Euro-Football.Ru strongly believes that the legends should not be consigned to oblivion, and “Divine Tail” Roberto Baggio deserves eternal football glory.

On February 18, Roberto Baggio turned forty-nine years old - the anniversary is just around the corner. It is strange to believe in this, because it seems that recently several generations of fans at once admired what this gifted football player was doing on the field. But time passes inexorably, and other heroes, a great variety of bright individuals, came to replace "Tail". Does this mean that we will forget Baggio? Well, this is very unlikely. And that's why.

"Life is a theater," Shakespeare said, "and we are all actors in it."
You pierced the playing of the heart, gave birth to delight and controversy.
For the fact that you played with your soul, the people crowned you.
And even the enemy kept repeating at times, hiding the fear that you are the king.

I remember that during the 1998 World Cup, football commentators infuriated me for a long time, who with and without reason exclaimed happily: "Do you remember how Roberto Baggio did not score a penalty in the 1994 World Cup final?"

During his career, Baggio has implemented 86% of penalties, and this is an absolute record for Italian footballers. If Roberto did not score a penalty, it was solely because the goalkeeper parried his blow. And only once the "Divine Tail" struck past the gate, and this case was exaggerated for a long time by literally everyone. This happened during the final match of the World Cup-94 between the national teams of Brazil and Italy; the final, in which the "squadru azzurru" was led only by the genius of Baggio and the selfless play of the defenders. However, even before that sad incident in the career of “Ponytail” there were plenty of failures, sometimes it seemed that it was time to “put an end to football”, but Roberto never despaired and continued to play.

Baggio is considered by many in Italy to be the third best player in football history, behind Pele and Maradona. And let his career “Ponytail” completed eleven years ago, I want to believe that he will be a favorite of fans all over the world for a long time.

Probably, if Baggio had been born either a little earlier or a little later, then, without a doubt, he would have become the same famous player in the world as, for example, Pele or Messi. Roberto's trouble is that he was born at a time when a whole scattering of stars shone in Italy and it was extremely difficult to get into the "list of the first stars". And at that time they preferred contract football, and this is far from being as beautiful as what the "Divine Tail" demonstrated on the field ...

Baggio was born on February 18, 1967, near Vicenza, in the small village of Caldogno. In addition to Roberto, the family had seven more children, and they lived in a small house near a gas station. The boy started playing football early - his older brothers constantly took him with them to the wasteland, where the yard matches were held. By the way, the head of the family, Fiorindo, being ardent football fan, gave names to sons in honor of famous football players. Our hero was named after the famous Juventus striker Roberto Bategi. Robie loved kicking the ball so much that he even slept with it. At first, the father came to personally take the tomboy home, and then, tired of putting windows for himself and his neighbors, he simply enrolled his son in the Caldogno children's team. Having got used to it a little, Roberto began to play, so much so that agent Antonio Calhendo "opened the hunt" for him. And this is not surprising, because if Baggio himself did not score goals, then his partners scored - it is clear that after his filing.

Then, thanks to almost six months of negotiations with the parents of the young star, Calhendo in 1980 managed to attach his 13-year-old ward to the Vicenza youth team for 500 thousand lire - by the way, largely due to the fact that the boy was noticed by the team's agent Antonio Moro. And two years later, Baggio became a first-team player, after all, in one hundred and twenty matches, he hammered 110 goals. By the way, the Brazilian Zico was the idol of Roberto at that time.

Like Baggio has only a leg and a half left

At that time, “Vicenza” played in Serie C1, but already in 1985 entered Serie B - largely thanks to the goals of the young Baggio. It is not surprising that three clubs set out to get it at once - “Sampdoria”, “Juventus” and “Fiorentina”. And while the media were betting on where the player would go, Roberto suffered a serious knee injury. On May 5, 1985, in a match against Rimini, which at that time was coached by Arrigo Sacchi, the defender took offense at Baggio's filigree feint and stupidly cut down the striker, literally breaking his kneecap. The pain was such that in the hospital, Robie asked to kill him ... The operation did not save Baggio from this pain, from now on it was his lot - to live with this pain. In addition, after the operation, the player's injured leg became shorter. When it seemed that the return to duty was so close, there was a relapse. The doctors had to reassemble the knee, applying two hundred and twenty (!) Stitches.

“They say that throughout my career with the ball I worked miracles. And few people realize that the greatest miracle that I created is that I was able to play football until I was thirty-five. only one and a half feet ".

To the credit of the “violets”, the club was patiently waiting for the recovery of the striker, and during his time in “Fiorentina” time Baggio became the idol of the fans who claimed that Roberto is the best player in the history of the club. Due to an injury in the first “violet season,” Baggio did not play, but was persistently engaged in recovery. Few believed that he would be able to return to the previous level, but a year later the doctors' verdict was joyful - he was allowed to play. He made his debut for “Violets” on September 21, 1986, and in this match he again injured the ill-fated knee. The then coach of the team, Sven-Goran Eriksson, insisted on selling the player to Cesena, but some sponsors and owners of the club continued to believe in Roberto. And, as it turned out, they were not mistaken. Finally, Roby recovered only in the spring of 1987, before the end of the season he played only four fights, but in the next he became a real star of the team. Fans idolized him, while the club thanked those who managed to insist on Ericsson's refusal and leave Baggio.

By the way, at the end of 1989, Fiorentina played against Dynamo Kiev in the 1/8 final of the UEFA Cup. The victory was then celebrated by the Florentines, and Baggio scored the only goal in two confrontations. True, from a very dubious penalty. It's funny, but next time Roberto visited the territory of the former USSR only in 1998, having arrived in Riga for a match with Skonto. Before that, I regularly found a lot of excuses - either my leg hurts, or, they say, family circumstances. And the Kiev fans joke that the reason for this was the "male conversation" between the fans and Baggio after the match ...

Meanwhile, in Italy the fame of the talented young striker was spreading, the media called him "the most promising young player in the country, if not the world." After the Violets lost to Juventus in the 1989/90 UEFA Cup final and Baggio scored seventeen goals that season, he received a phone call from coach Azeello Vicini that Roberto was on the list of Azzurra squadrons who would play the home world championship. "After this call, I could not recover from surprise and happiness for a long time. Of course, I dreamed of playing at the World Cup, but at that moment I managed to score only eight goals for the national team, so I had little faith in my chances."

And a few days later, another event happened - “Juventus” offered to buy out the contract of the talented striker for 25 billion lire (17 million dollars) - at that time an absolutely fantastic amount. It is understandable that before such a mountain of money, the bosses of Fiorentina could not resist and sold the player. I believe that, despite the sadness of parting, Roberto wanted to play in one of the strongest clubs in Italy. By the way, the player himself had previously refused the Turin players. Having learned about the sale of their pet, the fans began to hold rallies, sometimes it came to fights. The siege of Fiorentina's office and base in Coverciano, where the team was preparing for the World Cup, lasted three days. And only the summoned carabinieri managed to protect the bosses and trainers from reprisals.

