Morgan DE SANCTIS 1999-
After two seasons as a highly-rated but hardly-used youngster at Juventus, De Sanctis joined Udinese in 1999. The Azzurri shot-stopper has not looked back since, forcing his way into the first team and only narrowly missing out on a place in Marcello Lippi’s 2006 World Cup winning squad.
Valerio BERTOTTO 1993-06
Snapped up from Serie C2 outfit Alessandria in 1993, Bertotto has gone down in history as Udinese’s most loyal and passionate hero after an astounding 13-year career in Udine. Holding the club record of 323 Serie A appearances, Bertotto famously burst into tears when the Bianconeri were beaten by Barcelona in the 2005-06 Champions League group phase tie.
EDINHO 1982-87
A close friend of Zico, Edinho joined the Brazilian revolution at Udinese in the 1980s. With 87 international caps to his name and appearances at three consecutive World Cups, he is widely regarded as one of the best defenders ever to pull on the Selecao shirt.
Nestor SENSINI 1989-93 & 2002-06
Despite his disastrous spell as Coach in 2006, Sensini will go down as one of Udinese’s most loved players. After moving to the club from South America, he quickly became one of Serie A’s most respected defenders. He then returned to the Friuli after spells with Parma and Lazio, where he won the 2000 Scudetto.
Stefano FIORE 1999-01
Fiore holds Udinese’s record for Italy caps with 18 during his time with the club, and shot into the limelight before becoming the Zebretti’s record sale when he joined Lazio for £15m. Also scored one of the goals of the tournament at Euro 2000 in the 2-0 win over Belgium. He went on to earn a further 20 Italy caps and represent Lazio, Fiorentina and Torino as well as an unhappy spell in Spain with Valencia.
ZICO 1983-84
Widely regarded as one of the best players ever to grace a football pitch anywhere, Zico surprised Europe by joining a struggling Udinese side in the mid-‘80s to rival Diego Maradona and Michel Platini for the title of Serie A’s best. He attracted worldwide interest to the Friuli, but was sadly unable to secure the silverware his performances deserved.
Franco CAUSIO 1981-84
Causio may be better remembered for his time with the all-conquering Juventus team of the 1970s, but it is often forgotten that he was playing for Udinese when he won the 1982 World Cup with Italy. It may have come at the tail end of his career, but 'Il Barone' was still a firm favourite in Udine.
Arne SELMOSSON 1952-55 & 1961-64
The Swedish star originally joined Udinese in 1952, but was forced to watch on for his first year due to the ban on foreign players in Serie A. Nicknamed 'Moonbeam' for his strikingly blonde hair, he famously combined with the Zebretti’s record goalscorer Lorenzo Bettini in the 1954-55 season before leaving for Lazio. He then returned to the Bianconeri six years later to help the side in Serie B.
Abel BALBO 1989-93
Balbo still holds the record as Serie A’s all-time highest scoring foreigner. The Argentine striker first arrived in Italy with Udinese and was an instant hit, netting 33 of his total 138 strikes with the Zebretti. He may be better known for his time with Roma, but like many players it was in Udine that he made his name.
Oliver BIERHOFF 1995-98
The German star is better remembered as George Weah’s strike partner at Milan, but enjoyed his best years alongside Marcio Amoroso at Udinese. Bierhoff scored a club record 27 League goals in his final season at the Friuli after signing from Ascoli and scored an amazing 57 times for the Bianconeri in just 86 appearances.
Marcio AMOROSO 1996-99
When Oliver Bierhoff left for Milan many were worried whether Amoroso would still be as successful without his strike partner. But the Brazilian silenced his critics by becoming Capocannoniere. He later moved to Parma for £15m, but failed to recreate the same form at the Tardini or in later spells with Borussia Dortmund, Malaga and Milan.
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After some moderate success in Serie C and B, Udinese’s appointment of the unheard of Zaccheroni as Coach in 1995 raised a few eyebrows. He secured a mid-table finish in his first season, but once the rebuilding was finished they stormed up the rankings with his trademark 3-4-3 formation. Departed to Milan in 1998 after guiding the Zebretti to their highest ever finish of third place, and won the Scudetto in his first year with the Rossoneri.