Which club does Roberto Baggio support? Roberto Baggio is the “divine tail” of Italian football. Thirty years old: has everything
Every year, the Sanremo Festival goes beyond the usual music competition, trying to reach a much wider audience. His guests are outstanding personalities who have nothing to do with music, but are able to attract viewers. The last of the footballers to appear in Sanremo was Francesco Totti, and in 2013, among the invited stars was Roberto Baggio - one of the most popular people in Italy, despite the fact that since 2004, after finishing his career, he prefers to keep a low profile.
There were rumors that Baggio could become a coach. One mention in the press was enough to cause a queue of clubs who wanted to invite Roby, but he rejected the idea. On the eve of his fiftieth birthday, the “Divine Tail”, however, admitted that he was not ready to live in a world parallel to football. “I want to create a world-class project for young players. the main objective his goal is not to make stars out of children, but to help them grow.” Taking advantage of the opportunity in Sanremo, Baggio read a message to the youth. He talked about the principles that helped him, which means they can help others.
“I played football for twenty years. This, of course, does not make me a life teacher, but I would like to work with young people - this is our treasure. I know they don't like advice. I was like that myself. But still, without any arrogance, I want to give some advice. I want young people to hear these words.”
"Without passions no life. It can only be found within yourself. Don't listen to those who want to influence you. Passion can also be passed on to others. Search carefully, look inside yourself and you will find it.”
“He instilled fear in his opponents. I did whatever I wanted on the field. I could just stop in the middle of the game and enjoy what he was doing.” Antonio Conte is neither the first nor the last to admit his admiration for Baggio. Pele called Robi “a Brazilian who was born in Europe by mistake,” Diego Maradona noted his greatness and emphasized that “Baggio did not realize his full potential.” Roberto himself admitted this, but the main reason he cited was not the frequent change of clubs and difficult relationships with coaches, as one might think. At 18, just starting his career in Vicenza, he tore the cruciate ligaments in his right knee. “You may never play again,” the doctors said, but Robie ignored their words. He ended his career at 37.
Nevertheless, the consequences of the injury were felt for two decades. “If I went on the field without feeling discomfort and pain, I would play three or four matches a year,” Baggio admitted. After an injury, he turned to Buddhism and since then not only frightened his teammates by locking himself in the bathroom in the middle of the night to say prayers, but he also found in himself that very passion - the fire that allowed him to become great, despite the fact that his body was against it .
Bouncing around Italy, he scored 205 goals in Serie A, putting him seventh on the list top scorers in the history of the tournament. His passion burned everything around him - both opponents and coaches became victims. “I often thought about why many coaches thought that I was not suitable for them, but I never found an answer. Perhaps they were a little jealous. After all, everyone loved me, even the opponent’s fans. Perhaps I was stealing the show, becoming the main character, and they wanted to be in my place? In modern football, coaches are too dominant and there is too much narcissism.”
Oscar Tabares, who worked with Baggio in Milan, said that “poets no longer have a place in football.” Roby proved the opposite, and the words of Sebastian Frey, a former Inter teammate, are much more likely to be true than the dubious criticism of the Uruguayan coach. “Baggio will be remembered in a hundred years.”
“Life is good if you enjoy what you do. I remember the joyful face of my tired father, the smile of my mother when at ten in the evening the whole family gathered at the table she had prepared. Exactly from joy a feeling of completeness is born. Understanding that you are truly living."
At the age of 33, Baggio left Inter and joined Brescia, a newcomer to Serie A. Such a transition rightly looked like a farewell to big football, but Roberto was hastened to retire. The first season was unsuccessful for him due to another series of injuries, but on April 1, 2001, the Divine Ponytail reminded Italy of itself.
“It was the day the new Pirlo was born,” says Swallows coach Carlo Mazzone. Acting in front of the defense (for young Andrea this was the fourth match in an unusual position), future champion the world made an outstanding pass to Roberto, and “old Baggio” did everything in a classic way. Beat Edwin van der Sar and scored. It was the 86th minute of the away match with Juventus. The game ended in a 1:1 draw.
“It’s a shame that I didn’t meet Mazzone earlier,” Baggio said, talking about his last team. He finished that season with ten goals, and Brescia qualified for the Intertoto Cup. The following season, Robbie played only 12 matches, but returned right at the finish line and saved Swallows from relegation, scoring 11 times. Italy begged Giovanni Trapattoni, the national team coach, to take him to the World Cup, even the Minister of Sports supported Baggio’s candidacy, but Trap left the player, whom La Gazzetta dello Sport called “the national anthem of Italian football,” out of the application. They say Roberto never forgave Trapattoni: “I should have been there. For everything I did, they had to give me a chance, even if I arrived in a wheelchair.”
