according to Football-Italia
http://www.football-italia.net/sw/top50partone.html
....some surprises and I`m sure there`ll be some disagreements at some of the placings.
--
50 Glenn Stromberg
SWEDEN
Swedish midfield organiser who became a fan favourite at Atalanta. He joined the Bergamaschi in 1984, at the age of 24, and would stay there until his retirement in 1992. A pivotal member of the side which reached the 1988 Cup-Winners Cup semi-final, he totalled 185 games in Serie A with 15 goals and also stayed loyal during a term in Serie B.
49 Matias Almeyda
ARGENTINA
The heart and lungs of the great Lazio side that Sergio Cragnotti built. A combative midfielder, he provided the much-needed balance as the capital club won the Scudetto, the Cup-Winners Cup and the European Super Cup. He later joined Parma and Inter before ending his Italian stint with a problematic spell at Brescia.
48 Walter Casagrande
BRAZIL
Signed from European champions Porto in 1987, Casagrande wrote himself into Ascoli folklore thanks to his four seasons with the Bianconeri. The Brazilian, similar in some ways to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, netted 38 goals in 96 games for the minnows. He led the club back to Serie A in 1991 before joining Torino, whom he helped to the UEFA Cup Final against Ajax. Who can forget his white tape strapped wrists?
47 Enzo Francescoli
URUGUAY
El Principe was the archetypal No 10 who perhaps didn’t play for the kind of top European club that his talent deserved. Undoubtedly one of the best players South American football has ever produced, the Uruguayan joined Claudio Raneiri’s Cagliari in 1990 after a year at Marseille. Still fondly remembered in Sardinia, he moved to Torino for a season in 1993.
46 Andreas Möller
GERMANY
Juventus sent scouts to Eintracht Frankfurt for Lajos Detari, they returned with glowing reports of Möller. Signed in 1992, the German international was the perfect mix of technique and power. Add in the fact that he could run 100 metres in just a fraction over 10 seconds and he was an immense weapon for Trap’s Old Lady. They won the UEFA Cup with him, before the arrival of the Triade saw him join Borussia Dortmund.
45 Carlos Aguilera
URUGUAY
Pocket sized Uruguayan striker who struck up an ideal little and large partnership at Genoa and Torino with Tomas Skuhravy and Walter Casagrande. Class, speed and inventiveness, he lit up Serie A on a weekly basis. Instrumental in not only getting the Marassi outfit into Europe, Pato also netted eight goals in nine games – including a brace at Anfield – as the Rossoblu reached the last four of the UEFA Cup.
44 Abel Balbo
ARGENTINA
Forget his spells at Parma and Fiorentina, Balbo was a force to be reckoned with at Udinese and then Roma. For the Friulani, whom he joined in 1989 from River Plate, he was runner-up in the Capocannoniere race – something he would later repeat in the capital. He delivered over 70 goals for Roma, even if his potentially explosive partnership with Daniel Fonseca didn’t quite work out.
43 Karl-Heinz Riedle
GERMANY
One of the most talented players in the air that the Italian game has ever seen. Standing at just 1.77m, the German continually defied the laws of gravity to out-leap bigger and more powerful opponents. He spent three years at Lazio after his move from Werder in 1990 and ended the 1991-92 Serie A campaign with 13 goals – six more than Roma’s Rudi Völler that term.
42 Ramon Diaz
ARGENTINA
He flopped in his maiden Italian campaign at Napoli where after only three goals in 25 games he was sold to Avellino. It was there where the Argentine attacker rebuilt his reputation before moves to Fiorentina and Inter. Part of the Inter dei record side which won the title in 1989 – he netted 12 League goals – Diaz was only signed after Madjer failed his medical. Sold to accommodate Jurgen Klinsmann during the three-foreigner rule era.
41 Diego Simeone
ARGENTINA
El Cholo didn’t look cut out for Italian football after an average spell at Pisa at the start of the 1990s, but he returned five years later when Inter swooped on Atletico Madrid. A midfield enforcer, the Argentine went close to winning the Scudetto with the Nerazzurri before being sold to Lazio. It was a costly mistake as Simeone did get his hands on the title in his first Olimpico campaign.
40 Jurgen Klinsmann
GERMANY
Signed by Inter to strengthen the title winning side of 1989, he failed to win the Nerazzurri honours that his talents in front of goal perhaps deserved after collecting just a UEFA and Italian Super Cup. But the German’s first two seasons in Serie A saw him net consistently as he bagged 27 in 64 League ties. Forget his short spell at Sampdoria.
39 Aldair
BRAZIL
Nicknamed Pluto, Aldair left such an impression during his 13 years at Roma that they retired the No 6 shirt in his honour. One of the most elegant defenders that Brazil has ever produced, the South American was signed in 1990 from Benfica by legendary President Dino Viola. An adopted Romanista, Aldair even wore the armband until the emergence of Francesco Totti.
