PADOVA (Founded: 1910. Stadio Euganeo - Capacity: 32,336)
The nearest this North-east club has come to taking a trophy was when they reached the Coppa Italia Final in 1967 as a Second Division outfit. This achievement came long after the best years in the club’s history, which were back in the 1950s when they even managed a third place Serie A finish in 1958. The last of their 16 seasons in the top flight came in 1995-96 and they now reside in Serie C1.
Pagliuca, Gianluca (Bologna, 18/12/66)
Snapped up from his hometown club as a teenager by Sampdoria, this agile net-minder was part of that side’s greatest team. He helped them to win three Coppa Italias, the League title and the European Cup-Winners Cup before moving to Inter in a big money transfer in 1994. A World Cup finalist that year, he’s now bringing the curtain down on his career back in Bologna.
PALERMO (Founded: 1898. Stadio Renzo Barbera. Capacity: 37,460)
By far the best side to emerge from Sicily, they have never challenged for top honours but are now in their 19th season in Serie A. They enjoyed two Coppa Italia Final appearances in the 1970s, but were thwarted on both occasions from becoming the first island side to win that trophy. Throughout their history they have been plagued by financial problems despite a huge home support. In 1940, the club went out of existence before returning under the name Juventina and later Palermo-Juve, but then reverted to their original name in the post-war period. More cash problems forced the club to reform as Unione Sportiva Citta' di Palermo in 1987, but they are now enjoying something of a golden age with UEFA Cup and Serie A football - as well as contributing numerous players to the national team.
Panucci, Christian (Savona, 12/4/73)
Caught the eye as a goal grabbing full-back with Genoa before Milan secured his services in 1993, where he won two Scudetti. Often too outspoken for his own good, he dabbled in overseas football with Real Madrid, Chelsea and Monaco, as well as a season at Inter, before joining Roma where he appears to have settled down once again.
PARMA (Founded: 1968. Stadio Ennio Tardini - Capacity: 28,783)
The club were often held up as the perfect example for small sides looking to build a challenge to the bigger teams - and not without reason. Parma managed their first ever promotion in 1990 and followed this by winning a UEFA Cup spot and then picking up a trophy in each of the next four seasons. The Scudetto proved elusive, however, and the Parmalat scandal of 2003-04 crippled the club which has struggled to survive in Serie A ever since.
Parola, Carlo (Turin, 20/9/21. Died 2000)
A multi-purpose player, he was a star of the Juventus side of the 1940s and early 1950s where he could play in defence or midfield with equal ease. He won a couple of championships with Juve in 311 games and also grabbed the Coppa Italia in 1942. As Coach, he started Juve’s great spell of the 1970s with a championship win under his guidance in 1975.
Pasinati, Piero (Trieste, 21/7/10. Died 2000)
A steady right-winger with hometown club Triestina, he won 11 Azzurri caps and was part of the Italy World Cup winning set-up of 1938.
Pascutti, Ezio (Mortegliano, 1/6/37)
An aggressive left-winger with a great scoring reputation, he took Bologna to glory in the 1950s and 1960s. He played 296 games for the Rossoblu and grabbed 130 strikes with his eye for goal. Also helped them take the title in 1964.
Passarella, Daniel (Chacabuco, Argentina, 25/5/53)
A tough but stylish defender, he was one of the few good foreign signings made by Fiorentina in the 1980s. A World Cup winner with his country in 1978, he played four good seasons with the Tuscan club where he also managed more than his fair share of goals. He ended his Italian adventure with a couple of seasons at Inter.
PERUGIA (Founded: 1905. Stadio Renato Curi - Capacity: 28,000)
The club that boast the same symbol as Genoa - the Griffin - has hardly enjoyed the same success. But they did enjoy the pleasure of a second place Serie A season in 1979 when they also went through their campaign undefeated. Those were definitely the club’s glory days as they managed an Italian Cup quarter-final appearance and got to the second round of the UEFA Cup in the same term. They enjoyed a resurgence in more recent times, including an eighth place in 2002, but financial collapse has sent them down to C1.
Peruzzi, Angelo (Viterbo, 16/2/70)
Once dubbed the ‘Orang-utan’ during his Juventus days, his early career at Roma was hit by a drug ban before going on to take three titles with the Bianconeri, a season with Inter and now a long run with Lazio. Also an Italian international goalkeeper, he could add to his 31 caps in Germany ‘06.
Pesaola, Bruno (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 28/7/25)
An attacking midfielder cum winger, he arrived in Italy in the late 1940s. But after spells with Roma and Novara he found his home in Naples like many South American stars. In management he took Fiorentina to the League title in 1969.
PESCARA (Founded: 1936. Stadio Adriatico - Capacity: 19,350)
A club that did little more than flit around in the lowest Divisions for most of its early history, the side from the Abruzzi only came to the fore in the mid 1970s. They had single seasons in 1977 and 1979 in the top flight. The last of their five seasons in Serie A came in 1992-93. Now they are back fighting it out in Serie B.
Pessotto, Gianluca (Latisana, 11/8/70)
A useful utility defender, he started with Torino but more than a decade with Juventus has brought him five Scudetti and regular appearances with the national team.
PIACENZA (Founded: 1919. Stadio Leonardo Garilli - Capacity: 21,608)
Eight seasons in Serie A between 1993 and 2003 represented unprecedented success for the little club from Emilia-Romagna. Their best finishes were 12th in 1998 and 2002, before returning to Serie B where they are now battling for a return to the top.