Italy failed at the World Cup, but Baggio continued to “really live.” The last two seasons in Brescia became his most productive - the veteran scored 12 goals each. Farewell match he played at San Siro, provided an assist to Francelino Matuzalem and left the field to the applause of 80 thousand spectators. Wherever Roberto played, he was loved because he gave joy to the audience and made himself happy.
COURAGE
"It is very important to be brave, learn to live by believing in yourself. Problems and errors are common. You need to keep your head down. You need to feel satisfied knowing that you did everything you could. That he gave his best. We need to look boldly into the future.”
The ball flew into the hot Pasadena sky, and Baggio remained standing near the 11-meter mark, as if not believing what had happened. In total, three players of the Italian national team missed penalties in that shootout, but the final of the 1994 World Cup was remembered for Roberto’s miss. The doubles in the 1/8 and semi-finals were forgotten, the decisive goal of Spain in the quarter-finals, no one cared that Baggio entered the match against Brazil on painkillers.
“I'm terribly tired. But he knew that he had to punch, although he understood that perfect concentration would be required. He hit too hard - ironic, because I myself had almost no strength left.”
Baggio would later say that only those who have the courage to take them miss penalties. Self-confidence is another driving force in his career, which did not allow Roberto to break down after the World Cup. “The journalists needed a scapegoat, and they chose me.” It was not possible to calm the press by playing for Juventus - in November Baggio was injured, and Marcello Lippi began to bet on young Alessandro Del Piero.
In terms of trophies, that season, however, became the most successful in Roberto’s career - Juve won both the championship and the Italian Cup. In the match that brought the Scudetto to the Old Lady, Parma was beaten 4:0, and Baggio made three assists. But Lippi's plan to make the team less dependent on Roberto reached its climax in the summer of 1995, when the striker was offered new contract with a lower salary.
He was called to Real Madrid and Manchester United, but the risk of falling out of sight of the national team coaches forced Baggio to make another bold decision - he became a Milan player.
“If you follow passion and joy, you can achieve success. It seems that this word remains the only value of our society. But what does it mean to be successful? For me - to realize yourself in life, to show who you are. This applies to a football player, a carpenter, a farmer, and a baker.”
In May 1990, Juventus paid Fiorentina 18 billion lire, making Baggio the most dear football player in the history of football. The sale of the team leader to the Old Lady, which the Florentine tifosi could not stomach, led to mass protests, and Roberto’s behavior only added tension to an already difficult situation. At the presentation in Turin, he refused to be photographed with a Bianconeri scarf, and in April 1991, when Juve and Violets met in a championship match, he did not take a penalty against former teammate Gianmatteo Maregini. The Turin team lost 0:1, and after replacing Baggio he went to greet the Fiorentina team, picking up its rose thrown from the stands. Now Juventus fans were already protesting.
This start did not bode well, but passion and joy led Robi to success even in Turin. The 1992/93 season was a masterpiece, crowned by victory in the UEFA Cup: Baggio scored in both semi-final matches with PSG, and scored a double in the first leg of the final against Borussia. At the end of the year, FIFA recognized Roberto as the best player in the world, France Football awarded him the Ballon d'Or - 11 years after Paolo Rossi, the last Italian to receive the trophy.
“He has a world before him that he can conquer. Baggio is like an oil well with almost no waste,” Roberto eloquently prophesied the great future of Giovanni Trapattoni.
“When I was young, I had problems with my knee, because of which the pain did not leave me throughout my career. But I was able to come to terms with it thanks to sacrifice - I assure you, this is not a bad word. Victim- the essence of life, a door through which you can understand its meaning. Youth is the time when a person is formed. The future depends on it. Nothing coming without sacrifice is an illusion. Only hard work can build a bridge between dreams and reality.”
He played his last match for Inter Baggio on May 23, 2000 - after the end of the regular season. The Nerazzurri were tied on points with Parma, and the rules provided for an extra game for a spot in the Champions League. Inter won 3:1, Roberto scored twice and received 10 out of ten points from La Gazzetta dello Sport, but he knew that by bringing the team victory, he was saying goodbye to it.
Baggio's problems with Lippi began at the start of the season. The new Inter coach promised the player in a personal conversation that he would have a chance in the team, but soon declared war on the number ten. In his book, Roberto said that the coach asked him to report everything that was happening in the locker room, and he took his refusal to become a spy with hostility. In the first round, Baggio played 111 minutes. Due to poor form - that was Lippi's argument. Ivan Cordoba, however, did not hesitate to tell the press that “he doesn’t understand why Baggio doesn’t take the field, because he’s very good in training.”
