; according to FIFA.com, the playmaker went into cardiac arrest for 30 seconds, which led Genoa's captain, Claudio Onofri, to exclaim "he’s dead, he’s dead!" However, Genoa's team doctor – Pierluigi Gatto – was able to act quickly and revive Antognoni's pulse by untwisting his tongue and giving him CPR through chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.[6][7][8]

In 1987, Antognoni joined Lausanne Sports. He made 51 appearances and scored seven goals. He retired in 1989 while at Lausanne.

International career

Antognoni's senior international career with the Italy national team started on 20 November 1974, in a 3–1 away loss to the Netherlands at the age of twenty, in a Euro 1976 qualifying match. Antognoni took part in the 1978 World Cup with Italy under manager Enzo Bearzot, where the team finished in fourth place after a semi-final defeat to the Netherlands. He also reached another fourth-place finish at the 1980 European Championship on home soil, wearing the number 10 jersey. His greatest achievement with the national team came when he won the 1982 FIFA World Cup, however, after recovering from a skull–injury sustained the year prior in time for the tournament. Antognoni made six appearances throughout the competition, and played a crucial role in the team's title run with his ability to circulate possession and create chances with his passing as the team's main playmaker; he provided the second–highest number of assists throughout the tournament (three), behind only Brazil's Zico and West Germany's Pierre Littbarski. He also had a goal in Italy's 3–2 second–round victory over Brazil incorrectly ruled out for offside; however, the result allowed Italy to advance to the semi-finals. He started in the latter match against Poland, which Italy won 2–0, but he was not able to participate in the final 3–1 victory over West Germany due to an injury he sustained in the semi-final.[5][6][7]

In total, he received 73 caps for Italy, scoring seven goals. His last appearance came against Czechoslovakia, on 16 November 1983. He captained of the national team on four occasions. Antognoni is currently the Fiorentina player with the most appearances for the national side,[9] and also holds the record for the most appearances wearing the number 10 shirt for Italy.[10] With two red cards throughout his international career, he is also Italy's most red carded player ever, alongside Franco Causio and Daniele De Rossi.[11]

Style of play

Antognoni with Fiorentina in 1974

A skillful, quick, and creative offensive playmaker, Antognoni is considered to be one of Italy's greatest players ever, one of the most talented players of his generation, and one of the best attacking midfielders of all time, due to his vision, control, technical ability, intelligence, accurate distribution, passing range, and eye for goal from midfield. which enabled him to score goals or create chances for his teammates; he was also known for his ability to circulate possession, dictate play in midfield, and orchestrate his team's attacking moves with his quick short passing on the ground, as well as his ability to switch the play with long diagonal balls. Moreover, he was an excellent dribbler, who was known for his pace and elegance on the ball, as well as quick feet, and his ability to keep his head up when carrying the ball forward while advancing in possession from midfield, which saw him likened to compatriot Gianni Rivera by pundits. Although he was usually deployed as a traditional number 10 behind the forwards, he was also capable of playing as a central midfielder, where he functioned as a deep-lying playmaker. Antognoni was also highly regarded throughout his career for his accuracy from bending set pieces, and for his powerful shots from outside the area; although naturally right footed, he was capable of passing or striking the ball accurately with either foot.[1][6][10][12][13] In addition to his footballing skills, he also stood out for his leadership throughout his career, as well as his work-rate.[1][5] Despite his talent, his career was largely marked by injuries.[14]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[15]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Astimacobi 1970–71 Serie D 5100–51
1971–72 22300–223
Total 2740000274
Fiorentina 1972–73 Serie A 2028010292
1973–74 2514120312
1974–75 2949140425
1975–76 3058240427
1976–77 2844040364
1977–78 2664120327
1978–79 27040–310
1979–80 30841–349
1980–81 27960–339
1981–82 16352–215
1982–83 27950213410
1983–84 18552–237
1984–85 00000000
1985–86 19130–221
1986–87 19400–194
Total 34161691019142972
Lausanne-Sport 1987–88 Nationalliga A 33520–355
1988–89 18211–193
Total 5173100548
Career total 41972721119151084

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[16]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Italy 197420
197570
1976104
197772
1978100
197940
1980101
198180
1982110
198340
Total737

Honours

Fiorentina[2][17]

Italy[17]

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Giancarlo ANTOGNONI e l'invidia degli Dei" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "Auguri Antognoni, l'uomo che giocava guardando le stelle" (in Italian). Sky.it. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Giancarlo Antognoni". Golden Foot. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "ANTOGNONI DAY, L'amore di Firenze il mio scudetto" (in Italian). Firenze Viola.it. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Alberto, Costa (11 February 2011). "Io, bandiera viola per sempre La fedeltà conta più dei trofei". Il Corriere della Sera (in Italian). p. 65. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "82: The original and harshest Group of Death". FourFourTwo. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  7. 1 2 "Bearzot's Blues of '82 in numbers". FIFA.com. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Addio a Gatto, il medico che salvò Antognoni". La Repubblica (in Italian). 27 July 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "Nazionale in cifre: Antognoni, Giancarlo". figc.it (in Italian). FIGC. Archived from the original on 24 August 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Dalla A alla Zico, i grandi numeri 10 del calcio internazionale" (in Italian). Sport.Sky.it. 10 October 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Totale: Espulsioni" [Totals: Sending-offs] (in Italian). Italia1910. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Pirlo, punizioni da record: Sinisa è sempre più vicino" (in Italian). Sky.it. 11 November 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  13. ↑ "Antognoni su Bernardeschi: "Diventerà come Robben"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 24 December 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  14. ↑ "Antognoni su Baggio: "Col Napoli gli lasciai la punizione e segnò. L'addio alla Fiorentina…"" (in Italian). Viola News. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  15. ↑ Giancarlo Antognoni at National-Football-Teams.com
  16. ↑ Roberto Di Maggio (29 May 2005). "Giancarlo Antognoni - International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  17. 1 2 "Giancarlo Antognoni" (in French). Eurosport. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  18. ↑ "Golden Foot Legends". goldenfoot.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  19. ↑ "IV Hall of Fame Viola: Toldo, Chiarugi e non-solo entrano nella galleria degli onori" (in Italian). violanews.com. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  20. ↑ Matteo Magrini (23 August 2016). "Festa al Franchi, presenti e assenti. No eccellenti da Rui Costa, Baggio e Batistuta" (in Italian). Fiorentina.it. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "Antognoni gives Kalinic hint". Football Italia. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  22. ↑ "Totti, Zanetti e Allegri tra i premiati dell'8ª edizione della 'Hall of Fame del calcio italiano'" (in Italian). FIGC.it. 19 February 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
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