channel4.com - Football Italia




Giuseppe Signori Not even Giuseppe Signori himself knew what magic he possessed in that unforgettable left-foot of his. “It was Zdenek Zeman's first day at Foggia and he introduced himself to me by saying: 'Ciao, Bomber'. I found that odd because, up until that point, I had never netted more than five goals in a season. He unearthed my capacity to score.” Born in Alzano Lombardo, Signori wasted little time in announcing himself to the public on these shores. Having been snapped up by Lazio after his heroics at Foggia, the curious Channel 4 public saw the dynamic 1.71m tall striker grab a brace in their first live game as the capital giants held Sampdoria to a thrilling 3-3 draw. The sight of Signori rippling the net became a familiar one during the Calcio Italia era. An attacker blessed with the perfect mix of technique, physicality and an eye for goal, Signori made a massive impact. By the time he ended his Italian top-flight career he had hit an amazing 188 goals in 344 games between 1991 and 2004. Three times Capocannoniere, only six men have more goals to their name in Serie A history. Signori is best remembered for his spell on the Biancocelesti side of the Tiber, where he became the captain and symbol of the team. The latter was clearly underlined following the events of June 11, 1995, when fans took to the streets after it was revealed that Sergio Cragnotti had agreed to sell him to Parma. The furore was so extreme that the President was forced to change his mind by the end of the day. Beppegol eventually left the Italian capital for a six-month spell at Sampdoria in January 1998 before signing on a permanent basis at Bologna. Many thought he was finished by then, but he still proved himself to be a nightmare for defenders despite the falling sands of time. Unfortunately for the man who famously took his penalties with a one-step run up, honours were rare. A scorer of seven goals in 28 caps, his Azzurri career is one filled with sorrow. After playing some part in all of Italy's USA '94 games, he told Arrigo Sacchi that he was not prepared to sacrifice himself as a wide midfielder in the Final against Brazil. “That's the only regret of my career,” he remembered. “A World Cup Final arrives once in a lifetime - it's a game that you would even play in goal for…” Signori quit Italy in 2004 for a spell in Greece and then Hungary, but his legend lives on. Just like us, he is thankful for what he regularly delivered on any given Sunday. “It was a marvellous adventure,” he noted. “I enjoyed myself and I think people enjoyed me too.”

Words: Antonio Labbate

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