It got to the point that Roberto could only eat with Marcello’s permission - he told the chefs that he would personally approve every ingredient in the dishes that Baggio ordered. In January, Inter tried to sell a player the coach did not need, but he refused to leave. He couldn't let Lippi win.
Despite the protests of the typhozeria and the press, which demanded a “genius on the field,” in the second round Baggio again limited himself to occasional appearances. He played more often due to injuries to Zamorano, Ronaldo and Vieri, scored four goals, but was again on the bench at the first opportunity. On decisive match Lippi had no other options with Parma: Ronaldo received an injury that will prevent him from playing for almost two years, Vieri injured his hip and will miss Euro 2000. Or perhaps Marcello simply understood that only one football player could save him.
On the eve of the game, Baggio had dinner with President Massimo Moratti. “If Inter loses to Parma, Lippi will be fired,” he promised.
Roberto couldn't let the fans down. With a double against Gianluigi Buffon, he led the Nerazzurri into the Champions League, kept Lippi's job, and soon left for Brescia. He sacrificed himself, but he won.
“I've lived my whole life being a guy who loved football and went to bed with the ball. My hair turned gray, wrinkles appeared, but my dreams did not change. Follow your dreams. Heroes are those who do their best in life. This is what I wish for all of you."
"Oh! Since Baggio no longer plays...
Oh no, no! Since you left me...
Sunday is no longer Sunday."
ROBERTO BAGGIO
(Born 1967)
He played in Italian clubs Vicenza, Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan, Bologna, Inter, Brescia. In 1988-2004 he played 56 matches for the Italian national team.
Roberto Baggio's long career has seen great achievements and bitter disappointments. He knew the fierce love of fans and the skepticism of coaches. He played brilliant matches and scored amazing goals, but sometimes he was not on the field for many months due to injuries. And he continues to show excellent football to this day (2004), although he is already thirty-six.
If we say that Roberto Baggio became acquainted with football when he barely learned to walk, this would not be an exaggeration at all - his older brothers constantly took him with them to the vacant lot, where they kicked the ball with the neighboring boys. The father, however, dreamed that his sons would become bicycle racers like himself, but football turned out to be stronger. However, only Roberto was destined to become a famous football player.
The village of Caldogno, where he was born, had its own amateur football club. Naturally, Roberto moved there from the vacant lot as soon as he grew up a little. And since Caldogno is located very close to the city of Vicenza, it is not surprising that the first to pay attention to the bright talent of the young forward were the selectors of the Vicenza club. At the age of fourteen, Roberto found himself in the club’s youth team, and a year later in the main team.
At that time, Vicenza played in Serie C, the third division of Italian football. Baggio quickly became a leader and scored goals in almost every match. In one of them he scored 6 goals at once. In 1985, largely thanks to Roberto’s brilliant play, Vicenza rose to the next division - Serie B. But the play of eighteen-year-old Baggio had already attracted the attention of several Serie A clubs. Fiorentina turned out to be the most generous of all, and Roberto moved to Florence.
However, his career in Serie A had a very difficult start. IN last match While playing for Vicenza, Roberto seriously injured his knee and in the 1985-1986 season he never entered the field for the Florentine club. For many months he worked out in the gym according to a special recovery program, bringing himself to the point of exhaustion. When his belated debut finally took place on September 21, 1986, Roberto again injured the same knee and again took up grueling exercises.
In the spring of 1987 he came to Fiorentina new coach- Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson. He came to the conclusion that after such an injury Baggio would never play at full strength, and wanted to get rid of him, but the club management came to Roberto’s defense. That same spring, having finally recovered from his injury, he played in the last four matches of the season and scored his first goal in Serie A. In the next three seasons at Fiorentina, he had no equal, and for the club's fans Baggio became an idol.
The adoration reached unimaginable limits when, in the spring of 1990, Fiorentina reached the UEFA Cup final, where they met their eternal rival, Juventus of Turin. The final, however, was lost on aggregate, but the fans were much more shocked by something else - shortly after the final, Juventus offered an incredible amount for Baggio, and the Fiorentina management could not resist.
So Roberto ended up in Juventus, which he himself did not object to, since his talent had clearly outgrown the mediocre Florentine club. But the fans' adoration instantly turned into fierce hatred. For three whole days, angry mobs raged outside the Fiorentina office, protesting against the sale of Baggio. And the most desperate even laid siege to the base of the Italian national team, which was preparing for the 1990 World Cup. The fact is that it was then that Baggio was first included in the Azzurra Squadra. To protect the former idol from the wrath of the fans, they had to call in reinforced police. The case ended in a huge brawl, and several dozen fans were injured.