38 Youri Djorkaeff
FRANCE
That acrobatic strike against Roma is now part of Serie A legend. DJ joined Inter in 1996 from Paris SG and ended his maiden campaign as the club’s top scorer with 14 League goals. Stylish and tactically astute, the Frenchman was unfortunate to be playing in the era of Zinedine Zidane and he was prematurely sold to Kaiserslautern after Inter’s problems in 1998-99.
37 Jurgen Kohler
GERMANY
No-nonsense central defender and man-marker extraordinaire, Kohler was a rock during his four years at Juventus. Strong in the air and on the ground, the German excelled under Giovanni Trapattoni and was a reason behind their 1993 UEFA Cup triumph. He was part of the double winning Bianconeri under Marcello Lippi too, even if limited to just 19 League games that term. One of the best ever.
36 Andreas Brehme
GERMANY
Undoubtedly the best left-back in the world during his four years at Inter before being usurped across the city by a certain Paolo Maldini. Acquired in 1988 from Bayern Munich along with Lothar Matthaus, Brehme was part of the record breaking 1989 side. He would also pose an attacking and set-piece threat as he finished his Serie A career with 11 goals in 116 ties.
35 Tomas Skuhravy
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
One of Genoa’s most lethal strikers ever, the towering Czech reached double figures in League goals during the first three of his six seasons at Marassi. Having netted five times at Italia ’90, just one short of Toto Schillaci, Skuhravy became a Genoa legend by helping the club to finish an unforgettable fourth in 1991. His partnership with Carlos Pato Aguilera lives on.
34 Sinisa Mihajlovic
SERBIA
A shining light of the Red Star Belgrade side which took Europe by storm in the early 1990s, he was snapped up by Roma. However, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s decision at Sampdoria to convert him from a left-midfielder into a centre-back made him a Serie A Scudetto winner with Lazio and then Inter. Possibly the best dead-ball expert Italian football has ever seen, Mihajlovic once scored a hat-trick of free-kicks in a single game…
33 Ruben Sosa
URUGUAY
He spent seven years in Italian football and with good reason. Few players at the time possessed such a left foot, his weapon of choice when unleashing rocket free-kicks from all sorts of distances. He departed Lazio after four seasons and 40 goals to join Inter, a club where he left his mark. His 20 League goals in 92-93 helped Inter finish second, while 16 more a season later saw them escape their first ever relegation by just one point.
32 Alen Boksic
CROATIA
He never scored more than 10 League goals in a single season during his seven years in Italy, but the Lazio and Juventus striker was a monster in attack. The physique of a wrestler and the speed of a decent sprinter, the Croatian was not just a real handful for opposing teams, but an instrumental cog in the Scudetto successes of the Bianconeri and Biancocelesti.
31 Paolo Montero
URUGUAY
Sent off a record 16 times in Serie A, the Uruguayan – who lost three Champions League Finals – was an uncompromising central defender. But don’t let his disciplinary record deceive you. Alongside Ciro Ferrara at Juventus, he formed one of the best defensive partnerships the peninsula has witnessed over the last 15 years. His determination matched his ability to read the game.
30 Oliver Bierhoff
GERMANY
The big German’s peninsula adventures started slowly, as relegation with Ascoli in his first season condemned him to three years in Serie B. He hit back though and the Cadetti scoring crown set up a move to Udinese, where he would become the top-flight Capocannoniere. Signed by Milan, he excelled under Alberto Zaccheroni as the Scudetto arrived. He would end his career at Chievo.
29 David Trezeguet
FRANCE
Spent a decade in Italian football with Juventus. Initially starting as a reserve to Pippo Inzaghi, his form in the closing stages of his debut campaign were enough for the club to cash in on the latter. Alongside Alex Del Piero, he formed a lethal attacking combination that would eventually see him net 171 goals for the club – more than any other foreigner in Turin and only behind Roberto Bettega, Giampiero Boniperti and Del Piero in the all-time charts.
28 Toninho Cerezo
BRAZIL
A defensive midfielder who won 74 caps with Brazil, he spent three years at Roma and six at Sampdoria. He would leave the peninsula with four Italian Cups and one Scudetto won with Doria, but the European Cup would elude him despite both of his clubs reaching the Final during his time in Italy.
27 Marcos Cafu
BRAZIL
Attacking right-back who spent 12 years in Italy with Roma and then Milan. Vital to the Giallorossi title of 2001 when he and Vincent Candela ran riot down the flanks, he turned his back on a move to Japan by accepting the Rossoneri call at the age of 33. He enjoyed five years at San Siro, which included a Champions League win, before hanging up his boots in 2008.
26 Liam Brady
REP IRELAND
The first foreigner to win back-to-back Scudetti since the borders re-opened, he was only sacrificed by Juventus to make room for the great Michel Platini. He knew as much on the last day of the season in 1981-82, but still struck home the decisive penalty that ensured another title for the Old Lady. He stayed in Italy until 1987 thanks to spells with Sampdoria, Inter and Ascoli.
