Van Basten, Marco (Utrecht, Holland, 31/10/64)
The bare figures do not do justice to just how big his impact was in a mere half a dozen seasons with Milan. He struck 90 Serie A goals and helped the Rossoneri to honours both at home and abroad, becoming rightly recognised as one of the top strikers of all time. During his reign Milan won three Scudetti, two European Cups and two World Club Cups. Serious injury ended his playing days prematurely – he had not yet reached his 30th birthday – but his contribution to the Italian game and his national team cannot be overstated. Now to be found at the helm of his country in a managerial role.
VARESE (Founded: 1910. Stadio Franco Ossola - Capacity: 10,000)
With seven seasons in Serie A to their name between 1964 and 1975, this little club from Lombardy has nothing to be ashamed of. Their best-ever finish came with the seventh spot of 1968 and they also brought through some famous players, including Armando Picchi, Pietro Anastasi, Roberto Bettega and Claudio Gentile. Their decline, however, has been rapid and their financial demise in 2004 saw them reborn as AS Varese 1910 in the lower Divisions.
VENEZIA (Founded: 1907. Stadio Pierluigi Penzo - Capacity: 13,400)
The canal city has a top Division tradition to be proud of and has been the breeding ground of some of Italy’s brightest stars. In total they have mustered 12 Serie A campaigns, with two periods of real notoriety. The first came in the 1940s when they won the Coppa Italia in 1941 and finished third in Serie A the following year. Their finest product, Ezio Loik, went on to play for the great Torino team before tragically dying in the Superga disaster. Their next golden age was over 50 years later when, in 1998, they came back to the top Division for another spell and the talents of Alvaro Recoba shone. Financial problems saw them tumble to Serie C2, where they are now trying to rebuild again.
Veron, Juan Sebastian (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 9/3/75)
Snapped up by Sampdoria in 1996, he went on to Parma before helping Lazio to the title in 2000 with an impressive eight-goal haul from midfield. That should have been the stepping stone to super stardom, but a switch to Manchester United in the Premiership never quite convinced and after a brief stay at Chelsea, he was back in Italy with Inter. A fine playmaker with a spiky edge, he is definitely more at home in Serie A than he was in England.
VERONA (Founded: 1903. Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi - Capacity: 38,211)
The year of 1985 stands head and shoulders above all others for Hellas Verona. That was the season they stunned Serie A to take the title and become the last provincial team to secure that honour. Under the guidance of Osvaldo Bagnoli, a team of unfancied foreigners like Preben Elkjaer and Hans-Peter Briegel, along with honest Italian professionals like Pietro Fanna, Giuseppe Galderisi and Roberto Tricella shocked their famous rivals. It was the greatest of their 24 seasons in Serie A, where they have always been a force to be reckoned with, especially on their own ground – famously killing off Milan’s League hopes in 1973 and 1990. Now fighting it out in Serie B with the hope of overtaking upstart Chievo who have stolen their city limelight in recent times.
Vialli, Gianluca (Cremona, 9/7/64)
This muscular striker started off with hometown Cremonese, but it wasn’t long before Sampdoria saw his potential and teamed him up with Roberto Mancini to kick off their glory days of the 1980s and early 1990s. Three Coppa Italias, a European Cup-Winners Cup, the Scudetto and a near miss in the European Cup followed with the Blucerchiati. Went on to further success with Juventus winning another League crown and this time taking Europe’s top competition in 1996. Then it was time to switch to Chelsea, with spells as both player and manager before moving into a pundit role with Sky Sports Italia.
Viani, Guise ‘Gipo’ (Nervesa della Battaglia, 13/09/09. Died 1968.)
After winning promotion at the helm of little Salernitana, this legendary Coach took Milan to three Scudetti and a European Cup in the 1950s and 1960s, making them the first Italian side to win the continental crown. Often credited as being one of the founders of the Catenaccio counter-attacking system of play.
VICENZA (Founded: 1902. Stadio Romeo Menti - Capacity: 20,920)
Another side from the affluent North-east to have more than made its mark on the history of Serie A. They were late developers, taking 40 years to reach the very highest level, but once they did they got a taste for it and have now racked up 30 years in the First Division. Their best ever placing came in 1978 when, fired by the goals of Paolo Rossi, they took a famous second place. In the 1990s they enjoyed further success and even managed a memorable European Cup-Winners Cup run in 1998, which was only stopped by Chelsea in the semis. Relegation came in 2001 and since then the Biancorossi have struggled to return to the upper echelons.
Vieira, Patrick (Dakar, Senegal, 23/6/76)
Tough French international midfielder who was ditched by Milan as a youngster and went on to construct a monumental career at Arsenal. Juve spotted the error of the Rossoneri’s ways and brought him back to Serie A last summer to immediate effect.
Vierchowod, Pietro (Calcinate, 6/4/59)
The man they called the ‘Tsar’ enjoyed an epic career spanning three decades and countless clubs. First he helped Como into Serie A, then took Fiorentina to within inches of the title in 1982. A year later he was part of the Roma side that won the club’s second Scudetto. After that he was part of the Samp revolution and was a feature in just about every trophy they won in their glory years. That should have been it, but as a veteran he helped Juve win the Champions League, had a brief spell with Milan and finally hung up his boots, past his 40th birthday, with Piacenza. Also enjoyed regular spells in the national team, but his attempts at management have been less successful so far.
Vieri, Christian (Bologna, 12/7/73)
This bustling striker took time to develop into the real deal and only got a serious shot at big time football with Atalanta at the age of 22. That convinced the first of a series of giant clubs to sign him when Juve pounced in 1996. Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Inter and Milan all followed for the powerful goalscorer who always seemed to suffer from itchy feet whichever club he served. It was at the Nerazzurri that he gave his best years, with over 100 Serie A goals despite nagging injuries, but he never delivered the Scudetto they so desired and now finds himself at Monaco in France.
Virdis, Pietro Paolo (Sassari, 26/6/57)
Something of an unsung hero at Milan in the mid 1980s, he was nonetheless their top scorer on several occasions and eventually helped start a golden age for the club by playing a part in delivering the first Scudetto of the Sacchi era.
Virgili, Giuseppe (Udine, 24/7/35)
Capped by his country seven times, it was in Florence he enjoyed his finest times as one of the main players in their title win of 1956, when his 21 goals helped fire them to glory.
Voller, Rudi (Hanau, Germany, 13/4/60)
This German hitman’s Italian experience came over five years with Roma between 1987 and 1992. He was a regular, if not prolific, scorer – with 14 in a season his best haul. A World Cup winner in 1990, he returned to Roma for a brief attempt at management that ended in disaster following just 26 days in charge.
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