Looking ahead, it must be said that in Florence Baggio’s “betrayal” was never forgiven. Every time he came to a game with Fiorentina as part of Juventus, and then other clubs, he was invariably greeted with whistles and even rotten vegetables.
Baggio did not hold his first world championship in the best possible way. Yes and all national team played, experiencing colossal psychological overload. Since the championship was held in Italy, the whole country expected only victory from its players. Baggio did not play in the first two matches. In the third game against the Czechoslovakian national team, he entered the field for the first time and scored one of the two goals. After the end of the world championship, it was recognized as the most beautiful goal of the championship.
Be that as it may, the Italian team reached the semi-finals, where they met with the Argentina team. In this game the tension reached its climax. The main and extra time ended in a draw - 1:1. The fate of the match was decided in a series of penalty kicks. More precisely, it was the Argentines who reached the final.
After this semi-final, by the way, the Italian community began to hate another football player, previously adored. This is none other than Maradona. It was at this time that he played for Napoli and was the idol of the Neapolitans. A semi-final match with the Argentina national team took place in Naples, and Maradona was the captain of the winning team. Moreover, he brilliantly scored his goal in the penalty shootout...
As for Baggio, he also scored a penalty, and then scored his goal in the match with the British for 3rd place. The Italian team won - 2:1, but the country expected more from it, of course.
Roberto Baggio compensated for his relative failure in the Italian national team with his excellent performance at Juventus. In his first season, he scored 14 goals and entered the list best snipers championship. The next time he scored 18 goals, and then 21. But he was famous not only for scoring a lot himself - he was great at leading his partners into striking positions. In 1993, he had no equal in all of Europe - he received the Ballon d'Or best football player continent. A year later, Baggio became the hero of the 1994 World Cup. And at the same time, one of his main losers.
The Italian team's performance did not go well. She left the group only by a miracle. In the one-eighth final match, they lost to the Nigerian national team two minutes before the end. But Roberto Baggio saved the game by scoring a goal in the eighty-eighth minute, and in extra time he also scored the second, decisive goal. In the quarterfinal match with the Spanish national team, Baggio brought victory to his team, scoring a goal with the score 1:1 in the last seconds of the match. In the semi-finals, the Italians beat the Bulgarian team with the same score - 2:1, and Roberto Baggio again scored both magnificent goals. It turned out that in just nine days he scored 5 goals and eventually became one of the top scorers in the championship.
But the final match brought great disappointment to the Italian team. A difficult match with the Brazilian national team, even after extra time, ended in a goalless draw. But in the penalty shootout, things didn’t go well for the Italians from the very beginning. Team captain Baresi struck first, but Brazilian goalkeeper Taffarel managed to parry the shot. However, Italian goalkeeper Pagliuca also managed to defend his goal. After the first three strikes the score was 2:2. However, the fourth Italian - Massaro - again shot unsuccessfully, and the Brazilian Dunga converted his shot. The last of the Italians to reach the penalty spot was Roberto Baggio. He definitely had to score, then the Italians still had some chance, but the ball flew over the crossbar. Fatigue took its toll, and besides, Baggio entered the final match with a hamstring strain.
The tragedy at the World Cup did not pass without a trace for the great forward. He spent the following seasons not so brightly. A series of his transitions from club to club began. He spent another season at Juventus, then two at Milan and finally ended up at Bologna. Nevertheless, once with the Turin club, and the second with the Milan club, Roberto Baggio became the champion of Italy, and in his first season for Bologna he scored 22 goals.
In 1998, he went to his third World Cup in France, and by some surprising pattern, the fate of the quarterfinal match with the championship’s host team was again decided in a penalty shootout. This time Baggio scored his goal, but nevertheless the Italians lost again, allowing the French team, which eventually became the world champion, to the semi-finals.
Roberto Baggio no longer played at the 2002 World Cup. But, according to many experts, it was precisely this that was missing from the Italian national team, which already lost to the national team in the eighth-final match South Korea- 1:2. Now (2004), the great footballer, having played for Inter after Bologna, plays for the modest Brescia club, but again shows excellent football.
This text is an introductory fragment.
What this football player did on the football field is incomprehensible to the mind. He knew how to create a goal out of nothing. Excellent technique, speed, impact - it was impossible not to fall in love with this player. He is still an idol for many football fans and young footballers to this day. But how did he achieve this success?
