Fulvio Collovati

Fulvio Collovati
Personal information
Full nameFulvio Collovati
Date of birthMay 9, 1957
Place of birthTeor, Italy
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionCentre-back
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1976–1982Milan158(4)
1982–1986Inter109(3)
1986–1987Udinese20(2)
1987–1989Roma45(1)
1989–1993Genoa72(0)
Total404(10)
National team
1976–1978Italy U-217(0)
1979Olympic Italy1(0)
1979–1986Italy50(3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Fulvio Collovati (born May 9, 1957) is an Italian former footballer, who played as defender. He was a stopper (centre-back) and also played for Italy at international level, winning the 1982 FIFA World Cup. As a player, he was regarded as one of Italy's best defenders during the 70s and 80s. An elegant player,[1] he was gifted with good technique, as well as excellent anticipation, marking ability, and aerial prowess; because of his many defensive attributes, he was considered Roberto Rosato's heir at Milan.[2][3]

Club career

Collovati was born in Teor, in the province of Udine. Brought up through the A.C. Milan youth academy, he debuted in Serie A with the rossoneri in the 1976-77 season, in which he played eleven times and even won the Coppa Italia. In the next season he played more regularly (25 appearances, 1 goal) but his definitive moment came during the 1978-79 season in which, thanks to his 27 appearances, he won the scudetto. It was one of the few joys he had at Milan, because following the 1979-80 season, Milan was relegated to the Serie B for their involvement in the Totonero football betting scandal. Unlike other players, Collovati stayed on with Milan in the Serie B and played 36 games scoring two goals, winning the title that season, and helping the club to gain Serie A promotion the following season. Back in Serie A the next season, Milan won the Mitropa Cup, but surprisingly was relegated to Serie B once again, but this time for their on-field exploits. On this occasion, Collovati (who in the meantime was called up to the Nazionale) decided to join local rivalsInter Milan.[2]

In his first year with the nerazzurri (1982–83), he played in 28 games. At Inter he was always a mainstay in the defense, but in September 1986 he wanted to be closer to his hometown of Udine and he went to play for Udinese Calcio, where he only stayed for one season (20 games, 2 goals). He ended his career after two years at A.S. Roma (1987–88 and 1988–89) and four at Genoa C.F.C. (from 1989-90 to 1992-93), all in Serie A.

International career

In his international career, Collovati played 50 games and scored 3 goals: he made his debut for Italy on February 24, 1979 against the Netherlands (3-0) and he scored his first Azzurri goal on February 16, 1980 during Italy-Romania (2-1).[2] Collovati was a member of the Italy squad that finished in fourth place in the 1980 European Championships on home soil, missing the decisive penalty in the shoot-out of the bronze-medal match against Czechoslovakia.[4] Collovati has represented his country in 8 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and was a protagonist at the 1982 World Cup in Spain where Italy won the World Cup for a third time, and Collovati was named as a member of the team of the tournament. He also made an appearance for Italy at the 1986 World Cup.[5][6]

After retirement

He is now an analyst for the Italian media station RAI.[7]

Honours

Club

Milan[2]

International

Italy[2]

References

  1. Tony Damascelli (19 August 2006). "Brio, 50 anni e un rimpianto «Ora in azzurro giocano tutti»". http://www.ilgiornale.it'' (in Italian). Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Fulvio COLLOVATI". Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  3. "Fluvio Collovati". Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. "Buona Italia sconfitta ai rigori". Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  5. Fulvio CollovatiFIFA competition record
  6. "Nazionale in cifre: Collovati, Fulvio". http://www.figc.it/'' (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  7. Giorgio Dell’Arti (2 December 2013). "Fulvio Collovati". http://cinquantamila.corriere.it/'' (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 22 April 2015.

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Aldo Maldera
Milan captain
1981-1982
Succeeded by
Franco Baresi