Roberto Baggio, an Italian Legend

Roberto Baggio was without much room for doubt one of Italy's greatest football players yet it was not till the summer of 1990 that I found out who he was when I came across the story of his 19 million dollar transfer from Fiorentina (Florence) to Juventus (Turin). This at the time being the most expensive transfer in the history of not only Italian but world football. Roberto Baggio, I would also find out had already (at the age of 23) achieved legendary status at Fiorentina where in 94 (this figure not including "Copa Italia" or European Cups) "Serie A" games; he scored 39 goals. This apart from helping Fiorentina get to the final of the 1990 UEFA Cup which unfortunately they did not win.

It was clear to see that Baggio was a great talent in his position of wing, as his scoring statistics clearly indicate yet there was more to the story. As his transfer from Fiorentina to Juventus actually led to riots in Florence which included fifty people being injured though fortunately none were killed. All of which leading me to the believe that this player who would also become known as "Il Divin Codino" (The Divine Ponytail) was truly loved in the city of Florence for what had been his contributions to not only its football team but the city.

As for myself, it was in Italia 90 that I got to see Roberto Baggio play for the first time in a tournament in which I was able to observe for myself; all the talent I had heard of which included excellent ball handling skills to put him on a par with many of South America's best. Needless to say that Baggio apart from being a man more than capable of controlling a ball was also one whose vision of the field along with shot making ability made him an exceptional player. Regarding Baggio's performance in Italia 90, it was there that he scored two goals; most notably one against Czechoslovakia in which he showed a lot of the greatness which he would later display on many occasions to follow.

Italy however in the "World Cup Italia 90" would go on to lose to Argentina on penalties in the semifinal in a game that for some strange reason saw Roberto Baggio not enter the field till late in the second half. This in a match most felt Baggio should have started yet despite not doing so made a difference; as Argentina's Giusti was forced to tackle him in way that earned him the red card. Argentina however unfortunately for Italy and myself would proof superior to Italy in the penalty shout out that followed the 1-1 draw yet Baggio did convert his kick from the penalty spot.

Italy ended up third in this world cup which in fact was a disappointment for most of its fans who had expected them to at least reach the finals yet despite this; it can be said that Baggio played very well. This in spite of the fact that his was not a sure spot in the starting lineup and it being a very defensive minded world cup; where players of creativity (him being one of them) did not really excel.
After "Italia 90", Roberto Baggio started his career at Juventus, the team he will probably be remembered most for. As it was Juventus which saw his finest years, as he would go on to score 115 goals in 141 league games along with winning the Scudetto in 95 along with the UEFA cup in 93 and the Coppa Italia in 95. For my part however it was during the 91-92 and 92-93 seasons that I become most impressed by Baggio as it was in these years, while living in South America and New York that I was able to see several of Juventus's games; including one in which he scored four goals on the same day in which Milan's Van Basten did likewise.