25 Zvonimir Boban
CROATIA
Zorro was initially sent to Bari on loan from Milan in 1991, but he returned to base a season later and would spend almost a decade at San Siro – even if as a luxury reserve at times. A member of the 1994 Champions League winning side, he lifted four Scudetti even if he only made a substantial impact on the last in 1998-99 while fielded as a Trequartista. Class personified.
24 Zbigniew Boniek
POLAND
A counter-attacking tool which was exploited by Juventus and then Roma. The first Polish player to appear in Serie A, he was baptised as Il Bello di Notte – The Beauty of the Night – by Gianni Agnelli for his ability to score decisive goals in European evening kick-offs. He won numerous honours with Juve, but insists that he played his best and most spectacular football in the capital.
23 Dejan Savicevic
MONTENEGRO
Such was his genius, hence his Il Genio moniker, the Montenegrin became an indispensable card that Fabio Capello liked to play in numerous attacking positions. Hero of the 4-0 massacre of Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League Final, he played in almost 150 games for the Rossoneri in his six years at the club. Truly gifted.
22 Lilian Thuram
FRANCE
Shaped one of the best defensive units in the European game at Parma alongside Fabio Cannavaro and Gigi Buffon, a trio that would later be reformed at Juventus. Despite the fact that he preferred to play as a centre-back in a four-man defence, he was often used on the right with results guaranteed. Although a physical presence, he rarely needed to be cynical. An example.
21 Edgar Davids
HOLLAND
Virtually thrown away by Milan after struggling to settle at San Siro, he became the first Dutchman to play for Juventus following his transfer in December 1998. Immediately inserted into the first team, he stayed there for almost seven years before a contract dispute during his final campaign. He played in 235 games in all competitions for the Bianconeri before ending his Italian career with a difficult stint at Inter. Glaucoma prompted him to wear his iconic shades.
20 Lothar Matthaus
GERMANY
Used in a slightly more advanced midfield role by Giovanni Trapattoni, Matthaus was the catalyst behind the Inter dei record Scudetto-winning side of 1989. Acquired by ambitious President Ernesto Pellegrini, the tank even scored the decisive goal in the 2-1 win over title rivals Napoli. A World Cup and Golden Ball winner during his time at San Siro, he returned to Bayern Munich in 1992 after a knee injury.
19 Antonio Careca
BRAZIL
Formed the mythical MA-GI-CA trio with Diego Maradona and Bruno Giordano, he was part of the good times at Napoli as they won their second Scudetto and the UEFA Cup. Technically superb, the exciting Brazilian ended his Serie A career with an impressive 73 goals in 164 League games. Never won the Capocannoniere crown, but finished second twice in his first two seasons.
18 Marcel Desailly
FRANCE
Signed by Milan as a defender in 1993, he was transformed into an almighty central midfielder by Fabio Capello with effective results. He immediately won the Scudetto and the Champions League, even scoring in that historic 4-0 demolition of Barcelona in the process. A man of muscle, he was a brick wall in front of that defence and could play a bit too.
17 George Weah
LIBERIA
Robust centre-forward who became the first non-European to win the Ballon d’Or just five months after leaving Paris SG for Milan. Although not a prolific scorer at San Siro, he contributed to two title successes in 1996 and 1999. And who can forget his golden goal against Verona? In September 1996, he took possession of the ball on the edge of his own box, skipped past seven players during a 90-yard-run before slotting home.
16 Zico
BRAZIL
One of Brazil’s greatest and probably the best South American footballer on the planet at the time, there was a fair amount of shock when provincial Udinese signed him from Flamengo in 1983. The ultra-talented Zico certainly lived up to his billing with 19 League goals in just 24 games during his first season – just one shy of top-scoring Michel Platini. He left in 1985 after an injury-hit campaign.
15 Javier Zanetti
ARGENTINA
Still racking up the appearances for Inter after surpassing the 500-mark, Zanetti was Massimo Moratti’s first signing. A real joker in the pack, the versatile Zanetti has served the outfit in a variety of defensive and midfield positions. Not just a great footballer and captain, but also a great man, he will be ranked alongside the legendary Giacinto Facchetti when he eventually retires.
14 Manuel Rui Costa
PORTUGAL
He cried when he heard that Fiorentina had agreed to sell him to Milan. A hero in Florence thanks to his silky skills and enhanced vision, he progressed from being often substituted by Claudio Ranieri into a Scudetto contender under Giovanni Trapattoni. Sold for financial reasons, he did well at Milan too until the emergence of a certain Kaka. Played in Italy for 12 years.
13 Frank Rijkaard
HOLLAND
Requested specifically by Arrigo Sacchi at the expense of the already signed Claudio Borghi, the Dutchman joined fellow countrymen Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten at Milan. He would spend five years at San Siro, protecting his defence and aiding his attack. Twice a Scudetto winner, he came third in the 1989 Golden Ball standings.
12 Andriy Shevchenko
UKRAINE
Won the Capocannoniere crown as a foreigner in his maiden Italian campaign, a feat achieved by just Michel Platini before him. Good inside and outside the box, dangerous in the air and on the ground, Shevchenko became one of the best strikers on the planet at Milan, where he would collect the Golden Ball, the Scudetto and Champions League amongst other accolades. Don’t let his Chelsea disaster ruin the memories.
