Denis Bergamini found a dead owl at the training camp the morning of 18 November 1989. An all-action midfielder, gifted and determined, he was an icon, adored by boys and girls, in Cosenza.…
Tag: italy
This feature is part of the Academy Way Inter Milan is an Italian institution. Although they may be faltering somewhat in the current Serie A landscape as Juventus and Napoli soar, they remain…
As featured on Guardian Sport ARRIGO SACCHI INSISTS that his comments were misinterpreted and not racist, but many remain unconvinced. “Italian football is now without dignity or pride because it has too many…
On 15 July 2014, A.C. Siena failed to register for the 2014-15 Serie B season and were declared bankrupt after 110 years of history. It was a poignant end for a provincial club…
LIKE IT OR LOATHE IT, football and politics are intrinsically linked. If you look to every corner of the globe where football is played, politics always has a role. Be it right at…
UNLIKE THE LANGUAGES of the other major Italian islands, the Venetian dialect considers the word for the sea, mar, to be feminine. Each year, on Ascension Day, the Venetians marry the sea, symbolically…
Rome, the Eternal City, has hosted some of the game’s all-time greats – among them Conti, Falcão, Signori and Chinaglia. None, however, are greater than current captain and symbol, Francesco Totti. It…
FOOTBALL THRIVES ON THE ECCENTRIC CAST OF CHARACTERS in its court. In it, we find rival kings like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo leading their powerful armies armed to the teeth with soldiers…
AS THE PREVIOUS SEASON FADES INTO THE DISTANCE and we embark on a new one, memories of the previous 12 months will intensify. In recent times many of the year-end football high points…
Illustration by Charis Tsevis LONG BEFORE THE MODERN GAME became what it is today, an intrinsic, deep-rooted love for the lifeblood and essence of the sport was the fundamental name of the…
Diego Maradona’s relationship with Naples with unlike that of any footballer with a city before or since. Indeed the city will never forget its adopted hero
This feature is part of A Tale of One City Italian football is missing something. Throughout the storied lifetime of Serie A, there have been many of the greatest players to grace the…
The Italy of 1921 is far removed from the Italy of the present day. The political system was in turmoil – many argue it still is – as extremes of both kinds battled…
IT WAS THE SECOND GAME OF THE 1962 WORLD CUP. Hosts Chile lined-up against Italy on the back of an impressive opening round victory against Switzerland. Sixty-six thousand fans travelled to Estadio…
On 22 April 2012, chaos descended from the stands of Genoa’s Stadio Luigi Ferraris. With the troubled Rossoblu trailing 4-0 just after half-time against Siena, a gang of around 80 ultras broke…