He was the first goalkeeper in Italian football history to score a goal from open play. That’s the fact that springs to mind when looking back on the career of Michelangelo Rampulla, a shot-stopper whose dedication and ability in the lower Divisions saw him end his career as a crowd favourite with Italian giants Juventus.
“I can still clearly remember the day that I scored,” said the man born in Patti, a province of Messina, 44 years ago. “It was February 23, 1992, and my Cremonese side were losing 1-0 at Atalanta. The game was in injury time when we were awarded a corner and in desperation I left my penalty area and made my way to the other one. The cross was perfect and I surprised our opponents by heading the ball into the back of the net.
“The joy I felt as a result was indescribable. All of my teammates hugged me, while the television stations and newspapers didn’t speak about anything else for days. For once in my life, my name was associated with a goal I had scored rather than one I had conceded.”
Rampulla started his career as an 18-year-old with hometown team Pattese in Serie D and did enough in his 19 League appearances in 1979-80 to win a move to Varese in the Second Division. In the summer of 1983 he went off to Cesena before joining Cremonese, where he experienced promotion and then relegation with the Cremona-based outfit.
The Italian, who won 10 caps at Under-21 level, spent seven years with the Grigiorossi before he was offered the chance to join Juventus. Although the club made it clear that his role in Turin would be primarily to act as a back-up for Angelo Peruzzi, Rampulla didn’t hesitate in putting pen to paper in a move that delighted his father.
“I made my dad proud the day that I joined the Bianconeri,” noted the Sicilian. “He was a massive fan of the club. I’ll never forget the day when he painted his car in black and white stripes following a victory during the days of Paolo Rossi, Michel Platini and Zibi Boniek.” Yet the custodian was also a fanatic himself, as his decade long subscription to Hurra Juventus – the club’s official magazine – clearly underlines. “I was always struck by Juventus’ mythical style, as a fan and an opponent,” he underlined. “As a supporter I saw them twice live on their trips to Palermo and then I never missed a game on television. I have many memories of them, almost all of them linked with great triumphs.”
Those Old Lady successes would continue, with Rampulla even lending a helping hand at times. Never one to moan about his lack of use, the guardian was always ready when called upon – especially in the early years when Peruzzi’s fragile thigh muscles would often see him miss the odd game here and there. It was no surprise that while the club were forced to change their No 1 on numerous occasions, the No 12 jersey remained on the back of Rampulla.
“My Juventus experience should only have been a short one,” he admitted. “However, I stayed in Turin for 10 years to provide cover for Peruzzi, Edwin Van Der Sar, Fabian Carini and Gigi Buffon. I played more than I would ever have imagined and I won everything there was to get my hands on. The decision to join Juventus is one which I have never regretted and I am convinced that I have not wasted my time.”
Rampulla – who won the Scudetto on three occasions, the Coppa Italia, the Champions League and the Intercontinental Cup as well as the Italian and European Super Cups – opted to hang up his gloves in the summer of 2002. But Juve didn’t turn their back on Michelangelo. He was instantly offered a desk job at the club, where he remains today.
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