Roberto Baggio: biography, parents and family, sports career, victories and achievements, photos

Roberto Baggio - legend of world football, virtuoso improviser, one of the most vibrant and stable hitters of the XX century. Baggio played at the position drawn forward, create chances for his teammates and often scoring himself. He had an excellent technique and high speed, could circumvent polkomandy and filigree punch.

At the 1994 World Cup, he almost single-handedly led his team to the finals, but by chance it's shot in the penalty shootout victory put an end to the Italians. This penalty is still remembered, if someone misses the modern players from eleven meters at the decisive moment. Say, it does not matter, because even great, and geniuses like Baggio, sometimes make mistakes.

The game of youth clubs

Roberto Baggio was born February 18, 1967 in the Italian municipality of Caldogno, province of Vicenza. The father, a true Italian, loved football and named his son in honor of a player, "Juventus' Roberto Bettega.

With seven years old boy playing in a local team "Caldogno" and scout club "Vicenza" has been seen in 13 years, who offered him a place in the capital club. After playing two seasons in the youth part of the team in the season 1982/83 Baggio was in its foundation. Playing the young striker took a fancy to the leadership of "Fiorentina" and, despite the fact that the club "Vicenza" was the third most important division in the football league system in Italy, "violets" decided that the striker is ready to "A" series to severe tests.

A career in the "Fiorentina" (1985-1990)

In 1985, Roberto Baggio has become a footballer, "Fiorentina", but the first two seasons on the field almost did not show up. On one of the last games of "Vicenza" football player is injured for a long time to recover, and only in season 1987/88 was able to express themselves. Twenty-year Baggio quickly found his game and has become the main attacking force of the Florentines. For two seasons (1988/89 and 1989/1990), he scored more than 30 goals and won the hearts of local fans. When it became known about the transition idol in "Juventus", fans even staged riots in the "Fiorentina" headquarters. But the transfer was inevitable - "Violet" while experiencing financial difficulties, and "Juventus" was willing to pay for the talented forward a record sum for those times - 25 billion lire.

A career in "Juventus" (1990-1995)

The brightest page in the biography of Roberto Baggio is the performance of the "Old Lady". It is with turintsami striker has won all the most valuable trophies. In 1993, the team won the UEFA Cup, but Baggio was named the best player in the world and was awarded the "Golden Ball" as the best footballer in Europe.

In the 1994/95 season with the team, Roberto became the winner of the series "A". Baggio showed a great level of play, and was at the peak of his career, so a statement about his transition to "Milan" was like a bolt from the blue. But why the "Bianconeri" suddenly need to sell its leading player? Turintsev newfound coach Marcello Lippi has decided to build a new team and made a major bet on the young Alessandro Del Piero. Baggio was offered a new contract, which does not guarantee a place the player in the first team. But the Italian wanted to play, so I agreed to the proposal received to become a football player, "Milan".

A career in "Milan" (1995-1997)

Roberto Baggio in the "red-black" in the 1995-96 season won the "scudetto" - the second time in a row with different teams. But the game is Roberto has become less attractive and effective, but the coaches have not seen a football player in his schemes. This was the reason for parting with the striker at the end of the 1996/97 season.

A career in "Bologna" (1997-1998)

Baggio's decision to go to the camp of the "red-blue", Italian championship middle peasants, someone has raised eyebrows, but the act of attacking a fairly logical - Baggio just wanted to play, wanted to prove to himself and others that he had not said anything. And the Italians out. He scored 22 goals for the season and was included in the bid for the 1998 World Cup.

A career in the "Inter" (1998-2000)

By the end of the World Cup Baggio signed a contract with "Inter" and pretty well spent the first season of "black and blue". And then ironically club led Marcello Lippi, with whom Roberto went wrong from the time of "Juventus", and forward again fell out of the cage. Nothing to do but how to change the club again. A farewell gift for the "Inter" from Baggio began with two goals in the match against the "Parma", which gave the club a ticket to the Champions League.

