Born: Rome, 17/01/68
Position: Midfield
Clubs: Cagliari, Roma, Udinese, Atalanta, Bologna, Perugia, Palermo
Serie A apps: 243
Serie A gls: 35

Massimiliano Cappioli will always be remembered as a loyal disciple of Carlo Mazzone. The hard-working midfielder was handed his Serie A debut at Cagliari under Carletto and then went to serve Mazzone at three more clubs – Roma, Bologna and Perugia.

The pair had mutual respect burning from the fact that they are both Romans. Cappioli enjoyed his happiest moments in the capital, establishing himself as one of Serie A’s more underrated performers.

He even gained a Nazionale cap under Arrigo Sacchi - even if it was only as a second half substitute in a friendly defeat by France. After leaving Perugia, Cappioli didn’t follow Mazzone to Brescia but switched to Palermo, the largest team in Serie C.

Strangely enough Roma have a controlling interest in the club and Cappioli, the team captain, is a rejuvenated figure. Palermo are looking a good bet to return to Serie B with Cappioli enjoying his football once more.

“I am proud to have come to Palermo. It wasn’t easy to return to Serie C after all this time. But I am happy as we have demonstrated that we are a good side and playing in the Favorita Stadium is a real pleasure.”

He recently cited Enzo Francescoli, Thomas Haessler, Abel Balbo and Sinisa Mihajlovic as the best players he has worked with.