After the deal Baggio turned from an idol into the main enemy of the fans of “violets”, it did not help that the presentation he threw off the scarf of “Juventus”. Until now, in Florence, they call him Judas, and the "Divine Tail" does not risk appearing in the city without protection. And this despite the fact that Baggio tried in every possible way to resolve the conflict - on April 6, 1991, when he first arrived in Florence with Juventus, he refused to shoot a penalty and picked up a purple scarf thrown from the stands from the stands.

“I felt like an outcast. When in the“ Juventus ”I had to play in Florence, unthinkable curses were heard from the stands. From the locker rooms to the car I walked surrounded by carabinieri, under a hail of insults and a rain of rotten vegetables. Even my wife and I visited my parents during the holidays. secretly".

The debut at the home world championship could have been called successful, if not for the third place of the “Azzurra squadra”. Probably, this was due to the colossal pressure exerted on the team's players - after all, all of Italy demanded only victory from them. In the first two matches, Roberto did not play, but his goal in a duel with the Czechoslovakians was recognized as the most beautiful goal of the tournament.

For the right to qualify for the World Cup final, the Italians in Naples fought against Argentina's national team led by Maradona. It's funny, but Napoli fans came to the stadium with two flags - they are fans of Diego, but their team wanted to reach the final. Perhaps the loss of the Italians was due to the fact that Baggio was not in the starting lineup, and when he entered the field with the score 1: 1, he could no longer help his team. “Squadra Azzurra” lost in the penalty shootout, but that time Roberto's shot was accurate.

In Turin, Baggio was nicknamed "Mr. 25 billion" and immediately began to try on the role of "the new Platini". By the way, earlier Laudrup, Barrusha, Zavarov were predicted for her, after - Del Piero, Ziza ... However, although Baggio did not become the "new Platini", it was in the "old lady" that he received the nickname "The Divine Tail". "Platini set the bar very high, Baggio has not yet grown to this level. But he is able to give the team much more than he has given so far," said Giovanni Trapattoni in the fall of 1994.

In 1993, Baggio, together with the Turin people, won his first European club trophy - the UEFA Cup. He also received the Golden Ball. But after a conflict with Juventus mentor Marcello Lippi, Roberto was sold to Milan, and in the first season, Divine Tail helped the Rossoneri win the Scudetto, thereby becoming the first player to win the Serie A championship with two different clubs for two years in a row and the fifth to take the Scudetto twice with two different teams.

Hooligan, from whom luck turned away

“It’s in the order of things to quietly pour salt into a glass of juice or put shaving foam in a towel. And this bully Baggio runs everything,” Andreas Möller recalled his first days at Juventus.

By the way, rumor has it that the sale to Milan Baggio is obliged to the owner of Agnelli from Turin, they say, Robie refused attention to the lady who complained to the club boss in revenge, accusing Baggio of harassment. Everything could turn out to be a fiction, but only that lady was Agnelli's wife. And in the blink of an eye Baggio from the “new Platini” turned into a “rabbit wet with fright” - this is how the 70-year-old boss of Turin commented on Robie's not scored penalty at the World Cup-94. Moreover, the attacker's salary was reduced, they say, "there are enough good players in the team, and your increased salary offends them." Strange, but up to this moment this did not offend them?

Baggio rode to the American world championship as the owner of the Ballon d'Or and the country's main hope, but ... The saddest thing was that then the championship was at stake, from which the Italians were at a distance of one unscored penalty. And it had to happen so that this burden fell on Baggio. "That world championship, I have to win or lose in the last seconds. My spiritual mentor Daisaku Ikeda told me this. He was one of those who do not make mistakes."

But it was Robi who dragged the squadru azzurru to the final, because his partners, to put it mildly, did not shine at the tournament. And do not blame everything on Baggio, at the time of his blow the players of Arrigo Sacchi's team had already missed twice - Baresi and Massaro. After the World Cup, an article appeared in a Brazilian newspaper, which said that Baggio was anointed because Ayrton Senna crashed in the Italian stage of Formula 1 that year.

"My burden is called Pasadena ... Pasadena is the name of my prophecy. Even today this picture appears before my eyes. Not a very pleasant sight, and it is not enough just to close my eyes to make it disappear. , the silence of our tifosi, comforting words from Luigi Riva. But no words could cure my pain at that moment. The pain of loneliness ... "

However, back to Juventus. Robie could not stand the harassment and accepted Milan's offer. By the way, the fans of Turin were not against his transition. In its debut season as part of the Rossoneri, Divine Tail found a second wind, but in the second season, “wilted” and in 1997 was sold to Bologna. Many decided that Baggio would soon end his playing career, but the striker, having scored 22 goals per season for the Bolognese, which turned out to be his personal best, and became the idol of local fans, was included instead of Gianfranco Zola in the national team going to the World Cup-98. And again the fate of the Italian national team was decided in a series of penalty shootouts - this time in the quarterfinal match against the French national team. I wonder how Baggio felt when he approached the ball set "on the spot"? Be that as it may, but his blow Fabien Barthez "did not pull." However, this time di Biagio missed - this is such a verbal pun.

It is interesting that the coach of the national team, Cesare Maldini, has repeatedly stated that he is betting on del Piero. Alessandro never scored. And after the match with the French, Maldini apologized to Roby for not releasing him in the starting lineup.

The bosses of “Rossoblu” perfectly understood that Baggio would not stay for a long time in their club, so no one was surprised at the transfer of the forward to “Inter” in 1998. However, a year later, Nerazzurri's mentor was Marcello Lippi, who had previously pressed Robie at Juventus. He continued to do this at Inter, so in 2000 Baggio signed a contract with Brescia.

“Lippi skillfully“ suppressed ”me just because I refused to point out to him those Inter players who spoke badly about him. He actually offered me to spy. I refused, and from that moment his“ special ”treatment of me began. He picked me up last. I only played if someone was injured. And once during practice I made a great pass and Vieri and Panucci applauded me. It's a normal, common thing. But Lippi almost burst from He yelled, "You are not here to clap your hands, and that also applies to 'Mr. Baggio," Baggio later wrote in his autobiography.

It is interesting that in his farewell match, Roberto with his goals provided the “snakes” with a ticket to the Champions League, the same ones were eliminated in the preliminary round from the Swedish “Helsingborg”. In general, it was in the spirit of Baggio - to say goodbye to the team like that. In his last five matches for Bologna, he scored eight goals, in a farewell fight for Juventus - gave two assists.

Nationwide love

Moving to “Brescia” in the summer of 2000, Baggio again “started” his tail, and in his debut season he scored in six games in a row. Before the next season, his goal was to reclaim the national team, Roby scored in almost every match, and his physical form caused amazement. His “swallows” were practically invincible, but in the seventh round match with “Piacenza” Baggio again injured his knee. But the forward managed to return to the field earlier than the deadline set by the doctors, and was injured again. Later, the player's lawyer, Vittorio Petrone, said that in a duel with “Venice” his client was deliberately “hunted”, and the Brazilian Bilica even said: “I will break your legs, and you will not go to any world championship!”. An investigation was carried out, after which the incident was resolved. In February, there was another injury and Roberto needed an operation. However, the player did not give up and, although Trapattoni said that he did not see Baggio in the national team, our hero still hoped for something. Despite the serious injury, Roby was able to recover by the end of the season and helped the “swallows” escape from relegation.