11 Pavel Nedved
CZECH REPUBLIC
The last player ever to score in the Cup-Winners Cup while at Lazio, he turned into something rather special at Juventus. One of the most talented attacking midfielders in Serie A history, he could defend a bit too thanks to his lungs of steel. As committed a footballer as they come, he won numerous honours in Turin, but never achieved his dream of winning the European Cup. That booking in the 2003 semi-final against Real Madrid, the year he won the Golden Ball, still hurts…
10 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
SWEDEN
Ignore the shame of Calciopoli and Ibrahimovic has won a League title in each of the last seven seasons at Ajax, Juventus, Inter and Barcelona. Signed in secrecy by the Old Lady on deadline day in 2004 by Luciano Moggi, Ibracadabra began to mature into the player who splits opinion to this day. Joining Inter after Juve’s demotion, he left the Beneamata after guiding them to League glory with a Capocannoniere clutch of goals. Milan will be hoping that he hasn’t lost his Scudetto touch.
9 Gabriel Batistuta
ARGENTINA
Batigol, Re Leone, call him what you want but Batistuta remains a Serie A legend. Viewed by some as a Mario Cecchi Gori gamble, the Argentine ended almost a decade in Florence with over 150 Serie A goals – the highest in the club’s history – and among the Top 10 Serie A scorers of all time. Injury cruelly robbed him of a possible Viola Scudetto in 1999, before he got his hands on that prize at Roma in 2001. A gold statue at the Franchi commemorates his greatness.
8 Ronaldo
BRAZIL
Ended his five-year stint at Inter in tears after they threw away the title on the last day, his Nerazzurri career was generally dominated by heartbreak. Although he scored 49 goals in only 68 League games, he collected just one UEFA Cup and two career-threatening injuries at San Siro. Cruelly walked out on Inter after his 2002 World Cup exploits, he returned to Italy with Milan in 2007 until his knee went crack yet again. A prodigious talent, he could have been even greater…
7 Kaka
BRAZIL
A phenomenal talent who despite his tender years usurped Manuel Rui Costa in the Milan starting XI. Technically superb, Kaka’s exquisite dribbling ability, vision and pace saw him become the world’s best player at San Siro. Winner of the Golden Ball in 2007, the deeply religious icon helped the Rossoneri conquer Europe and then the world. Sold to Real Madrid in 2009 for €68m after rejecting Manchester City six months earlier.
6 Zinedine Zidane
FRANCE
Another player to win the Ballon d’Or while serving Juventus, Zidane took his time to settle in Italy after his low-key transfer from Bordeaux. Signed at a cost of around £3m, he was sold five years later to Real for a world record £50m – it was an indication of just what kind of midfielder he had become. Although not as popular as Platini with the Turin faithful, there is no doubt that he was part of the good times at the Delle Alpi.
5 Ruud Gullit
HOLLAND
In the absence of the injured Marco Van Basten, Gullit was the star who initially shone the brightest at Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan. Acquired from PSV, he would win three Scudetti and two European Cups amongst other honours in Rossonero. His physical strength and ball ability allowed him to play in numerous roles during his career, while his two splendid spells at Sampdoria underlined that he wasn’t finished.
4 Falcao
BRAZIL
The best foreign signing immediately made by an Italian club once the borders re-opened in 1980, Falcao went on to become the Eighth King of Rome such was his impact in the capital. A Brazilian regista of subtlety and substance, he was the lynchpin behind their 1983 Scudetto and part of the side that lost a European Cup to Liverpool on penalties. The highest paid player in the League at the time, he left after knee injury and difficulties with owner Dino Viola.
3 Marco Van Basten
HOLLAND
Already suffering from ankle problems when he signed for Milan in 1987, Van Basten would be forced to prematurely end his career at the age of 30. “Football has lost its Leonardo Da Vinci,” stated Rossoneri official Adriano Galliani. A favourite of Silvio Berlusconi, the Dutchman won three Golden Balls, three Scudetti and two European Cups. More than just a striker, he played his last game in the ill-fated 1993 Champions League Final loss to Marseille.
2 Michel Platini
FRANCE
Twinkle-toed midfield inspiration, he won everything on offer with Juventus apart from the UEFA Cup. Having sacrificed Liam Brady to get their hands on the Frenchman, it took Platini more than half a season to acclimatise to Serie A but when everything clicked it was magic. During his time in Turin he won three consecutive Capocannoniere crowns and three straight Golden Balls. Retired in 1987, the same season that Maradona elevated Napoli to Scudetto heaven.
1 Diego Armando Maradona
ARGENTINA
Artist, party animal, hero, villain, intellectual muse, populist icon, the ultimate poor boy come good and torn apart by his own demons. Susy Campanale profiles Diego Armando Maradona, Football Italia’s top foreigner of the last 30 years.
http://www.football-italia.net/sw/top50partone.html
....some surprises and I`m sure there`ll be some disagreements at some of the placings.