The beginning of the career of the “divine ponytail”
In 1967, in the small town of Caldogno, which is located near Vicenza, the sixth child was born into the family of a simple mechanic Fiorindo and his wife Matilda. Little Roberto has been attached to football since childhood. Of course, the father would prefer a career in cycling for his sons, because he himself was an avid fan of this sport. But no one ever realized his father’s dream.
From seven to fourteen years old, Robi played for the local team, and then moved to Vicenza, becoming the main player within a year. His brilliant play attracted the attention of more famous clubs. In 1985, Roberto Baggio signed a contract with Fiorentina. But last season in Vicenza was overshadowed terrible injury- rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the right knee. Many players never managed to return to big sport after such injuries, but not Baggio. He will miss almost 2 seasons, playing in only 5 matches.
Fortunately for Roberto and all fans, Baggio spent the remaining three seasons with the Florence club without injuries. He demonstrated highest level games. And in his last season for the Violets, he would score 17 goals and lead the club to the UEFA Cup final. What a shock it was for the fans that their favorite was joining Juventus. After that, adoration turned to hatred. But Roberto understood that it was time to move on. Dissatisfied fans stormed the Fiorentina office for a long time, protesting against its sale, and Roby himself went to his first World Cup in 1990. Unfortunately, Italy only won bronze medals.
As part of Juventus, Baggio revealed his talent and played even brighter. In his first season, he won a place in the starting lineup and showed excellent performance. In the 1991/92 season, he became the second top scorer in the Italian championship with 18 goals, and a year later he scored 21 goals in the championship and set a personal scoring record. In 1993, he was recognized as FIFA Player of the Year and also won the Ballon d'Or, an award for the best player of the year in Europe. He dedicated this success to Daisaku Ikeda, Roberto’s spiritual mentor, under whose influence the Italian became a supporter of Buddhism.
The 1993/94 season was not so bright for Baggio - relegation from the UEFA Cup and only second place in the championship. But the World Championship was supposed to take place in the summer and all of Italy was waiting for this tournament. The Italian national team was one of the favorites, and Baggio was supposed to be the main star. At the tournament, the Italians creaked out of the group. Roberto helped the team reach the final, scoring in every match of the playoffs and the team was only one step away from the title.
He will always remember that match from which he was never able to recover. First of all, psychologically. Everything was against him that day. A difficult match in forty-degree heat against the Brazilians ended in a draw. Everything was decided by penalties. When Baggio approached the ball, his team was losing 3:2 and Roby had to score. But then, the man who set the absolute record for taking penalties for all of Italian football did not score his goal. So the hero of the nation became its main loser.
And although in the 1994/95 season he would win both the Italian Cup and the championship, the shine in his game would disappear somewhere. In 1995, Baggio moved to Milan, where he won his second championship. After spending two seasons in Milan, Robi signed a contract with Bologna. There was another World Championship on the horizon and Baggio wanted to get to it. And he got his chance. But Italy lost again on penalties in the quarterfinals.
Baggio managed to play another 6 seasons in big football: 2 seasons with Inter and 4 years with Brescia. Roby wanted to play for the World Cup in 2002, but the national team coach decided to do without him. Robi's last season was the 2003/2004 season.
Life beliefs of the “Rafael of modern football”
He received the nickname “divine ponytail” because of his hairstyle - being a Buddhist, he preferred to wear long strands of hair in a ponytail. After the final match in 1994, he was simply labeled as a “wet bunny”.
But the most succinct description of Roberto was given by Gianni Agnelli, an Italian entrepreneur and the main shareholder of FIAT. Gianni called him the Raphael of the 20th century, because Baggio turned football and his game into high art. Roberto Baggio actively practices Buddhism. He opens new Buddhist centers in Italy and takes an active part in charity.
Personal life of Roberto Baggio
He met his wife, Adriana Fabbi, back in the days when he was far from football. He found his woman, who supported him in everything and gave him three wonderful children: a girl, Valentina, and two boys, Mattia and Leonardo. Baggio values his family very much and tries to devote as much time as possible to them. After all, in addition to his children, he also has many nephews.
Roberto is a Goodwill Ambassador for the FOA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. Baggio also released an autobiography entitled “The Gate” or “Ball in the Sky.” In it, the author talked about many of his conflicts with coaches.
Recognizable “divine ponytail” style
Without a doubt, Roberto Baggio became recognizable thanks to his braid, which he began to wear largely due to his religion. In 1997, Baggio decided to change his image and shaved the top of his head and his ponytail, and divided the cut hair between friends and relatives. But very soon it will grow its “divine tail” again. Baggio was always distinguished by the extravagance of his appearance, so even after the end of his career one could see his pierced ear.