"Del Piero in France was dead, and Baggio is to blame for this. Roberto had a destabilizing effect on other attacking players," Fabio Cannavaro said at the time. This statement is due to the fact that the country was confident that Baggio was dragging the national team almost alone. AND football Italy, where coaches have always dominated, Roberto did not forgive this. Moreover, a group of oppositionists arose among the players of the national team ... Baggio was accused of the fact that he was always a loner - he did not intrigue, kept aloof, had almost no friends.

However, the Italian fans demanded to call Robie into the national team and at every match from the stands rushed - Baggio! Il Divin Codino! All this infuriated Trapattoni so much that he threatened to never call Baggio to the national team again. "I want to clarify this point once and for all. Roberto Baggio is a great player, and I am following him closely. His problem will be solved, but solved in due time, when we prepare directly for the World Cup. I will think about whether to include him to the team only when the season comes to an end - not earlier. In any case, I really do not like that fans call out to him at a difficult and responsible moment for the team. Those who do this should understand that by doing so they inflict damage on their team instead of support. "

Before the announcement of the application, the media held a referendum in Italy, asking fifty famous personalities, whether Baggio should go to the World Cup. The overwhelming number of football functionaries strongly advised Trapattoni to listen to the "voice of the people"

“I don’t understand why he should not be at the World Cup - after all, he is one of the very few really cool players that we have,” said Fulvio Collovati. “Roberto has to go, because there is still more than a month before the World Cup and he will be able to get his best shape,” said Salvatore Schilacci. “Baggio is a symbol of our football, it is the power of imagination, it is a man who unites generations in the name of football. different clubs have only one common position - on the Baggio issue. This is what Trapattoni is going to give up. Without Baggio there is no World Cup, Italy without Baggio is like France without Zidane and Brazil without Ronaldo, "wrote the Italian media. The only opponent was the Yugoslav coach Vujadin Boskov:" The team should be fully formed long enough before the start of the World Cup "However, in fact, why should he care about the fate of the" Azzurra squadra "?

Despite such a tumultuous campaign, instead of Baggio, Trapattoni called “artisan” Angelo di Livio to the national team, for which he received a flurry of criticism from Italian fans. Moreover, the “squadra azzurra” without Baggio in the squad was eliminated in the 1/8 finals, losing to the Korean national team.

“Trapattoni did not even try to apologize to me, although no one deserved a trip to the world championship more than me. He is a stubborn and resourceful person in terms of protecting his beliefs. At the same time, I did not notice that after the failure in Asia, his associates began to zealously defend him. Quite the opposite. Vieri, and not only him, attacked him in the press, "Baggio later wrote in his autobiography.

“Divine Tail” scored his 300th goal on December 16, 2002 in a home match against “Piacenza”, for more than half a century, becoming the first player to reach this mark. Baggio played for Brescia until the end of the 2003/04 season, and in April 2004 announced his retirement. Roberto played his last match on May 16 against Milan against San Siro.

Roberto once remarked that he failed to become a leader in any team, with the exception of Brescia. In this team, he did not play to win titles, he played for football. "It is not such a great merit to be the first in the village," his ill-wishers gloat. Perhaps so, but Roberto never regrets the years spent at Bologna and Brescia.

Enemy number one

After completing his playing career, Baggio wrote his autobiography "Una porta nel cielo" - "Gateway to Heaven", in which he told about all his conflicts with mentors. The book was an overwhelming success, and Robie had to release an updated and expanded version of Il sogno dopo - Dreams Later. In his autobiography, Baggio called Marcello Lippi "enemy number one."

Lippi's reaction was violent: "I am in shock. Everyone who knows me will say that I am not capable of such things. I have always had players such as Vialli, Peruzzi, Ferrara, Deschamps, Blanc, Vieri, on whose authority I leaned on. Sometimes I asked them to help me in my work, and respected them for their willingness to help. This should not be regarded as espionage. Baggio, I never asked for help, so we treat each other without respect. I do not know what purpose he is persecuted, publishing his fabrications. I am also interested in why he always does not develop relationships with coaches. You cannot live without problems, but I am used to solving problems by challenging my opponent to a frank conversation. "

Do not sit around

After the failure of the Italian national team at the 2010 World Cup, he was appointed technical director of the Football Federation, responsible for working with youth and finding new talents.

On July 18, 2011, the legendary footballer received a professional coach license allowing him to work in the Pro League (formerly Serie C) and below as a head coach, in Serie A and Serie B - as an assistant mentor, as well as to lead club youth teams playing at Campionato Nazionale Primavera - championship among youth teams... In 2012, after completing a nine-month coaching course in Coverciano, he received a UEFA Pro coaching license, which gives the right to work in Serie A and Serie B.

Roberto Baggio is not just a footballer. And even though he did not always get along with the coaches, even though he was constantly haunted by injuries, this is the only football player in Italy whose non-call to the national team caused fierce disputes and discussions in the country, which also affected the government. Roberto is not just a footballer, he is a unique player, one of the last players in the star galaxy of Italian football in the late 90s of the last century. By the way, "Divine Tail" is also popular outside the country - for example, in Japan the number of its personal fans has long exceeded one hundred thousand. Baggio is not loved because he won trophies, he is loved because for many football fans he has become the personification of Italian football. The one that was earlier. And what Baggio did for Italian football and the national team will go down in history forever.

Roberto's uniqueness lies in the fact that he repeatedly managed, like Phoenix, to "rise from the ashes." Today Baggio remains the last Italian player to win the Ballon d'Or. By the way, before him this trophy was received by only three Italian footballers - naturalized Omar Sivori, Gianni Rivera in 1969, Paolo Rossi in 1982.

When Baggio played for Inter, he was asked who he sees as his successor. And Roberto, thinking, pointed to Andrea Pirlo.

What is Baggio's mystery? Why did he become the symbol of Calcio? There have been victories and disappointments in his career. He was idolized by the fans and disliked by the coaches. He alternated the most magnificent fights, scored fantastic goals, but after a long time he recovered from injuries. But when the coach did not limit his freedom of action, like Mazzone in “Brescia”, Baggio gave the most magnificent fights. Roberto, it seems to me, was simply ahead of the development of football. Imagine how it would look on the football field now?

Roberto was often called "a South American born in Italy by mistake" - lean, capable of infinite acceleration, filigree handling of the ball, ragged play with sharp jerks and passes into free zones. Baggio succeeded in what only Gigi Riva managed to achieve before him - the whole of Italy idolized Robie without being tied to any club. If you think about it, then, besides the national team, Baggio did not have a team, because such a player could not belong to anyone. He was irresistible and did not recognize halftones. If something went wrong, no one could notice him on the field. If the game went on, only the "Divine Tail" shone on the field. An extraordinary footballer.

