Luigi Riva

Luigi Riva

Riva with the national team in 1966
Personal information
Date of birth	(1944-11-07) November 7, 1944
Place of birth	Leggiuno, Italy
Playing position	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1961–1962	Legnano	22	(6)
1962–1976	Cagliari	315	(164)
Total		337	(170)
National team
1965–1974	Italy	42	(35)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Luigi Riva (born November 7, 1944), best known as Gigi Riva or by his nickname Rombo di Tuono (Roar of Thunder), is a former Italian footballer, the all-time leading scorer for the Italian national team.

Considered one of the best forwards of his generation, Riva enjoyed a remarkable scoring record for Cagliari thanks to his composure in front of goal, fearsome left foot and aerial ability. He led Cagliari to their only Serie A title in 1969-70, as well as winning the 1968 UEFA European Championship with Italy.

Career

Riva was born in Leggiuno, in the province of Varese, Lombardy.

His career started in 1962 when he joined Legnano. He was acquired by Cagliari the next season and was to stay there for the rest of his career. He made his league debut for Cagliari on September 13, 1964, when the team lost 2-1 against Roma. He was Serie A top-scorer three times with Cagliari, in 1966/67, in 1968/69 and in 1969/70. His only Serie A title came in 1970.

He made his international debut on June 27, 1965 in a 2-1 defeat against Hungary. He would go on to become Italy's top-goalscorer of all-time, with 35 goals in just 42 matches and would win the 1968 European Championships, in the final of which he scored. In the 1970 World Cup in Mexico the Italian team finished runners up after losing 4-1 to Brazil in the final, before Mexico 70 he had scored 19 goals in 16 matches. He was Italy's topscorer in the competition and he netted the crucial extra-time goal - his 22nd in 21 internationals - against Germany in the semi-final.

He turned down a move to Juventus in 1973 at the age of 29 in order to remain with Cagliari, but, together with many other members of the Italian squad, displayed a series of disappointing performances at the 1974 World Cup, and he was eventually dropped for the last game against Poland.

His career was blighted by major injuries. He broke his left leg playing for the national side against Portugal shortly before the 1966 World Cup. He broke his right leg, again on international duty, this time against Austria just after the 1970 World Cup. In 1976, he ruptured a tendon in his right thigh playing for Cagliari against Milan. He never successfully recovered and, despite comeback attempts, eventually retired in 1978. He became an executive with Cagliari. He is currently a team managing staff member for the Italian national football team, and was also a member of the Italian national team who won the 2006 FIFA World Cup under his supervision.

More recently, in 2005 Cagliari agreed to retire his No.11 jersey to honour him. Riva's jersey was the first one to be retired by the Sardinian club, and the only one to date.

Style of play

Riva had a very powerful left foot and a very soft touch. Almost invincible during sprints, he mixed a great prowess at freekicks with an astonishing finishing skill.

Career statistics

Honours

Club

Cagliari

• Serie A (1): 1969-70
  • Runners-up (1): 1968–69

Country

Italy

• European Championship (1): 1968

Individual

• Serie A Top Scorer: 1966-1967
• Serie A Top Scorer: 1968-1969
• Serie A Top Scorer: 1969-1970

Ballon d'Or

• 1967 – 15th
• 1968 – 6th
• 1969 – 2th
• 1970 – 3th

• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2011

External links

• (Italian) Gigi Riva Official Website
• Record for Italy
• FIFA Profile

v t e Italy squad – UEFA Euro 1968 Winners (1st Title) 1 Albertosi 2 Anastasi 3 Anquilletti 4 Bercellino 5 Burgnich 6 Bulgarelli 7 Castano 8 De Sisti 9 Domenghini 10 Facchetti (c) 11 Ferrini 12 Guarneri 13 Juliano 14 Lodetti 15 Mazzola 16 Prati 17 Riva 18 Rivera 19 Rosato 20 Salvadore 21 Vieri 22 Zoff Coach: Valcareggi

v t e Italy squad – 1970 FIFA World Cup Runners-up 1 Albertosi 2 Burgnich 3 Facchetti (c) 4 Poletti 5 Cera 6 Ferrante 7 Niccolai 8 Rosato 9 Puia 10 Bertini 11 Riva 12 Zoff 13 Domenghini 14 Rivera 15 Mazzola 16 De Sisti 17 Vieri 18 Juliano 19 Gori 20 Boninsegna 21 Furino 22 Prati Coach: Valcareggi

v t e Italy squad – 1974 FIFA World Cup 1 Zoff 2 Spinosi 3 Facchetti (c) 4 Benetti 5 Morini 6 Burgnich 7 Mazzola 8 Capello 9 Chinaglia 10 Rivera 11 Riva 12 Albertosi 13 Sabadini 14 Bellugi 15 Wilson 16 Juliano 17 Re Cecconi 18 Causio 19 Anastasi 20 Boninsegna 21 Pulici 22 Castellini Coach: Valcareggi