Pierluigi PIZZABALLA 1958-66
Pizzaballa was a symbolic figure of the successful Atalanta side in the early 1960s. Goalkeeper in their historic Coppa Italia success of 1963, he also kept goal when the Bergamaschi first topped the League in 1964. Pizzaballa won one international cap – against Austria in a pre-1966 World Cup friendly.
Giovanni VAVASSORI 1970-72 & 78-83
A former club Coach, Vavassori’s service to Atalanta was also unquestionable on the pitch. A product of the outfit’s youth system, he was an elegant libero and man marker during two spells with the club. Fused between a stint at Napoli, he spent most of his career in Bergamo winning U-21 caps but never with the full squad.
Gaetano SCIREA 1972-74
Scirea may not have been at Atalanta long but remains the most successful product of the club’s revered youth system. After making his debut in 1972, he spent two seasons with the club – including one in Serie B - before joining the mighty Juventus and the rest as they say is history.
Umberto COLOMBO 1961-67
Colombo was a rock at the heart of the most successful Atalanta side to date. After signing from Juventus, he was switched from a defensive midfielder to the linchpin at the back. A member of the 1963 Coppa Italia winning side.
Antonio CABRINI 1975-76
There was a great Italian left-back before Paolo Maldini. Like Scirea, Cabrini’s Atalanta career was relatively short before he embarked on a highly successful decade with Juventus, which included just about every major honour in the game and a World Cup winner’s medal.
Roberto DONADONI 1982-86
Donadoni was arguably the most underrated player in the all-conquering Milan sides of the late 80s and early 90s. A fabulous dribbler, he worked within the team ethic and with boundless energy. Donadoni spent four well-educated years in Bergamo before joining the Rossoneri for a then club record sale of £4m.
Glenn STROMBERG 1984-92
Stromberg is the most celebrated foreign player in Atalanta’s history. A member of the Gothenburg side which won the UEFA Cup in 1982, he joined the club in 1984 and spent eight years in Bergamo before his retirement. He stayed loyal to the club when they were relegated to Serie B, making over 200 appearances for the Nerazzurri.
Fleming NIELSEN 1961-66
Nielsen was another member of the celebrated 1963 side. A versatile element, he played his best football at the heart of the midfield, balancing both athleticism and elegance. The Great Dane, also worked as a journalist and still wrote for a Danish newspaper when playing in Italy.
Angelo DOMENGHINI 1962-65
Fantastic wide player who was to later make 33 appearances for the Azzurri, as well as collect trophies with both Inter and a Scudetto with Cagliari. Domenghini’s starring contribution to Atalanta was a hat-trick in the Coppa Italia Final win over Torino.
Filippo INZAGHI 1996-97
Inzaghi may have spent just one season in Bergamo but stays in the record books as the only Atalanta player to ever win the Serie A top scorers’ title. He replaced Christian Vieri at the club and his 24 goals would later earn a move to Juventus, where he carried on scoring.
Giuseppe SAVOLDI 1965-68
Savoldi just pips Adriano Bassetto for the choice as second striker. A product of the club’s youth system, he established himself at Atalanta before moving on to Bologna and then becoming the world’s first £1m player when he switched to Napoli in 1975. Despite his potential he collected just four Azzurri caps. |
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Renowned for his defensive style of play, Mondonico was the tactician behind Atalanta’s resurgence in the late 1980s. He guided the club to a European Cup-Winners Cup semi-final as a Serie B side. He later enjoyed a successful spell at Torino before returning to steer Atalanta out of the Second Division.