“If Baggio hadn't had problems with the ligaments, he would have reached the level of Maradona. In terms of technique, he has everything. True, there was still less leadership qualities, he’s too good a guy,” explained Carlo Mazzone.

After the end of his career, Baggio literally "dissolved". But he will still remain a legend. Why is Roberto not working as a coach now? Maybe because during his playing career he suffered a lot from mentors. But I want to believe that the story of Roberto Baggio has not yet been put to an end, but just an ellipsis.

Interesting Facts

As a child, Baggio often changed balls, because, since his father worked as a locksmith, there was a lot of iron junk in their yard. Having broken the ball, the boy went to the store and asked to write down the cost of the toy at his father's account.

The first professional contract with Vicenza brought the 15-year-old player two thousand dollars a month.

French surgeon Gilles Bousquet is called Baggio's savior. In 1985, it was he who brought Roberto back into action after a severe ruptured knee tendon.

Baggio became a Buddhist in 1988, when he was in his early twenties, after suffering a severe injury. Since then, he spends two hours every day in prayer. By the way, the fact that he always managed to recover from injuries, Baggio attributes to his faith. "Death is just another part of life, invisible to us, like the other side of the moon," Roberto philosophizes. "Look at a Catholic. His mood depends on what is happening around the events. A Buddhist is looking for the cause of his happiness or unhappiness in himself."

After receiving the Golden Ball, Baggio put it up for auction and donated the proceeds to help the flood victims of Turin.

The most angry fans, according to Baggio, are in Florence. When he left Fiorentina, the tiffozi cursed him, and on the first visit of the “traitor” the Juventus bus was spattered and pelted with rotten fruit.

For the hairstyle associated with his religion, he received the nickname "Il Divin Codino" - "Divine Ponytail." In 1997, Baggio changed his image, shaving the top of his head, and divided the cut hair between relatives and friends. “Baggio's ponytail has already become a part of our football. Even if the famous Gullit had lost all his braids, this event would not have caused such a stir,” wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport. A few years later, Roberto returned to his usual appearance.

Baggio had a four-legged pet - a Labrador named Blake. The owner always bought the dog's favorite treats - cakes and stuffed quails. "He's a very clever girl, before he eats a treat, he carries it for five minutes after me, offering to share a meal."

In the mid-90s of the last century, Ferrero chocolate became extremely popular. And this is not surprising, because Roberto Baggio himself was engaged in advertising!

Madonna has always been rooting for Baggio. On the eve of the World Cup-94, she posed in a T-shirt "Azzurra squadrons" with the number of Roberto. Baggio, in turn, calls the singer one of his favorite pop singers.

In 1997, Baggio received the Milan Heart, the Audience Prize awarded annually to the Rossoneri players.

He played sixteen matches for the squadra azzurra in the final tournaments of the mundials. Ireland was the only team against which Baggio played more than once. At all the world championships, where the Italian national team took part in the lineup with Baggio, the team has always been inferior in the penalty shootout.

On February 18, 2007, on his fortieth birthday, he opened a website to communicate with fans - www.robertobaggio.com .

Dino Baggio, who played with Roberto in the national team and in Juventus, is simply the namesake of the Divine Ponytail. His youngest brother, Eddie, named after the famous cyclist Eddie Merckx, also became a professional footballer.

Baggio doesn't like publicity, maybe that's why, until now, CMT has had very few reasons to discuss his personal life. He married his girlfriend Andreina Fabbri, whom he met back in 1982, when he was at school in Vicenza.

Raises two daughters - Valentina and Mattia. According to Roberto, he really appreciates the family hearth and tries to spend as much time at home as possible.

For Baggio, Caldogno is more than just the place where he was born and raised. "Only there I am calm 24 hours a day. I love to tinker with numerous nephews, children of my seven brothers and sisters. I believe that at any age a person should remain a little child."

In second place after football, Baggio is tennis. "If I became a tennis player, I would play in the same manner as Andre Agassi."

Baggio is fond of hunting, "specializes" in wild boars and ducks, going to hunt in Argentina or Canada. Once Roberto went hunting with his father, to whom doctors announced his imminent death. Upon returning to Italy, the doctors were surprised - not a trace of the disease remained.

According to Roberto, one of his shortcomings is excessive sensitivity, and his merits are generosity and kindness.

In his career, Baggio played for almost all the strongest Italian clubs. And if in the domestic arena with trophies everything was "on the level", then in the European arena "Divine Tail" managed to get only the UEFA Cup, won in 1993 with Juventus, and in 1998 with Bologna win the Intertoto Cup. Yes, in 1993 he won the Golden Ball, and this, you see, is worth a lot.

As part of the national team, for which he played from 1988 to 2004, he took part in the world championships in 1990, 1994 and 1998. The only Italian footballer to score in three world championships - 9 goals. As part of the national team, he played 56 matches, scored 27 goals. In Serie A, he scored 205 goals in 452 matches, and is one of the ten best scorers in the history of the tournament.

According to the results of an Internet poll conducted by FIFA in 2000, he took fourth place in the list of the best players of the 20th century - after Maradona, Pele and Eusebio. In 2004, he entered the list of the 100 best football players in the world according to FIFA.

Bronze medalist of the 90 World Cup, silver medalist of the 94 World Cup, Italian champion of the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons, winner of the Italian Cup 1994/95. Best penalty taker in Serie A history - 76 penalties scored (91 shots in total). T-shirt No. 10 in "Brescia" has been withdrawn for eternal storage.

At the end of his playing career, he is involved in charity work. Since 2002 - FAO Goodwill Ambassador. Winner of the 2010 World Peace Award. Cavalier of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic.

Personal achievements

Winner of the "Bravo" Cup - the best young player Europe in 1990.

The best football player in the world in 1993 - according to FIFA.

The best footballer of the world in 1993 - according to "World Soccer".

The best footballer in Europe in 1993 - according to "El Pais".

Winner of the "Golden Ball" of the best football player in Europe in 1993 - according to "France Football".

Winner of the "Golden Ball" of the best football player in Europe in 1993 - according to "Onze Mondial".

The third football player in the world in 1994 - according to FIFA.

Winner of the "Silver Ball" of the second European footballer in 1994 - according to "France Football".

Winner of the "Bronze Ball" of the third European footballer in 1994 - according to "Onze Mondial".

Winner of the "Silver Ball" of the second football player of the World Cup 94 - a FIFA award.

Winner of the "Silver Ball" of the second European footballer in 1995 - according to the "Onze Mondial" version.

Winner of the 2003 "Golden Foot" Acting World Players Award.

According to IFFHS, it ranks 53rd in the list of the best European footballers of the 20th century.

In the early 90s of the last century, Gianni Agnelli called Baggio "Raphael" - after all, Roberto transformed his play into the highest art. Roberto Baggio. "Divine Tail". King of corners and free kicks. Speed, technique, dribbling. The divine beauty of ball control. And let the current generation of football players not be offended, but players like Roberto appear extremely rarely.