--
50 Glenn Stromberg
SWEDEN
Swedish midfield organiser who became a fan favourite at Atalanta. He joined the Bergamaschi in 1984, at the age of 24, and would stay there until his retirement in 1992. A pivotal member of the side which reached the 1988 Cup-Winners Cup semi-final, he totalled 185 games in Serie A with 15 goals and also stayed loyal during a term in Serie B.
49 Matias Almeyda
ARGENTINA
The heart and lungs of the great Lazio side that Sergio Cragnotti built. A combative midfielder, he provided the much-needed balance as the capital club won the Scudetto, the Cup-Winners Cup and the European Super Cup. He later joined Parma and Inter before ending his Italian stint with a problematic spell at Brescia.
48 Walter Casagrande
BRAZIL
Signed from European champions Porto in 1987, Casagrande wrote himself into Ascoli folklore thanks to his four seasons with the Bianconeri. The Brazilian, similar in some ways to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, netted 38 goals in 96 games for the minnows. He led the club back to Serie A in 1991 before joining Torino, whom he helped to the UEFA Cup Final against Ajax. Who can forget his white tape strapped wrists?
47 Enzo Francescoli
URUGUAY
El Principe was the archetypal No 10 who perhaps didn’t play for the kind of top European club that his talent deserved. Undoubtedly one of the best players South American football has ever produced, the Uruguayan joined Claudio Raneiri’s Cagliari in 1990 after a year at Marseille. Still fondly remembered in Sardinia, he moved to Torino for a season in 1993.
46 Andreas Möller
GERMANY
Juventus sent scouts to Eintracht Frankfurt for Lajos Detari, they returned with glowing reports of Möller. Signed in 1992, the German international was the perfect mix of technique and power. Add in the fact that he could run 100 metres in just a fraction over 10 seconds and he was an immense weapon for Trap’s Old Lady. They won the UEFA Cup with him, before the arrival of the Triade saw him join Borussia Dortmund.
45 Carlos Aguilera
URUGUAY
Pocket sized Uruguayan striker who struck up an ideal little and large partnership at Genoa and Torino with Tomas Skuhravy and Walter Casagrande. Class, speed and inventiveness, he lit up Serie A on a weekly basis. Instrumental in not only getting the Marassi outfit into Europe, Pato also netted eight goals in nine games – including a brace at Anfield – as the Rossoblu reached the last four of the UEFA Cup.
44 Abel Balbo
ARGENTINA
Forget his spells at Parma and Fiorentina, Balbo was a force to be reckoned with at Udinese and then Roma. For the Friulani, whom he joined in 1989 from River Plate, he was runner-up in the Capocannoniere race – something he would later repeat in the capital. He delivered over 70 goals for Roma, even if his potentially explosive partnership with Daniel Fonseca didn’t quite work out.
43 Karl-Heinz Riedle
GERMANY
One of the most talented players in the air that the Italian game has ever seen. Standing at just 1.77m, the German continually defied the laws of gravity to out-leap bigger and more powerful opponents. He spent three years at Lazio after his move from Werder in 1990 and ended the 1991-92 Serie A campaign with 13 goals – six more than Roma’s Rudi Völler that term.
42 Ramon Diaz
ARGENTINA
He flopped in his maiden Italian campaign at Napoli where after only three goals in 25 games he was sold to Avellino. It was there where the Argentine attacker rebuilt his reputation before moves to Fiorentina and Inter. Part of the Inter dei record side which won the title in 1989 – he netted 12 League goals – Diaz was only signed after Madjer failed his medical. Sold to accommodate Jurgen Klinsmann during the three-foreigner rule era.
41 Diego Simeone
ARGENTINA
El Cholo didn’t look cut out for Italian football after an average spell at Pisa at the start of the 1990s, but he returned five years later when Inter swooped on Atletico Madrid. A midfield enforcer, the Argentine went close to winning the Scudetto with the Nerazzurri before being sold to Lazio. It was a costly mistake as Simeone did get his hands on the title in his first Olimpico campaign.
40 Jurgen Klinsmann
GERMANY
Signed by Inter to strengthen the title winning side of 1989, he failed to win the Nerazzurri honours that his talents in front of goal perhaps deserved after collecting just a UEFA and Italian Super Cup. But the German’s first two seasons in Serie A saw him net consistently as he bagged 27 in 64 League ties. Forget his short spell at Sampdoria.
39 Aldair
BRAZIL
Nicknamed Pluto, Aldair left such an impression during his 13 years at Roma that they retired the No 6 shirt in his honour. One of the most elegant defenders that Brazil has ever produced, the South American was signed in 1990 from Benfica by legendary President Dino Viola. An adopted Romanista, Aldair even wore the armband until the emergence of Francesco Totti.
