Igor Protti
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 24, 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Rimini, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1983–1985 | Rimini | 7 | (0) |
| 1985–1988 | Livorno | 75 | (12) |
| 1988–1989 | Virescit Boccaleone | 31 | (10) |
| 1989–1992 | Messina | 105 | (31) |
| 1992–1996 | Bari | 112 | (46) |
| 1996–1997 | Lazio | 27 | (7) |
| 1997–1998 | Napoli | 27 | (4) |
| 1998 | Lazio | 2 | (0) |
| 1998–1999 | Reggiana | 24 | (8) |
| 1999–2005 | Livorno | 192 | (108) |
| Total | 602 | (226) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of June 25, 2006. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Igor Protti (born September 24, 1967 in Rimini) is a former Italian footballer. He was a prolific, penalty box striker who became a legend at Livorno. Like his successor as captain and as chief goalscorer, Cristiano Lucarelli, his personality prevented him from succeeding at international level.
Protti spent the majority of his career playing for teams in lower divisions, but came to more widespread notice in the 1995–1996 Serie A season, in which he shared the scoring title with Giuseppe Signori despite his team, Bari, being relegated. This achievement led to a move to Lazio, but Protti's stay with the Rome club was not successful, and was eventually released from his contract.
After a spell at Reggiana, Protti moved on to Livorno of Serie C1, where he rapidly became one of the most popular players in that club's history. He captained and led Livorno to promotion to Serie A in the 2003–2004 season, before retiring in 2005 after the team had finished a surprising 9th in their first top division campaign in many years. Protti's number 10 was then retired by the club. He has also been given the freedom of the city of Livorno in 2007.[1] During the awarding ceremony, he asked the #10 jersey not to be retired any longer in order to "give anybody back the dream to dress it one day".[2] The number will be reassigned starting from the 2007–08 season, with Francesco Tavano wearing the #10 shirt.
References
- ↑ STRUGGLERS MEET AT LIVORNO | Sporting Life – Football | Football Transfers, Italy Serie A News, Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Standings
- ↑ (Italian) [http://qn1.quotidiano.net/chan/tuttocalcio:5468795:/2007/03/27:]