Online results of the Italian championship: http://www.liveresult.ru/football/Italy/
Tournament table, schedule and news of the Italian championship:

Special Correspondent Valery Kovalevich

Italian footballer Roberto Baggio set the record by remaining a professional for nearly two decades. He managed to speak for the best clubs Italy, including Juventus and Inter. Roberto is known for his fantastic goals, thanks to which he took the team to the first place. However, he was remembered by many for a failed penalty in the 1994 World Cup final.

“This memory is in me even to the grave. I will never forget that blow. As a child, I dreamed that I would win the World Cup, and in the final we would play against the Brazilians. Of course, I didn't think how this dream would turn out. And it turned out to be the saddest ending that one can imagine. "

First victories

Roberto Baggio was born in 1967 in Caldogno in the province of Vicenza. As a teenager, he always showed a great interest in football and played for a local youth club for nine years. By the time Roberto turned 11, he had 45 goals and 20 assists in 26 games. After 6 goals scored in one game, he was credited to the Vicenza club. With 110 goals in 120 appearances, Baggio began his professional career in 1983. Then he was only 15 years old.

The footballer played in the positions of a drawn striker and attacking midfielder. Baggio is also known as "Il Divin Codino" - "divine tail". The athlete received the nickname for his hairstyle.

In 1985, Baggio moved to FC Fiorentina, where he rose to cult status among fans of the team, who consider him one of their best players in history. Roberto made his Serie A debut in 1986 against Sampdoria. He scored his first league goal on 10 May 1987 against Napoli in what is best remembered as Napoli winning the Scudetto for the first time. "Scudetto" is the Italian flag patch worn by the winning team next season.

Roberto Baggio's best goals

The history of Roberto Baggio's goals begins from a very young age. However, later masterpieces of the master became cult. In 1989, in the Napoli - Fiorentina match, the Italian, having received the ball in the 22nd minute, single-handedly bypassed the defenders and the goalkeeper. Despite the fact that his team then lost, Baggio's goal was remembered by the audience for a long time.

Fiorentina fans were outraged when Roberto joined Juventus in 1990 for an amount of 12 million euros (US $ 19 million) today. It was a world record for a footballer at the time. After his crossing, there were riots in the streets of Florence, in which fifty people were injured. Baggio responded to his fans:

"I was forced to accept the invitation."

In the same year, Roberto ensured an unconditional victory for his national team in the final match of the group stage Italy - Czechoslovakia. His goal was decisive, thanks to which the game ended with a score of 2: 0.

With 17 goals, Baggio was the second-highest scorer in the 1989/1990 Serie A season after Marco van Basten and was awarded the Bravo Award. He also finished eighth in the 1990 Ballon d'Or and won the FIFA Ballon d'Or in 1993.

In the same 1993, the footballer won his only European club trophy, helping Juventus in the UEFA Cup. His performances elevated Roberto to the status of European Footballer of the Year with the World Cup title. Baggio won his first Scudetto with Juventus in 1995.

After strong pressure from the chairman of the Milan club Silvio Berlusconi, Roberto went over to them. During this time, he was bound by verbal agreements with Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers in the English Premier League, but no specific proposals were made by either of these clubs. The footballer helped Milan win the Serie A title, becoming the first player to receive a Scudetto for several years in a row with different teams.

In 1997 Baggio transferred to Bologna, scoring 22 goals in his debut season. He was also included in the Italian national team for the World Cup, immediately after which he signed a contract with Inter. At the same time, he cut off his ponytail, ushering in a new era for himself and for football.

Baggio scored 5 goals and provided 10 assists in 23 games in the 1998-1999 season, but Inter finished only eighth. Roberto helped the team in the Italian Cup semi-finals and scored a goal against his former club Bologna in the European playoffs, but Inter ended up losing both matches without qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

After two years with Inter to be called up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Baggio moved to the previously unpopular club Brescia. Despite severe injury, he miraculously recovered before the end of the season. but italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni did not send Roberto to Korea and Japan. Fans and experts criticized him for this act, and Italy, without Baggio's inspiration, dropped out before reaching the quarterfinals.

One of the most famous goals of the Italian is considered to be the ball thrown into the empty net in the match "Juventus" - "Brescia" in 2001. Roberto Baggio received a pass from Andrea Pirlo and, bypassing the goalkeeper, gracefully scored the ball. Baggio continued to play for Brescia until his retirement in 2004.

1994 World Cup Final Penalty

Unfortunately, in addition to the landmark victories, the defeat in which Roberto Baggio was the culprit will forever be remembered in the history of Italian football. He helped the Italian national team reach the final of the 1994 World Cup. Baggio was Italy's top scorer in the qualifying campaign, scoring five goals. The footballer scored winning goal in the quarterfinals, which helped beat Spain 2-1 in the remaining three minutes. Having received the ball from Giuseppe Signori, he sent the ball past Spanish goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta. However, in the final against Brazil, after injuring a tendon and playing under painkillers, Baggio made what he considered the worst blunder of his life.

The match ended with a score of 0: 0. The decisive penalty, which Roberto had to convert, became one of the most unpleasant in the history of the Championship. The ball flew over the gate and Brazil won.

In his autobiography, Roberto Baggio later wrote:

"Penalties are missed only by those who have the courage to take them."

Leading Italy to the final, the footballer received the Silver Ball as the second most important player in the tournament and the Silver Boot. Gold went to Romario and the Brazilians.

Celebrating his 50th anniversary in 2017, the athlete recalled his landmark victories and the greatest access to the 1994 World Cup final. Together with the Italian brand, it was decided to launch a collection of clothes "Made in Italy". A jacket, a T-shirt and a sweater were presented, on which the football player's autograph flaunted.

The Roberto Baggio x Diadora release also included Intrepid sneakers in an original colorway. The model is accompanied by Vibrassorb inserts and Impact control technology to enhance the comfort of the silhouette. They enjoyed no less success.

Roberto Baggio left the brightest mark in the history of world football. His game was enjoyed not only by Italian tiffozi, but also by millions of fans from other countries, recognizing the extraordinary talent of "Ponytail".

Born 02/18/1967

Career:

• Vicenza (1982-1985; 46 matches, 15 goals).
• Fiorentina (1985-1990; 135 matches, 55 goals).
• Juventus (1990-1995; 200 matches, 115 goals).
• Milan (1995-1997; 67 matches, 19 goals).
• Bologna (1997-1998; 33 matches, 23 goals).
• Inter (1998-2000; 58 matches, 15 goals).
• Brescia (2000-2004; 98 matches, 45 goals).
• Italy national team (1988-2004; 56 matches, 27 goals).

Team achievements:

• Silver medalist of the 1994 World Championship.
• Bronze medalist of the 1990 World Championship.
• 1993 UEFA Cup Winner.
• Champion of Italy 1995, 1996.
• Winner of the Italian Cup in 1995.

Personal achievements:

• FIFA 1993 footballer.
• Winner of the Golden Ball for the best football player in Europe in 1993.
• The best football player in Italy in 2001.