A career in "Brescia" (2000-2004)

The last player Roberto Baggio's team began a modest club, "Brescia". Despite the fact that the standards of football Roberto was the "old man", he still played steadily and the number of goals scored in a season does not fall below 10. This is an excellent result for a player over 30, who has pretty feet hurt because of numerous injuries. About Baggio announced his retirement in 2004, and his farewell match took place on May 16 at the stadium "San Siro" against "Milan". At the end of the game the coach "Brescia" was replaced by Roberto, and when he left the field, he applauded the crowded stadium. No. 10, under which the game Baggio, all assigned to them in the "Brescia".

Playing for the national team (1998-2004)

Baggio began performances for the national team in 21 years, and has opened the world to the "FIFA World Cup" in 1990. Ball in Czechoslovakia is one of the best goals of Roberto Baggio and the most beautiful goal of the tournament. The Italians then reached the semifinals and lost on penalties Argentina team. In the match for third place, "Azzurrini" snatched victory from the British. The match ended with the score 2: 1, and the first goal for the Italians scored Baggio. After the championship for the striker stuck the nickname "tail" for his hairstyle.

In 1994, "world championship" in the US Baggio literally "dragged" Italians to the final. I start "Azzurrini" or shaky, or rolls, and with a squeak out of the group, including by Baggio goal against Norway - the only team to win a match in the group.

Next was the 1/8 finals, in which the Italians had almost lost Nigerians. The last led 1: 0 and also played in the majority, but Roberto Baggio goal a minute before the end of normal time turned the game into overtime. In stoppage time, "tail" scored another goal from the penalty spot and led the team to the quarterfinals.

There Baggio and Co. met with the Spaniards, who defeated with a score of 2: 1. Both goals in the account of Roberto. In the semifinals, the Bulgarians were defeated with a score of 2: 1, and double designed Baggio again that during the championship was for the Italians almost God. However, the final turned everything upside down. The match with Brazil has not revealed the winner of any major or in extra time, so the fate of the trophy was decided on penalties. The final blow was for Baggio. Football player, who almost never missed with the standards, the ball into the heavens, and the Italians lost the gold. As the striker himself, this episode is now for life imprinted in his memory. Photo after Roberto Baggio missed penalty is presented below.

Baggio played at another world championship in 1998. But the head coach of the national team's Cesare Maldini could not decide on the offensive line and are constantly choosing between Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Baggio, often not in favor of the latter. And if in the match for reaching the group Baggio has appeared on the field and able to express themselves, caused a stir twice, in 1/8 final he did not provide such an opportunity.

Italy looked very convincing, but still was able to pass on thanks to a goal Vieri. In the quarterfinal match against France, Baggio again sat on the bench until near the end of the match, and approximately 20 minutes before the end came off the bench. His appearance enlivened the game, but the Italians to score and failed, as, indeed, and the French.

Everything was decided in the penalty shootout, in which "Team Musketeers" was stronger. By the way, your penalty Roberto Baggio implemented, but it did not help the team stay in the tournament. Thus, the total of bad luck in a penalty shootout in the finals of the World Cup football pursued his career in the national team, and Baggio has not won the World Cup with Italy. But the "tail" - the only Italian player who has scored in three World Cup.

Roberto really wanted to go to the "world championship" in 2002, but, unfortunately, he did not get into the application. The official farewell to the national team striker was held April 28, 2004 in a friendly match with Spain.

Life

At Baggio very large family, he is madly in love. He is one of seven children, so it has a lot of nephews, and he himself is the father of many children. With his wife he met in football for 15 years, and she became his reliable rear, encouragement and support. The couple have three children. Roberto has a philosophical view of life, in part this is due to his passion Buddhism. Baggio lives in good conscience, do that likes and maybe someday he will be back on the field, but now as a mentor - at least, in 2012 he obtained a license UEFA Pro, which allows you to train the team at any level.