Facchetti, Giacinto (Treviglio, 18/7/42)
If Italy has a reputation of producing some of the world’s finest defenders then much of the credit has to go to this man. A tall, athletic left-back – and later in his career a sweeper – he let little get past him and also had the strength to make intelligent attacking runs. A pre-cursor of the kind of role that Antonio Cabrini and Paolo Maldini would play, he was forever loyal to the Black and White of Inter and was also capped 94 times by Italy, with an incredible 70 as captain. In 476 Serie A appearances he was a part of the most successful Inter set up of all time, winning four Scudetti, a couple of European Cups and two World Club Cups. Fachetti was also was not averse to getting into scoring positions as his 59 Serie A goals underline. One of the most elegant defenders ever to grace Italy’s top Division, Facchetti was also a star on the international scene. He was a European Championship winner with his country in 1968 and was then part of the team that lost out in the World Cup Final to Brazil in 1970.
Falcao, Paolo Roberto (Xanxere, Brazil, 16/10/53)
This classy midfielder gave Roma the touch of quality that they needed to help them to their second League title in 1983 and come within an inch of taking the European Cup a year later. Roma moved in as soon as the frontiers opened to foreign players in 1980, spending 1,700 million lire to get their man. They saw their investment quickly repaid as it brought a couple of Italian Cups and the much sought after League title. But things turned sour in 1984-85 when Falcao suffered a serious injury and Roma quickly got rid of someone who had once been a great champion.
Fanna, Pietro (Moimacco, 23/6/58)
A wing player who turned in a steady level of performance, he also had a happy knack of winning the League wherever he went – three Scudetti came his way at Juventus, one at Verona and one at Inter. It was with Verona that he really made his mark on the Italian game though, winning 13 of his 14 Azzurri caps.
Favalli, Giuseppe (Orzinuovi, Brescia 8/1/72)
One of the most solid defenders of his generation, Favalli was part of a promising Cremonese set-up that was plundered by Lazio in 1992 to bolster their team. He went on to play a dozen seasons in the capital, taking the title in 2000 and collecting eight caps for his country before switching to Inter in 2004.
Ferrara, Ciro (Naples, 11/2/67)
A Neapolitan through and through, Ferrara was part of both of their title triumphs and looked set to spend his whole career with his hometown club until their financial problems forced them to sell. Ferrara went to Juventus in 1994 and immediately won a Scudetto in Turin, leading to an international recall. A tenacious man marker and almost unbeatable in the tackle, he is still going strong for the Bianconeri in 2005.
Ferrari, Giovanni (Alessandria, 6/12/07 - Died 1982)
An attacking left-sided midfielder and, quite simply, a winner. Eight League titles and back-to-back World Cups in 1934 and 1938 testify to a glorious career. Ferrari came through the ranks at Alessandria and as a teenager he moved to Inter Napoli, but the move failed and he returned home. By 1930 he had arrived in Turin to help open the historic cycle of five championships on the trot. This would probably have been enough for most players, but he then moved to Inter at the end of the Old Lady’s great run and helped guide them to two Scudetti and a Coppa Italia triumph. Incredibly, his move to Bologna also coincided with another title win in 1941. He made 44 appearances for the Italian national side and struck 14 goals.
Ferraris, Attilio (Rome, 26/3/04 - Died 1947)
In the formative years of Roma one player stands head and shoulders above the rest. A right-sided midfielder, Ferraris was a strong tackler and not short on creative ability either. From 1920 to 1934 he was at the heart of Fortitudo – the club that would become Roma. However, he proved that he was not averse to hopping the Tiber as he spent a couple of seasons with Lazio. But, after a spell in Bari, he returned to the Giallorossi half of the capital to end his playing days. Called up to the national team for the 1934 World Cup on the condition that he quit smoking, the ‘Lion of Highbury’ – named after an impressive performance against England – was a vital part of that victory. In total he played 28 times for Italy and, just like fellow legend Umberto Caligaris, died from a heart-attack on the field of play in a match for retired players.
Ferraris, Pietro (Vercelli, 15/2/12)
A World Cup winner in 1938, Ferraris was also an Italian champion in spells with Inter and Torino no less than six times in the 1930s and 1940s. A left-winger, he was able to dodge tackles with supreme skills before unleashing a powerful shot or a precise cross. These abilities quickly took him from Pro Vercelli to Napoli and then on to Inter. He would also feature for Italy on 14 occasions, scoring three goals.
Ferri, Riccardo (Crema, 20/8/63)
An elegant looking yet deadly defender, you certainly knew if Ferri had been detailed to mark you. Fast and strong, he was the heart of the Inter and Italy defence throughout the 1980s until he was transferred to Sampdoria late in his career. Also gifted with a driving free-kick ability he scored four goals on international duty in 45 appearances.