Start

Roberto was born near Vicenza, starting his football career with the team of the same name. At the age of 15, he became involved in training with the main squad and made his senior football debut in the 1982/1983 season. In fairness, we note that Baggio became truly indispensable in his team only two years later, when he was able to overcome the mark of 10 goals scored in a season for the first time.

Of course, it was too early to talk about the readiness of the barely legal player for Serie A, given that Baggio's scoring experience was two levels lower. However, this fact did not bother the management of Fiorentina, a regular at the highest echelon of Italian football.

Fiorentina star

Having moved to Florence, the young striker faced difficult trials. The first two seasons he had to watch almost all the games from the bench, and only after the 20-year milestone Baggio made his way to the base of Fiorentina. "Violets" in those years were far from fighting for medals in the championship, but nevertheless they could fight absolutely any favorite.

The more often the young striker appeared on the field, the more he attracted attention to himself. Uncommon technique, delivered blow, decent speed - Baggio had all the necessary qualities for a striker. In just a year, he went from understudy to the leader of the Florentine attacks.

Roberto finally earned his star status in 1990. For two consecutive seasons, his Serie A performance has never fallen below 15 goals scored. The newly-minted striker, which is logical, attracted the attention of the grand - he turned out to be Juventus from Turin.

When the transfer became known, riots broke out in Florence - Fiorentina fans could not accept this fact as an accomplished one, and then Baggio had to declare that not everything in this case depended on his desire.

1990 World Cup

In the summer of 1990, a football boom swept Italy - the country hosted the World Cup. All local fans longed for a repeat of the eight-year-old Squadra Azzurra triumph, but unfortunately it never happened. But the world saw firsthand the game of a great master.

Despite the fact that Baggio started the world championship as a substitute, he was a solid main player and one of the main ideological inspirers of his national team's attacks by the game for third place with the British, making a significant contribution to Italy's bronze medal.

Hero of Juventus

Having finally established himself in the status of a star of European football, Roberto finds himself in a team claiming victory in all tournaments in which he takes part. So, for five years in Turin, Baggio became the owner of the UEFA Cup, the champion and winner of the Italian Cup.

Roberto Baggio is the leader of Juventus

Despite the fact that from the first appearances on the lawn until the end of his career Baggio always stood out for his special football intellect and consistently kept a high level, we can safely say that he spent his best years in Juve.

The first half of the 90s - the period of his reign in Serie A, which needed a new hero after leaving the legendary Apennines. Having received a complete carte blanche, Roberto really worked on the field. Acting as a drawn forward and receiving the ball, as a rule, on the approaches to someone else's penalty area, he almost always made the right decisions, which usually led to scoring situations.

His scoring flair and ability to execute free kicks reached incredible levels, which allowed Baggio to regularly hit the opponents' goal. And this is in the championship, in which defensive play is especially appreciated, and the most popular score, raised to the cult, is 1: 0.

Of course, the success in the UEFA Cup and the feats in Serie A do not go unnoticed, and in 1993 Roberto deservedly received the Golden Ball for the best football player in Europe, which clearly demonstrates his fantastic level.

Roberto Baggio - 1993 Ballon d'Or winner

Savior and executioner of Italy

Baggio is not an upstart, so he was a candidate for the highest personal award a year later. Most likely, he would have received it if the tragedy had not happened to him in July 1994.

The Italian national team came to the World Cup by no means a favorite, which was confirmed by the first matches of the group stage, which the Italians overcame only thanks to a mathematical coincidence. Nothing foreshadowed a long journey of Italians in America, but then our hero got down to business.

Baggio has scored in three straight playoffs, with doubles in two of them. So, he actually single-handedly brought his compatriots to the final, in which Italy was awaited by the favorites - the Brazilians. To the Italians' credit, they were not much inferior to the magicians of the ball. As a result, in the main and additional time the teams could not hit each other's goal, and the winner was to be determined in a penalty shootout.

And then the Italians gave up, and misses were made by the seemingly iron Franco Baresi and Roberto Baggio, who was always distinguished by his ability to execute penalty shots. By launching the ball into the skies, he buried his country's hopes for gold and automatically lost the fight for the title of player of the year to Romario.

Milan disappointments

In the mid-90s, the Baggio star began to gradually descend from the football horizon. So, in the summer of 1995, after a conflict with Marcello Lippi, "Tail" moved to the camp of the main competitor " Old lady"- Milan. And even though Baggio became the champion of Italy as part of the Milanese, celebrating success in Serie A for the second year in a row, the period of his stay in red and black colors cannot be called particularly successful.

His performance declined, and the game lost its former polish, although there were no external prerequisites for such a trend. If Baggio spent two seasons in Milan, he was based in the city of the same name for four years - at the turn of the century he played for Inter.

Summarizing his play for the blue-blacks, one can pick up similar expressions that characterize Baggio's stay in the camp of another Milan superclub. At Inter, Baggio no longer pretended to be the first violin in the attack, given that then the colors of the club were defended by the best striker in the world. In addition, Lippi got it in the capital of fashion, finally ruining an already not the best line in the striker's resume.

Rise from the ashes

However, between the Milan voyages, Baggio was a really successful super season. Once at Bologna, he was automatically written off by the press and fans. But Roberto did not give up and made him speak again about himself in enthusiastic tones. In 30 Serie A matches of the 1997/1998 season, he made 22 goalkeepers take the ball out of the goal and deservedly entered the list of 22 Italian players who went to defend the honor of their country at the World Cup.

True, as in the 1990 world championship, Baggio began the tournament on the bench. The head coach of the Italians relied on a younger prototype of Roberto - Alessandro Del Piero, who, although he was then at his peak, could not be noted with anything useful on the French fields.

But Baggio again managed to benefit his country. So, its two goals scored allowed the Italians to confidently overcome the group barrier, and Roberto himself, in the time allotted to him on the field, instilled confidence in the tiffozi that they had someone to rely on. And although Italy again blundered in the penalty shootout, Baggio could not be reproached for anything - he realized all his few chances and proved that in terms of talent he is still the undisputed number 1 in Italy.

"Brescia"

Baggio kept a consistently high level until the very end of his career, playing for the modest Brescia. Moving into it at the age of 33, Roberto became automatically the leader of the team for the next four years.

Of course, everyone around him understood that Baggio was playing out, but this can be done in different ways. Yes, he lost speed, but the wisdom of the game and football intelligence are still there. Roberto still performed the "standards" smartly, succeeded in the role of an assistant, fortunately, he always had an excellent vision of the field.

The success of his "swan song" is also confirmed by statistics - in none of the four seasons spent for Brescia did Baggio score less than 10 goals, and in the 2001/2002 championship he produced a fantastic result - 11 goals in 12 matches.

Greatness

“Dozens” have always been on a special account with the demanding audience: Maradona, Platini, Baggio. The Italian maestro on the pitch was distinguished by intelligence, creativity and performance. With the exception of not the most successful seasons at Milan and Inter, Roberto has always and everywhere been a leader, one who led others by his own example.