Formal suits always suited Roberto and he never missed an opportunity to wear them. When choosing clothes, Baggio prefers dark-colored shirts, which he harmoniously combines with elegant scarves and sunglasses. He wears shirts at any time of the year and in any weather. If it's cold outside, he just needs to throw on a light jacket or jacket.
Despite his 50 years, Roberto still looks elegant and stylish. His look is completed with a neat goatee beard. And light gray hair only decorates him, giving his image wisdom and solidity.
Roberto Baggio is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in the history of football and very strong spirit person. His career was full of disappointments and obstacles, but he managed to overcome everything thanks to his perseverance, the support of his family and his belief in himself!
Roberto BAGGIO: “People can discuss my actions on the field, criticize, advise. But everything else - my wife, children, rest - is mine and only mine. My loved ones mean too much to me to allow someone to wash their bones on the pages of newspapers or on the streets." "The hearts of the fans will gradually be occupied by other players who may be better than me. But there will be no second Baggio, just like there will be no second Maradona or Van Basten. Everyone has their own path: in football and in life. I was lucky enough to be in a profession that "I enjoy it. God gave me the opportunity to win the love of people, and I tried to use this opportunity to the fullest. I gave everything I could to football. My conscience is clear regarding this."
Most of all, the fans were outraged by the fact that the initiator of the upcoming event was none other than Giovanni Trapattoni, a coach who was methodically burning the last bridges connecting Roberto with the Squadra Azzurra. By the way, it is no coincidence that the idea of giving Baggio a grand farewell was voiced a few days before the friendly match between the Italian and Portuguese national teams. Due to injuries, there was a clear shortage in the Italian attack line. It seemed as if providence itself was predicting Roberto's return to main team countries. But...
Trapattoni’s excuses, that he supposedly needs to think about the future, and Baggio has already died out in the national team, once again sounded like “only over my corpse.” Let us remember that last year Signor Trap did not take Baggio to the World Cup. History does not accept the subjunctive mood. But the “achievements” of the Squadra Azzurra at the 2002 World Cup persistently suggest that Robbie, who by that time had gained form in Asia, would not have been superfluous.
An impartial reader can reasonably object: “Thirty-six! What a team this is! It’s time to know!” That's how it is. Common sense dictates that Robbie's appearance in the national team jersey will be more of a balm for the souls of his many millions of fans than a catalyst for the Squadra's progress. But it’s all about the relationship between Trap and Baggio and the fans, who are also Baggio.
"PASSION, ONLY A HUGE PASSION..."
Dry statistics say: Roberto Baggio is still the most popular football player in Italy. If you add in the world, the risk of making a mistake is small. What is the reason for the all-encompassing love for Robbie of such fickle tiffos, inchas, ultras and so on and so forth? Baggio himself partially answers this question: “People are always on my side because they know what I have been through: severe injuries, cruel criticism, unfounded insults... It has been like this from the very beginning of my football journey.”
The personality of Roberto Baggio carries a huge charge of positivity. To win millions of hearts, he did not have to shock with doping, drugs or drunken fights. If the definition of “sincere football” has a right to exist, then this is exactly the kind of football Baggio plays. Therefore, perhaps, it is not easy for him to adapt to modern requirements based on athleticism, super speed and the gradual erasure of personality as the fundamental basis of priesthood. In addition to his genius talent, Roberto has an understandable mystical attraction, which is created thanks to his external and internal appearance. This and the Indian tattoo on right hand, and a huge gypsy earring in her ear. And, of course, the famous Buddhist ponytail.
Young Robbie turned to this religion on the advice of a friend during a period of numerous stresses. “Acquaintance with Buddhism seemed to open my eyes,” recalls Baggio. “Its philosophy allows you to enjoy greater freedom, without limiting yourself in your passions. At the same time, it is a great responsibility. A Buddhist cannot shift the blame for his own failures and mistakes onto others, he looks for reasons within himself... However, my family remains Catholic - an amazing combination.”
It is Buddhism that helps Baggio endure the pain that accompanies him throughout his career - mental and physical. At the age of 16, Baggio was diagnosed with an allergy to strong analgesics, which did not allow him to completely relieve pain from injuries. “Fans often ask what makes me endure all this and not end my career,” says Roberto. “And I answer: passion, just a huge passion for football!”