Picchi, Armando (Livorno, 20/6/35 - Died 1971)
An important element in Inter’s greatest days in the 1960s, he led the defence well as an outstanding sweeper. He won three championships, two European Cups and a couple of World Club Cups during his years with the Nerazzurri, where he played over 200 Serie A games. He also enjoyed spells with Livorno, Spal and Varese before tragically dying just two years after his retirement from the game. Livorno’s stadium now bears his name.
Piola, Silvio (Robbio Lomellina, 29/9/13. Died 1996)
One of the superstars of the early days of the Italian game and still a record scorer. His career saw him bag almost 400 in all competitions. He first made his mark in powerful provincial side Pro Vercelli, but it was with Lazio that he really exploded on to the Italian football scene. His record of 30 goals in 34 internationals still puts him near the top of the all-time table for the Azzurri and saw him win the World Cup in 1938, where he grabbed five goals. He finished his career with Juventus and Novara.
PISA (Founded: 1909. Stadio Arena Garibaldi/Romeo Anconetani - Capacity: 17,000.)
The little Tuscans first appeared in the top flight for a season in 1968-69, but it was not until the 1980s under fiery President Romeo Anconetani that they really made a mark. They managed half a dozen seasons in the top Division and a decent 11th place finish in 1983. Financial woes pushed them down the football tree and this term they are fighting it out in C2.
PISTOIESE (Founded: 1988. Stadio Comunale - Capacity: 13,195)
Most famous for their unusual orange strip, reputedly a copy of the Dutch national team, these true minnows of the game enjoyed their moment of glory with a season in Serie A in 1980-81. They are currently battling it out in the Fourth Division, which is about the level of play they have become used to.
Pizziolo, Mario (Castellamare Adria, 8/12/09. Died 1990)
Despite some tough competition, this Fiorentina maestro on the right side of midfield managed a dozen games for Italy and one goal. Also won the World Cup in 1934.
Platini, Michel (Joeuf, France, 21/6/55)
Although he spent just five seasons in the Italian game, it would be foolish to underestimate the influence Platini had upon the game in general and Juventus in particular. His skills took the Turin giants to domestic success they were used to – championships in 1984 and 1986 and the Coppa Italia in 1983 – and to European triumph they had not previously experienced – the European and World Club Cup in 1985. Add to this the little matter of the European Cup-Winners Cup and Super Cup in 1984, and it is easy to see why he was an idol of the Juventus support. He was also European Footballer of the Year three times.
Platt, David (Chadderton, England, 10/6/66)
An enterprising midfielder, he was bought by Bari in 1991 after his exploits for England at Italia ’90. But his 11 goals in 29 games could not help the club avoid relegation. He made another big money move to Juventus and then travelled on to Sampdoria, where he continued his reputation as a scoring midfielder until being sold back to Arsenal in 1995.
Pozzo, Vittorio (Turin, 12/3/1886 - Died 1968)
The father figure of early Italian football, he wrote his name large in legend by taking the Azzurri to back-to-back world titles in 1934 and 1938. His record over 95 games in charge of the country makes impressive reading with 63 wins, 17 draws and 15 defeats. He took the Italy job in 1921 and held it, on and off, until 1948.
Praest, Karl Aage (Copenhagen, Denmark, 26/2/22)
A classy left-winger with Juventus in the 1950s, he stuck with the Turin club for seven seasons and played more than 200 games, scoring 51 goals in the top Division. He also helped the Bianconeri to win League titles in 1950 and 1952 before spending a season with Lazio at the end of his career.
Prati, Pierino (Cinisello Balsamo, 13/12/46)
An average of a goal every couple of games would have put most players into the national team without too many problems - but this Milan man had his path blocked by Gigi Riva. In seven years with the Milanese outfit, he played 143 games with 72 goals and managed a respectable haul of seven in 14 Italy games. He won the European Cup, European Cup-Winners Cup, World Club Cup and European Nations Cup. Perhaps his finest hour came when he bagged a brace in the 4-1 destruction of Ajax in the 1969 European Cup Final. His playing days drew to a close at Roma and Fiorentina.
PRO PATRIA (Founded: 1919. Stadio Speroni - Capacity: 3,999)
Playing out of Busto Arsizio on the outskirts of Milan, this little club were a force in Italian football just after the war when they managed a few seasons in the top flight. In total they have played 12 seasons in Serie A with their most impressive finish coming in 1948 - when they came eighth. Now slumped in Serie C1 with their glory days almost 40 years behind them.
PRO VERCELLI (Founded: 1892. Stadio Leonida Robbiano - Capacity: 6,622)
One of the great names of the formative years of Italian football, this provincial side emerged from Genoa’s shadow to become one of the most important forces in the game. Among the stars they produced were Silvio Piola and Virginio Rosetta, but their talents were plundered and they plummeted down the Leagues.
Pruzzo, Roberto (Crocefieschi, 1/4/55)
A prolific striker yet his talents were only recognised by Italy half a dozen times. Strong in the air, he scored more than 100 goals in Roma’s colours taking them to the League title in 1983 and the Coppa Italia on four occasions.
Pulici, Paolo (Roncello, 27/4/50)
More than 300 Serie A appearances in Torino’s colours are a sign of the loyalty of this left-sided forward. His partnership with Francesco Graziani was one of the most prolific in the history of the Turin club, with Pulici’s contribution of some 134 Serie A strikes helping take the title in 1976.
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