38 Youri Djorkaeff
FRANCE
That acrobatic strike against Roma is now part of Serie A legend. DJ joined Inter in 1996 from Paris SG and ended his maiden campaign as the club’s top scorer with 14 League goals. Stylish and tactically astute, the Frenchman was unfortunate to be playing in the era of Zinedine Zidane and he was prematurely sold to Kaiserslautern after Inter’s problems in 1998-99.
37 Jurgen Kohler
GERMANY
No-nonsense central defender and man-marker extraordinaire, Kohler was a rock during his four years at Juventus. Strong in the air and on the ground, the German excelled under Giovanni Trapattoni and was a reason behind their 1993 UEFA Cup triumph. He was part of the double winning Bianconeri under Marcello Lippi too, even if limited to just 19 League games that term. One of the best ever.
36 Andreas Brehme
GERMANY
Undoubtedly the best left-back in the world during his four years at Inter before being usurped across the city by a certain Paolo Maldini. Acquired in 1988 from Bayern Munich along with Lothar Matthaus, Brehme was part of the record breaking 1989 side. He would also pose an attacking and set-piece threat as he finished his Serie A career with 11 goals in 116 ties.
35 Tomas Skuhravy
CZECHOSLOVAKIA
One of Genoa’s most lethal strikers ever, the towering Czech reached double figures in League goals during the first three of his six seasons at Marassi. Having netted five times at Italia ’90, just one short of Toto Schillaci, Skuhravy became a Genoa legend by helping the club to finish an unforgettable fourth in 1991. His partnership with Carlos Pato Aguilera lives on.
34 Sinisa Mihajlovic
SERBIA
A shining light of the Red Star Belgrade side which took Europe by storm in the early 1990s, he was snapped up by Roma. However, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s decision at Sampdoria to convert him from a left-midfielder into a centre-back made him a Serie A Scudetto winner with Lazio and then Inter. Possibly the best dead-ball expert Italian football has ever seen, Mihajlovic once scored a hat-trick of free-kicks in a single game…
33 Ruben Sosa
URUGUAY
He spent seven years in Italian football and with good reason. Few players at the time possessed such a left foot, his weapon of choice when unleashing rocket free-kicks from all sorts of distances. He departed Lazio after four seasons and 40 goals to join Inter, a club where he left his mark. His 20 League goals in 92-93 helped Inter finish second, while 16 more a season later saw them escape their first ever relegation by just one point.
32 Alen Boksic
CROATIA
He never scored more than 10 League goals in a single season during his seven years in Italy, but the Lazio and Juventus striker was a monster in attack. The physique of a wrestler and the speed of a decent sprinter, the Croatian was not just a real handful for opposing teams, but an instrumental cog in the Scudetto successes of the Bianconeri and Biancocelesti.
31 Paolo Montero
URUGUAY
Sent off a record 16 times in Serie A, the Uruguayan – who lost three Champions League Finals – was an uncompromising central defender. But don’t let his disciplinary record deceive you. Alongside Ciro Ferrara at Juventus, he formed one of the best defensive partnerships the peninsula has witnessed over the last 15 years. His determination matched his ability to read the game.
30 Oliver Bierhoff
GERMANY
The big German’s peninsula adventures started slowly, as relegation with Ascoli in his first season condemned him to three years in Serie B. He hit back though and the Cadetti scoring crown set up a move to Udinese, where he would become the top-flight Capocannoniere. Signed by Milan, he excelled under Alberto Zaccheroni as the Scudetto arrived. He would end his career at Chievo.
29 David Trezeguet
FRANCE
Spent a decade in Italian football with Juventus. Initially starting as a reserve to Pippo Inzaghi, his form in the closing stages of his debut campaign were enough for the club to cash in on the latter. Alongside Alex Del Piero, he formed a lethal attacking combination that would eventually see him net 171 goals for the club – more than any other foreigner in Turin and only behind Roberto Bettega, Giampiero Boniperti and Del Piero in the all-time charts.
28 Toninho Cerezo
BRAZIL
A defensive midfielder who won 74 caps with Brazil, he spent three years at Roma and six at Sampdoria. He would leave the peninsula with four Italian Cups and one Scudetto won with Doria, but the European Cup would elude him despite both of his clubs reaching the Final during his time in Italy.
27 Marcos Cafu
BRAZIL
Attacking right-back who spent 12 years in Italy with Roma and then Milan. Vital to the Giallorossi title of 2001 when he and Vincent Candela ran riot down the flanks, he turned his back on a move to Japan by accepting the Rossoneri call at the age of 33. He enjoyed five years at San Siro, which included a Champions League win, before hanging up his boots in 2008.
26 Liam Brady
REP IRELAND
The first foreigner to win back-to-back Scudetti since the borders re-opened, he was only sacrificed by Juventus to make room for the great Michel Platini. He knew as much on the last day of the season in 1981-82, but still struck home the decisive penalty that ensured another title for the Old Lady. He stayed in Italy until 1987 thanks to spells with Sampdoria, Inter and Ascoli.