"I AM NOT A BUDDHA, BUT JUST A BAJO"
Baggio's talent as a scorer emerged as soon as he began to take his first steps in football. His first coach immediately transferred 9-year-old Robbie to attack and he made no mistake. At the age of 14, he scored six goals in one of the matches and came to the attention of the Vicenza scouts, which at that time played in Serie C. At first professional contract Baggio received about $170 a month and spent the first two seasons mostly on the bank. But in the 1984/85 championship, his 12 goals contributed to Vicenza’s promotion to Serie B. And Baggio himself went straight... to Serie A - Fiorentina invited him. Roberto spent five seasons in Florence. The most successful was the last one, 1989/90, in which the Violets reached the UEFA Cup final, where they lost to their compatriots from Juventus.
The technical forward "Fio" made a great impression on the bosses of the "Old Lady", and it was Turin that became Roberto's next club. The transfer amounted to an astronomical $17 million at that time. The transfer was accompanied by enormous riots on the streets of Florence - the Violets' tiffios could not forgive the club's management for selling their idol.
The next five “black-white-striped years” of Baggio’s career included two world championships. After Italia 90, Roberto acquired the nickname Divine Ponytail. At that tournament, he scored a beautiful goal against the Czechs, passing with the ball from his own half. But in the semi-final against the Argentines, Azeglio Vicini left Baggio in reserve. According to the coach, he looked tired. “I’m 23!” Robbie fumed. “I’m ready to eat grass on the field just to play!”
The coach was relentless and released Robbie only in the second half. Italy lost on penalties and had to settle for bronze.
At the 1994 World Cup, Baggio was the winner of the UEFA Cup and the best player on the planet. Roberto didn't start out very well. “He looks like a wet rabbit,” said Juve president Gianni Agnelli after the match with Mexico. Baggio responded with five goals in the following games, which took Italy to the final. Baggio's doctors did not advise him to participate in it - he had a microtrauma. Robbie came out as a starter and...
This often happens: in the life of a genius, one tragedy is remembered more than all his masterpieces. In the penalty shootout, the ball did not listen to Roberto and flew over the crossbar. "We are the champions!" was played at the stadium. in honor of Brazil, and Baggio stood in the penalty area with a blank look.
What Roberto didn’t have a chance to listen to after his unfortunate mistake. They even remembered his passion for Buddhism. “Yes, I am a Buddhist,” said Roberto. “But I am not Buddha, just Baggio... You would think that Catholics or Muslims do not miss from the 11-meter mark.”
The following season, Juventus won the Scudetto, but Baggio appeared on the field only in every second match. He was offered a new contract. According to it, Robbie was entitled to only a third of his then salary. The “striped” fans responded to the war of words between Baggio and the Juventus management with actions in support of the football player.
Did not help. Roberto moves to Milan, where he finds an imbalance in the game and coaching leapfrog. After Ariggo Sacchi joined the team, there is no longer a place for Robbie in the team. In 1997, Baggio ended up in Bologna, where, by his own admission, he spent “one of the best seasons of his career.” With his play, he wins a place in the Azzurra Squadra, which goes to the 98 World Cup in France.
And again - a penalty shootout. The third World Cup in a row for Baggio and his partners ended in a lottery. And for the third time in a row, the Italians pulled out an unlucky ticket. In the quarterfinal post-match series, Baggio scored his penalty against Barthez, but France went further. Roberto was so upset that he immediately went on a safari to the Argentine pampas. He learned the score of the final match from the radio.
Then there were two not very successful years at Inter and, finally, Brescia. The team that Robbie to this day pulls on his shoulders from the bottom of Serie A.
"FOOTBALL PLAYERS DO NOT EARN SO MUCH"
It is quite possible that the image of a martyr suits such an extraordinary personality like Baggio better than others, and significantly adds to his popularity. But Roberto himself, last of all, would like to remain in people’s memory this way. This can be confirmed by his teammates - present and former. Angelo Peruzzi and Dino Baggio still remember how one day Roberto took them to a hotel where one of his friends was the manager. The Juventus stars dressed up... as handymen and went to meet the arriving truck with food. When the driver saw that the idols on which the whole of Turin literally prayed were being unloaded, he was speechless. “There’s no need to be surprised!” the manager standing nearby readily explained. “Football players don’t earn that much these days!”
By the way, about Dino Baggio. At one time it was rumored that he was Roberto’s brother. Now everyone knows: they are only namesakes. Robbie has plenty of brothers and sisters of his own. His parents raised eight children. As a child, little Robbie often played ball with his brothers. But he was the only one truly obsessed with football. “Sometimes my mother would forcefully take the ball and old boots from me,” Baggio recalls. “But I secretly took them from my father’s room and ran to the field.”
Roberto always remembers his family with great warmth. His mother, Matilda, is the personification of the mother of the Italian family. An excellent housewife and a subtle psychologist - a real keeper of the hearth. Florindo Baggio, Roberto's dad, is wisdom and prudence. It was his father who taught young Robbie not to bend in the face of difficulties and to face any challenge with dignity.