FIORENTINA (Founded: 1926. Stadium: Artemio Franchi, Capacity: 47,282)
Formed by the fusion of two clubs in 1926, their famous purple shirts were not born until four years later. This, as if by magic, led to promotion in 1931 into Serie A where the side from Florence immediately found a place among Italy’s top teams. After relegation for a season in 1938-39 they returned to the top where they stayed until a disastrous 1992-93 season. In between, the Tuscan side emerged as one of the few provincial clubs capable of mounting a serious challenge to the giants of Milan and Turin. In 1956 they won their first Scudetto and the next season lost out to the legendary Real Madrid team in the European Cup Final. They were second for four campaigns on the trot after their title win and then added another Italian Cup and the Cup-Winners’ Cup to their trophy cabinet in 1961. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s they were rarely out of the top half of the table, but it was not until 1969 that they were able to get their hands on a second League title. They came close to a third in 1982 when Juventus, who also denied them the UEFA Cup in 1990, whipped it from under their noses. Relegation hit them in 1993 but they bounced back to become a Scudetto contender once again before financial collapse hurled them into Serie C2 in 2002. Amazingly they rose again to return to Serie A in 2004.
FOGGIA (Founded: 1920. Stadium: Pino Zaccheria, Capacity: 24,847)
Although Foggia have never been a permanent fixture in Serie A, they have had some memorable short spells, most notably in the 1960s and 1990s. After years of regional football they finally reached some sort of prominence in Serie B in 1960, followed by promotion to Serie A in 1964 for three brief seasons. They bobbed back up three times in the 1970s but it was not until 1991 that they were ready to make a serious stab at the top flight again. Under the tutelage of Czech Coach Zdenek Zeman, Foggia played some spectacular football and managed a club record ninth place finish in 1992. Indeed, they almost reached Europe with a similar League finish in 1994. Among the stars of that side were Giuseppe Signori, Francesco Baiano, Roberto Rambaudi, Igor Shalimov and Jose Chamot, all of whom went on to better things as Foggia systematically sold off their best players. But then they let Zeman move to Lazio and, although they managed to stay afloat for a while, by the summer of 1995 the southern side were packing their bags for Serie B once more.
Fogli, Romano (S. Maria a Monte, 21/1/38)
An exquisite dribbler with instinctive touch, Fogli won the League title with Bologna and also helped Milan win the European and World Club Cups late in the 1960s. A frail-looking player, he was strong enough to survive in competitive football for close on 20 years and played for Italy 13 times.
Foni, Alfredo (Udine, 20/1/11 - Died 1985)
After time with Udinese, Lazio and Padova this right-back of the 1930s and 1940s found a home at Juventus for some 13 years. A top class professional of his day, he played over 350 Serie A games and was capped no less than 23 times, winning the 1938 World Cup. Intelligent and tactically aware, Foni was rarely caught out by opposition forwards. He took this acute footballing mind into the coaching sphere as well, helping Inter to two titles in the 1950s and also took charge of Italy.
Fonseca, Daniel (Montevideo, Uruguay, 13/9/69)
Tall, agile Uruguayan striker who represented a considerable risk when Cagliari signed him as a gangly 21-year-old, but a couple of seasons later ended up going to Napoli for close to £6m. He showed his value with 31 goals in Serie A during his time in Naples and also bagged five in one memorable UEFA Cup game with Valencia. But financial troubles forced Napoli to sell ‘Roger Rabbit’ to Roma and he then went on to Juventus where the goals and his career fizzled out.
Fortunato, Andrea (Salerno, 26/07/71 - Died 1995)
A promising young full-back of great talent, Fortunato started with Como before moving to Genoa. This was followed by a dream move to Juventus in 1993 when he won his only Azzurri cap, but at the end of that season he was diagnosed as suffering from leukaemia. Although he responded well to treatment, an infection caused his death before he had a chance to get back to the field of play.
Franchi, Artemio (Siena, 8/1/22 - Died 1983)
Twice President of the Italian Football Federation – from 1967 to 1976 and then from 1978 to 1980 – he was also linked with Fiorentina and they dedicated their stadium to him soon after his death.
Francis, Trevor (Plymouth, England, 19/4/54)
Four seasons with Sampdoria and one with Atalanta cemented this England international’s place in Serie A history. He helped Samp to the Coppa Italia in 1985, their first major honour.
Furino, Giuseppe (Palermo, 5/7/46)
Another southern boy to make it big in Turin, Furino was a loyal servant to the club over 15 years and won a record-equalling eight League titles. A tireless worker in the midfield, he played over 350 times for Juventus during some of their most successful seasons. Surprisingly, this success with the Bianconeri was not matched with much international recognition as he only played on three occasions for Italy in the 1970s.
Fuser, Diego (Venaria Reale, 11/11/68)
Starting as a Torino youth product, Fuser soon galloped his way to prominence with spells at Milan, Lazio and Parma. A powerful free-kick taker, he chipped in more than his share of goals from midfield and represented his country on 25 occasions.
Fusi, Luca (Lecco, 7/6/63)
A defensive midfielder who rose to prominence with Como, Fusi enjoyed Scudetto success with Napoli in 1990 and Juventus in 1995. He was capped by Italy on eight occasions.
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