25 Zvonimir Boban
CROATIA
Zorro was initially sent to Bari on loan from Milan in 1991, but he returned to base a season later and would spend almost a decade at San Siro – even if as a luxury reserve at times. A member of the 1994 Champions League winning side, he lifted four Scudetti even if he only made a substantial impact on the last in 1998-99 while fielded as a Trequartista. Class personified.
24 Zbigniew Boniek
POLAND
A counter-attacking tool which was exploited by Juventus and then Roma. The first Polish player to appear in Serie A, he was baptised as Il Bello di Notte – The Beauty of the Night – by Gianni Agnelli for his ability to score decisive goals in European evening kick-offs. He won numerous honours with Juve, but insists that he played his best and most spectacular football in the capital.
23 Dejan Savicevic
MONTENEGRO
Such was his genius, hence his Il Genio moniker, the Montenegrin became an indispensable card that Fabio Capello liked to play in numerous attacking positions. Hero of the 4-0 massacre of Barcelona in the 1994 Champions League Final, he played in almost 150 games for the Rossoneri in his six years at the club. Truly gifted.
22 Lilian Thuram
FRANCE
Shaped one of the best defensive units in the European game at Parma alongside Fabio Cannavaro and Gigi Buffon, a trio that would later be reformed at Juventus. Despite the fact that he preferred to play as a centre-back in a four-man defence, he was often used on the right with results guaranteed. Although a physical presence, he rarely needed to be cynical. An example.
21 Edgar Davids
HOLLAND
Virtually thrown away by Milan after struggling to settle at San Siro, he became the first Dutchman to play for Juventus following his transfer in December 1998. Immediately inserted into the first team, he stayed there for almost seven years before a contract dispute during his final campaign. He played in 235 games in all competitions for the Bianconeri before ending his Italian career with a difficult stint at Inter. Glaucoma prompted him to wear his iconic shades.
20 Lothar Matthaus
GERMANY
Used in a slightly more advanced midfield role by Giovanni Trapattoni, Matthaus was the catalyst behind the Inter dei record Scudetto-winning side of 1989. Acquired by ambitious President Ernesto Pellegrini, the tank even scored the decisive goal in the 2-1 win over title rivals Napoli. A World Cup and Golden Ball winner during his time at San Siro, he returned to Bayern Munich in 1992 after a knee injury.
19 Antonio Careca
BRAZIL
Formed the mythical MA-GI-CA trio with Diego Maradona and Bruno Giordano, he was part of the good times at Napoli as they won their second Scudetto and the UEFA Cup. Technically superb, the exciting Brazilian ended his Serie A career with an impressive 73 goals in 164 League games. Never won the Capocannoniere crown, but finished second twice in his first two seasons.
18 Marcel Desailly
FRANCE
Signed by Milan as a defender in 1993, he was transformed into an almighty central midfielder by Fabio Capello with effective results. He immediately won the Scudetto and the Champions League, even scoring in that historic 4-0 demolition of Barcelona in the process. A man of muscle, he was a brick wall in front of that defence and could play a bit too.
17 George Weah
LIBERIA
Robust centre-forward who became the first non-European to win the Ballon d’Or just five months after leaving Paris SG for Milan. Although not a prolific scorer at San Siro, he contributed to two title successes in 1996 and 1999. And who can forget his golden goal against Verona? In September 1996, he took possession of the ball on the edge of his own box, skipped past seven players during a 90-yard-run before slotting home.
16 Zico
BRAZIL
One of Brazil’s greatest and probably the best South American footballer on the planet at the time, there was a fair amount of shock when provincial Udinese signed him from Flamengo in 1983. The ultra-talented Zico certainly lived up to his billing with 19 League goals in just 24 games during his first season – just one shy of top-scoring Michel Platini. He left in 1985 after an injury-hit campaign.
15 Javier Zanetti
ARGENTINA
Still racking up the appearances for Inter after surpassing the 500-mark, Zanetti was Massimo Moratti’s first signing. A real joker in the pack, the versatile Zanetti has served the outfit in a variety of defensive and midfield positions. Not just a great footballer and captain, but also a great man, he will be ranked alongside the legendary Giacinto Facchetti when he eventually retires.
14 Manuel Rui Costa
PORTUGAL
He cried when he heard that Fiorentina had agreed to sell him to Milan. A hero in Florence thanks to his silky skills and enhanced vision, he progressed from being often substituted by Claudio Ranieri into a Scudetto contender under Giovanni Trapattoni. Sold for financial reasons, he did well at Milan too until the emergence of a certain Kaka. Played in Italy for 12 years.
13 Frank Rijkaard
HOLLAND
Requested specifically by Arrigo Sacchi at the expense of the already signed Claudio Borghi, the Dutchman joined fellow countrymen Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten at Milan. He would spend five years at San Siro, protecting his defence and aiding his attack. Twice a Scudetto winner, he came third in the 1989 Golden Ball standings.
12 Andriy Shevchenko
UKRAINE
Won the Capocannoniere crown as a foreigner in his maiden Italian campaign, a feat achieved by just Michel Platini before him. Good inside and outside the box, dangerous in the air and on the ground, Shevchenko became one of the best strikers on the planet at Milan, where he would collect the Golden Ball, the Scudetto and Champions League amongst other accolades. Don’t let his Chelsea disaster ruin the memories.