And even though he missed the penalty shootout in the 1994 World Cup final, Baggio is a national hero for Italy. The benefit that he gave on the fields of the United States cannot be forgotten, and the common tragedy made people love their idol even more. Therefore, in a country where football is at the top of the list sports games, Roberto will forever remain a legend.

What this footballer did on the football field is incomprehensible to the mind. He knew how to create a goal out of nothing. Excellent technique, speed, impact - it was impossible not to fall in love with this player. To this day, he is an idol for many football fans and young footballers. But how did he achieve this success?

The beginning of the divine tail career

In 1967, in the small town of Caldogno, which is located near Vicenza, the sixth child was born in the family of a simple locksmith Fiorindo and his wife Matilda. Little Roberto became attached to football since childhood. Of course, the father would have preferred the career of cyclists for his sons, because he himself was an avid fan of this sport. But no one ever made his father's dream come true.

From the age of seven to fourteen, Roby played for the local team, and then moved to Vicenza, becoming the main player a year later. His brilliant performance attracted the attention of more established clubs. In 1985 Roberto Baggio signs a contract with Fiorentina. But the last season at Vicenza was overshadowed by a terrible injury - a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of the right knee. Many players have never been able to return to big sport after such injuries, but not Baggio. He will miss almost 2 seasons, having played only 5 games.

Fortunately for Roberto and all the fans, Baggio spent his remaining three seasons with the Florence club without injury. He demonstrated highest level games. And in his last season for the Violets, he will score 17 goals and lead the club to the UEFA Cup final. What a shock it was for the fans that their favorite moves to Juventus. After that, adoration turned into hatred. But Roberto understood that it was time to move on. Dissatisfied fans stormed Fiorentina's office for a long time protesting against its sale, and Roby himself went to his first World Championship in 1990. Unfortunately, Italy only won bronze medals.

As part of Juventus, Baggio revealed his talent and played even brighter. In the first season, he wins a place in the first team and shows excellent performance. In the 1991/92 season, he becomes the second top scorer in the Italian championship with 18 goals, and a year later he scores 21 goals in the championship and sets a personal performance record. In 1993 he was named FIFA Player of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or, the European Player of the Year award. He dedicated this success to Daisaku Ikeda, the spiritual mentor of Roberto, under whose influence the Italian became a supporter of Buddhism.

The 1993/94 season was not so bright for Baggio - leaving the UEFA Cup and only the second place in the championship. But the World Championship was supposed to take place in the summer and all of Italy was waiting for this tournament. Italy was one of the favorites and Baggio was to be the star. At the tournament, the Italians with a creak left the group. Roberto helped the team get to the final, scoring in every playoff match and the team was only one step away from the title.

He will always remember the match after which he never managed to recover. First of all, psychologically. Everything was against him that day. A tough match in forty-degree heat against the Brazilians ended in a draw. Everything was decided on a penalty kick. When Baggio approached the ball, his team lost 3: 2 and Roby had to score. But then, the man who set the absolute record for penalty kicks for the whole of Italian football did not score his goal. So the hero of the nation became its main loser.

And although in the 1994/95 season he will win both the Italian Cup and the championship, the brilliance in his game will disappear somewhere. In 1995, Baggio will move to Milan, in which he will win his second championship. After spending two seasons at Milan, Roby signs a contract with Bologna. There was another World Championship on the horizon and Baggio wanted to get to it. And he got his chance. But in the quarterfinals, Italy again lost on penalties.

Baggio managed to play 6 more seasons in big football: 2 seasons with Inter and 4 years with Brescia. Roby wanted to play for the 2002 World Cup, but the national team coach decided to do without him. The last season for Robie was 2003/2004.

Beliefs of the "Raphael of Modern Football"

He got the nickname "divine ponytail" because of his hairstyle - being a Buddhist, he preferred to collect long strands of hair in a ponytail. After final match in 1994, he was handed the crushing label of a "soaked rabbit".

But the most capacious characteristic for Roberto was given by Gianni Agnelli, an Italian entrepreneur and the main shareholder of FIAT. Gianni named him the Raphael of the 20th century, because Baggio turned football and his game into high art... Roberto Baggio is actively practicing Buddhism. He opens new Buddhist centers in Italy and is actively involved in charity work.

Personal life of Roberto Baggio

He met his wife, Adriana Fabbie, back in the days when he was far from football. He found his woman, who supported him in everything and gave him three wonderful children: a girl Valentina and two boys - Mattia and Leonardo. Baggio values ​​his family very much and tries to devote as much time as possible to her. Indeed, in addition to his children, he also has many nephews.

Roberto is a Goodwill Ambassador for the FAO, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and holder of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic. Baggio also published an autobiography called "The Gate" or "Ball in the Sky". In it, the author spoke about many of his conflicts with coaches.

Recognizable divine ponytail style

Without a doubt, Roberto Baggio became recognizable thanks to his pigtail, which he began to wear largely due to his religion. In 1997, Baggio decides to change his image and shaves the top of his head and his ponytail, and shares the cut hair between friends and relatives. But very soon it will grow its "divine tail" again. Baggio has always been distinguished by his extravagance of appearance, so even after the end of his career, he could see a pierced ear.

Strict suits have always been to Roberto's face and he never missed an opportunity to put them on. When choosing clothes, Baggio prefers shirts in dark colors, which are harmoniously combined with elegant scarves and sunglasses. He wears shirts at any time of the year and in any weather. If it's cold outside, he just needs to put on a light jacket or jacket.

Despite his 50 years, Roberto still looks elegant and stylish. His look is complemented by a neat goatee-style beard. A light gray hair only adorns him, giving his image of wisdom and solidity.

Roberto Baggio is definitely one of the greatest players in the history of football and a very strong spirit. His career was full of disappointments and obstacles, but he managed to overcome everything thanks to his perseverance, the support of his family and his faith in himself!

Roberto BAGGIO: "People can discuss my actions on the field, criticize, advise. But everything else - my wife, children, rest - this is mine and only mine. Relatives mean too much to me to allow someone to wash their bones on the pages of newspapers or on the streets. " “The hearts of the fans will gradually be occupied by other players who may be better than me. But there will be no second Baggio - just like the second Maradona or van Basten. Everyone has their own path: in football and life. I was lucky to be engaged in a profession from which I enjoy it. God gave me the opportunity to win the love of people, and I tried to use this opportunity to the fullest. I gave everything I could to football. In this respect, my conscience is clear. "

Most of all, the fans were outraged by the fact that the initiator of the upcoming event was none other than Giovanni Trapattoni, a coach who methodically burns the last bridges connecting Roberto with Scuadra Azzurra. By the way, it is no coincidence that the idea to arrange a magnificent farewell to Baggio was announced a few days before the friendly match between the national teams of Italy and Portugal. Due to injuries in the line of the Italian attack, there was a clear shortage. It seemed that Providence itself was guessing Roberto's return to the main team of the country. But...

Trapattoni's excuses that he, they say, need to think about the future, and Baggio in the national team has already died down, once again sounded like "just over my corpse." Let us remind you that Signor Trap did not take Baggio to the World Championship last year. History does not accept the subjunctive mood. But the "achievements" of "Squadra Azzurra" at the 2002 World Cup stubbornly suggest that Robbie, who had gained form by that time in Asia, would not have been superfluous.