ROMEO AND JULIET
Roberto calls his wife, the beautiful Andreina, the main person in his life. We still need to look for another such strong union. Robbie first saw Andreina exactly 21 years ago - in February 1982. Both were fifteen at the time. Andreina rushed past Roberto... on a moped with her friend. A fleeting glance was enough to flare up a real feeling. They were compared to Romeo and Juliet. Only the love story of Roberto and Andreina had a happy continuation. "We grew up together, changed together, created a family. Together we learned to rejoice, accept right decisions and achieve harmony,” recalls Andreina. “I always loved Roberto, even when there were no fireworks around in his honor...” When Andreina was expecting her first child, she traveled by car from Vicenza to Turin for every Juve match. And after the ill-fated 94 World Cup final, While all the players and their wives went to the banquet, Andreina remained to console her husband in the hotel room. Roberto simply idolizes her: “A woman is the core around which a family is built,” Baggio is sure. - A man with hard work and big goals in life needs a reliable rear, where he finds peace and joy. For me, such a rear is Andreina."
The happy couple have two children: 12-year-old Valentina and 8-year-old Mattia. “I can’t tell you what my kids mean to me,” admits Roberto. “Children are a great joy in life. Following this motto, I try to be an exemplary father and make as few mistakes as possible, especially irreparable ones.”
Roberto was born in the town of Caldogno and was 6 of 8 brothers. From childhood he showed an interest in sports and played on a local youth team for 9 years. After he once scored 6 goals in one match, a Vicenza club scout convinced him to join the team.
After playing for Vicenza for 3 years, Roberto moved to Fiorentina in 1985. During the 5 years he spent in Florence, Roberto became the idol of local fans, who still consider him one of their own best players of all times.
In the summer of 1990, Roberto Baggio took part in his first World Cup, and although he came out mainly as a substitute, he still scored 2 goals, including the “Best Goal of the Tournament” against Czechoslovakia.
Later, despite protests from Fiorentina fans, Baggio moved to Juventus. The Turin club paid a record price for him at the time - $13.5 million. Fiorentina fans started riots on the streets of Florence after Robi joined the enemy camp. Roberto himself responded to the fans by saying, “I was forced to agree to this transfer.”
During a match between Juventus and Fiorentina in 1990, Roberto refused to take a penalty against former team and after being substituted, he picked up a Violets scarf thrown on the field by a Florentine fan and kissed it. "Deep in my heart I'm always purple," he would say later.
And yet, with his play, Roberto also won the favor of Juventus fans.
In 1993, as part of Juventus, Baggio won his only European trophy- UEFA Cup. In the final, Roby scored 2 goals.
His level of play was so high that in the same year he was awarded the titles of "European Footballer of the Year" and "FIFA Player of the Year".
Also in 1993, Roberto married his girlfriend, Andreina Fabbri. They have 3 children - daughter Valentina and sons Mattia and Riccardo.
In the summer of 1994, Baggio took part in his second World Championship.
He carries Sat on his shoulders. Italy to the final, in which Squadra Azzurra loses to Sat. Brazil in a penalty shootout, and Roberto himself becomes the tragic hero of the tournament, not scoring his penalty kick.
In 1995, Baggio won his first Scudetto with Juventus.
In the summer, after strong pressure from Silvio Berlusconi, Baggio was sold to Milan. With Milan, Roberto also wins the Scudetto and becomes the first player to win the Scudetto 2 years in a row with different clubs.
In 1997, to revive his career, Baggio moved to Bologna, where he scored his personal best - 22 goals in a season.
Baggio receives an invitation to the national team for the 1998 World Cup. Having scored a goal at this tournament, Roberto becomes the only Italian player to score goals at 3 World Cups.
After this, Roberto moves to Inter. For him, this was an unsuccessful transition, since he never found a common language with coach Marcello Lippi, who did not particularly value Baggio. Because of this, Roberto lost his place in the national team.
Roberto later wrote in his autobiography that Lippi deprived him of his place in the team because he refused to point out Inter players who spoke negatively about the coach.
His last help to Inter was the 2 goals he scored against Parma in the playoffs for last place in the Champions League. Inter won 3-1. This game was further proof of the supreme professionalism Baggio demonstrated throughout his career: the Inter president openly stated that Lippi would only retain his place if he led the team to the Champions League, but Baggio knew that due to his bad relationship with Lippi , this would also mean that he would have to leave the team, which ultimately happened - after 2 years spent at Inter, in order to have a chance of getting to the 2002 World Cup, Baggio moved to Brescia.
