Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio in 2013
Roberto Baggio (born 18 February 1967 Caldogno (VI ), Italy ) is a retired Italian footballer.
He is regarded as one of the world's best strikers in the 1990s. His nickname is Divin Codino, literally means " Divine Ponytail ".
Baggio is not related or related by marriage to the former Italian international Dino Baggio. He has seven siblings, his younger brother Eddy was also a professional footballer.
Career
Roberto Baggio began his career in 1982 at the then third division club Vicenza Calcio, the then SS Lane Rossi Vicenza called. In 1985, after helping Vicenza promotion to Serie B, he moved to the Serie A Fiorentina. In one of his last games with Vicenza to Baggio was seriously injured on his right knee. The injury prevented him from playing the next two years constant. But he recovered, increased enormously and was finally adopted on November 16, 1988 National Player.
After the 1990 World Cup, Roberto Baggio moved for about 15 billion lire, at that time the most expensive transfer in the world, to Juventus. During his time at Juve Baggio played probably the best football of his career. In the 1992/93 season with Juventus, he managed to win the UEFA Cup against Borussia Dortmund after Saint Germain was beaten in the semifinals Paris. In the semi-finals and finals, Baggio scored a total of 5 goals. In the same year he was awarded the title of World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year. In the 1994 World Cup in the United States Baggio reached with Italy the final, which was against Brazil on penalties lost. After he had brought Italy almost single-handedly with five goals from the second round to the final, he missed the last penalty kick and became the tragic figure of this World Cup. Most forget, however, that could transform only two of the five Italian shooters.
In the 1994/95 season Juventus won the league and cup. Baggio, only half of all completed games this season, had to watch as Alessandro Del Piero became his successor. Juventus president Giovanni Agnelli honor Baggio eventually sold to one of the biggest rivals of the club, AC Milan, in confidence, to have an equivalent replacement with Del Piero.
In Milan, Baggio won the championship again in 1996, but went in 1997 after he had retired him at Milan, more or less, to FC Bologna. He cut off his ponytail, his previous trademark, and brought themselves physically through rigorous training in the form. Against all expectations, he scored 22 goals in 30 games. His outstanding performance and the constant calls his Tifosi to the then national coach Cesare Maldini helped him to participate in the 1998 World Cup in France. A new return to Milan, this time to Inter Milan, was unhappy. Frequently injured, Baggio could not meet the high expectations. He also did not get along with coach Marcello Lippi. His last game with Inter against AC Parma should be a symbol game. Two goals he scored Milan's club in the Champions League. In the same year he was not taken to the Euro 2000. With 33 years had only a few foreign clubs to Baggio interest, when he accepted an offer from Brescia Calcio. This decision allowed him to stay with his family. In Brescia Calcio had Baggio Carlo Mazzone as coach who, as one of the few in his career, allowed to play him wherever he wanted and did not doubt his skill. Baggio managed with Brescia Calcio four times in the league and also reached the expected goal of 200 goals in Serie A.
Despite constant good performances he was nominated for neither the 2002 World Cup, nor for the Euro 2004. Under Giovanni Trapattoni, he played on 28 April 2004 in a friendly against Spain his national team farewell game.
On 16 May 2004 the away match against AC Milan, he adopted also by the national football stage; he was replaced in the 84th minute and received by the 80,000 fans at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium minutes long standing ovation.
Without Baggio, whose back number "10" Brescia no longer forgives Brescia failed the following year in the league and got down to Serie B.
Overall, Roberto Baggio graduated in 452 Serie A matches and scored 205 goals so he is sixth in the all-time scorers list in Italy's top flight. In countries and friendlies he succeeded 113 times. In 1993 he was elected as World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year.
Roberto Baggio is a practicing Soka Gakkai Buddhist.
Achievements / Title
With the national
- World Cup bronze medalist: 1990
- Vice World Champion: 1994
With its clubs
- UEFA Cup: 1992/93
- Italian Champion: 1994/95, 1995/96
- Italian Cup Winners: 1994/95
- Italian Super Cup winner: 1995
Individual Achievements / Honors
- European Footballer of the Year as U-23 players: 1990
- Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: 1991
- Scorer of the European Cup Winners' Cup: 1990/91
- World Footballer of the Year: 1993
- European Footballer of the Year: 1993
- Onze d'Or: 1993
- World Soccer Player of the Year: 1993
- World Cup 1994: All- Star team, Silver Ball
- Guerin d' Oro ( Best player of Serie A ): 2001
- Recording in the FIFA 100
- Peace Summit Award 2010