11 Pavel Nedved
CZECH REPUBLIC
The last player ever to score in the Cup-Winners Cup while at Lazio, he turned into something rather special at Juventus. One of the most talented attacking midfielders in Serie A history, he could defend a bit too thanks to his lungs of steel. As committed a footballer as they come, he won numerous honours in Turin, but never achieved his dream of winning the European Cup. That booking in the 2003 semi-final against Real Madrid, the year he won the Golden Ball, still hurts…
10 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
SWEDEN
Ignore the shame of Calciopoli and Ibrahimovic has won a League title in each of the last seven seasons at Ajax, Juventus, Inter and Barcelona. Signed in secrecy by the Old Lady on deadline day in 2004 by Luciano Moggi, Ibracadabra began to mature into the player who splits opinion to this day. Joining Inter after Juve’s demotion, he left the Beneamata after guiding them to League glory with a Capocannoniere clutch of goals. Milan will be hoping that he hasn’t lost his Scudetto touch.
9 Gabriel Batistuta
ARGENTINA
Batigol, Re Leone, call him what you want but Batistuta remains a Serie A legend. Viewed by some as a Mario Cecchi Gori gamble, the Argentine ended almost a decade in Florence with over 150 Serie A goals – the highest in the club’s history – and among the Top 10 Serie A scorers of all time. Injury cruelly robbed him of a possible Viola Scudetto in 1999, before he got his hands on that prize at Roma in 2001. A gold statue at the Franchi commemorates his greatness.
8 Ronaldo
BRAZIL
Ended his five-year stint at Inter in tears after they threw away the title on the last day, his Nerazzurri career was generally dominated by heartbreak. Although he scored 49 goals in only 68 League games, he collected just one UEFA Cup and two career-threatening injuries at San Siro. Cruelly walked out on Inter after his 2002 World Cup exploits, he returned to Italy with Milan in 2007 until his knee went crack yet again. A prodigious talent, he could have been even greater…
7 Kaka
BRAZIL
A phenomenal talent who despite his tender years usurped Manuel Rui Costa in the Milan starting XI. Technically superb, Kaka’s exquisite dribbling ability, vision and pace saw him become the world’s best player at San Siro. Winner of the Golden Ball in 2007, the deeply religious icon helped the Rossoneri conquer Europe and then the world. Sold to Real Madrid in 2009 for €68m after rejecting Manchester City six months earlier.
6 Zinedine Zidane
FRANCE
Another player to win the Ballon d’Or while serving Juventus, Zidane took his time to settle in Italy after his low-key transfer from Bordeaux. Signed at a cost of around £3m, he was sold five years later to Real for a world record £50m – it was an indication of just what kind of midfielder he had become. Although not as popular as Platini with the Turin faithful, there is no doubt that he was part of the good times at the Delle Alpi.
5 Ruud Gullit
HOLLAND
In the absence of the injured Marco Van Basten, Gullit was the star who initially shone the brightest at Arrigo Sacchi’s Milan. Acquired from PSV, he would win three Scudetti and two European Cups amongst other honours in Rossonero. His physical strength and ball ability allowed him to play in numerous roles during his career, while his two splendid spells at Sampdoria underlined that he wasn’t finished.
4 Falcao
BRAZIL
The best foreign signing immediately made by an Italian club once the borders re-opened in 1980, Falcao went on to become the Eighth King of Rome such was his impact in the capital. A Brazilian regista of subtlety and substance, he was the lynchpin behind their 1983 Scudetto and part of the side that lost a European Cup to Liverpool on penalties. The highest paid player in the League at the time, he left after knee injury and difficulties with owner Dino Viola.
3 Marco Van Basten
HOLLAND
Already suffering from ankle problems when he signed for Milan in 1987, Van Basten would be forced to prematurely end his career at the age of 30. “Football has lost its Leonardo Da Vinci,” stated Rossoneri official Adriano Galliani. A favourite of Silvio Berlusconi, the Dutchman won three Golden Balls, three Scudetti and two European Cups. More than just a striker, he played his last game in the ill-fated 1993 Champions League Final loss to Marseille.
2 Michel Platini
FRANCE
Twinkle-toed midfield inspiration, he won everything on offer with Juventus apart from the UEFA Cup. Having sacrificed Liam Brady to get their hands on the Frenchman, it took Platini more than half a season to acclimatise to Serie A but when everything clicked it was magic. During his time in Turin he won three consecutive Capocannoniere crowns and three straight Golden Balls. Retired in 1987, the same season that Maradona elevated Napoli to Scudetto heaven.
1 Diego Armando Maradona
ARGENTINA
Artist, party animal, hero, villain, intellectual muse, populist icon, the ultimate poor boy come good and torn apart by his own demons. Susy Campanale profiles Diego Armando Maradona, Football Italia’s top foreigner of the last 30 years.