An impartial reader might reasonably argue: "Thirty-six! What a national team here! It's time and honor to know!" That's how it is. Common sense dictates that Robbie's appearance in the national team jersey will be more a balm for the souls of his multimillion-dollar fans than a catalyst for Squadra's progress. But the whole point is in the attitude: Trap to Baggio and fans - to the same Baggio.

"PASSION, ONLY GREAT PASSION ..."

Dry statistics read: Roberto Baggio is still the most popular footballer in Italy. If we add in the world, there is little risk of being wrong. What is the reason for the all-encompassing love for Robbie of such fickle tiffozi, including ultras and so on? Baggio himself partially answers this question: “People are always on my side, because they know what I went through: severe injuries, harsh criticism, unfounded insults ... It was like this from the very beginning of my football career. "

The personality of Roberto Baggio carries a huge positive charge. To win millions of hearts, he did not have to shock him with doping, drugs or drunken fights. If the definition of "sincere football" has a right to exist, then this is the kind of football Baggio plays. Therefore, perhaps, it is not easy for him to adapt to modern requirements based on athleticism, super speeds and the gradual erasure of personality as the fundamental principle of sacred action. In addition to his genius talent, Roberto has a completely understandable mystical attraction, which is created thanks to his external and internal appearance. This and an Indian tattoo on right hand, and a huge gypsy earring in the ear. And, of course, the famous Buddhist tail.

Young Robbie turned to this religion on the advice of a friend during a period of numerous stresses. “Getting to know Buddhism seemed to open my eyes,” recalls Baggio. “His philosophy allows you to enjoy more freedom without limiting yourself in your passions. At the same time, it is a great responsibility. A Buddhist cannot blame others for his own failures and mistakes, he looks for reasons in himself ... However, my family remains Catholic - an amazing combination. "

It is Buddhism that helps Baggio endure the pain that accompanies his entire career - mental and physical. At the age of 16, Baggio was diagnosed with an allergy to strong analgesics, which did not allow him to completely extinguish the pain of injuries. “Fans often ask me what makes me put up with all this and not end my career, - says Roberto. - And I answer: passion, only a huge passion for football!”

"I AM NOT BUDDHA, BUT JUST BADJO"

The striker's talent cut through Baggio, as soon as he began to take his first steps in football. 9-year-old Robbie was immediately transferred by his first coach to the attack and was right. At the age of 14, he hammered six balls in one of the matches and came to the attention of the scouts of Vicenza, which at that time was playing in Serie C. Under his first professional contract, Baggio received about $ 170 a month and the first two seasons he mostly sat on the bank ". But in the 1984/85 championship, his 12 goals contributed to Vicenza's entry into Serie B. And Baggio himself went straight ... to Serie A - he was invited by Fiorentina. Roberto spent five seasons in Florence. The most successful was the last one, 1989/90, in which the “violets” reached the UEFA Cup final, where they lost to their compatriots from “Juventus”.

Fio's technical striker made a big impression on the Old Lady's bosses, and it was Turin that became Roberto's next club. The transfer amounted to an astronomical $ 17 million at that time. The transition was accompanied by grandiose riots on the streets of Florence - the tiffozi "violets" could not forgive the management of the club for the sale of their idol.

In the next five "black-white-striped years" of Baggio's career, there are two world championships. After Italy-90, Roberto became known as the Divine Tail. At that tournament, he scored a beautiful goal for the Czechs, passing with the ball from his half. But in the semifinals against the Argentines, Azeello Vicini left Baggio in reserve. According to the coach, he looked tired. "I'm 23!"

The coach was relentless and only released Robbie in the second half. Italy lost on penalties and was forced to settle for bronze.

At the 94 World Cup Baggio rode in the status of the owner of the UEFA Cup and the best player on the planet. Roberto started not very well. "He looks like a wet rabbit," Juve president Gianni Agnelli snapped after the match against Mexico. Baggio responded with five goals in the following games, which led Italy to the final. Baggio's doctors did not advise to participate in it - he had a microtrauma. Robbie came out in "main" and ...

This often happens: in the life of a genius, one tragedy is remembered most of all his masterpieces. In the penalty shootout, the ball did not obey Roberto and flew above the crossbar. The stadium played "We are the champions!" in honor of Brazil, and Baggio with a blank look stood in the penalty area.

What only Roberto did not have a chance to listen to after the unfortunate mistake. They even recalled his passion for Buddhism. "Yes, I am a Buddhist, - said Roberto. - But I am not a Buddha, but only Baggio ... You might think that Catholics or Muslims do not miss the 11-meter mark."

Juventus won the Scudetto the following season, but Baggio only appeared on the field in every second match. He was offered a new contract. On it, Robbie was entitled to only a third of his then salary. To the war of words between Baggio and the Juve leadership, the striped fans reacted with actions in support of the footballer.

Did not help. Roberto moves to Milan, where he finds the game imbalance and the coach's leapfrog. After joining Ariggo Sacchi's team, there is no more room for Robbie in the squad. In 1997, Baggio ended up in Bologna, where, by his own admission, he spends "one of the best seasons of his career." By his performance, he won a place in the "Squadra Azzurra", which is sent to the World Cup-98 in France.

And again - a penalty shootout. The third world championship in a row for Baggio and partners ended in a lottery. And for the third time in a row, the Italians pulled out an unlucky ticket. In the quarterfinal series of post-match Baggio Barteza scored his penalty, but France went further. Roberto was so upset that he immediately drove off on a safari to the Argentine pampas. He learned the score of the final match from the radio.

Then there were two not very successful years at Inter and, finally, Brescia. The team that Robbie still pulls on his shoulders from the bottom of Serie A.

"FOOTBALL PLAYERS DO NOT EARN SO MUCH"

It is possible that the image of a martyr suits such an extraordinary person as Baggio better than others, and adds to his popularity to a large extent. But Roberto himself in the last place would like to remain in the memory of people just like that. This can be confirmed by his teammates - current and former. Angelo Peruzzi and Dino Baggio still remember how Roberto once brought them to a hotel where one of his friends served as the manager. The Juventus stars changed into ... handymen and went to meet the arrived car with food. When the driver saw that the idols, on which the whole of Turin literally prays, were engaged in unloading, he was speechless. “There is nothing to be surprised!” The manager, who was standing nearby, willingly explained. “Football players do not earn so much now!”

By the way, about Dino Baggio. At one time it was rumored that he was Roberto's brother. Now everyone knows: they are only namesakes. Robbie has enough of his brothers and sisters. His parents raised eight children. As a child, little Robbie often played ball with his brothers. But he was the only one who was truly obsessed with football. “Sometimes my mother took the ball and old boots from me forcibly,” Baggio recalls. “But I secretly took them from my father’s room and ran to the field.”

Roberto always remembers his family with great warmth. His mother, Matilda, is the personification of the mother of the Italian family. An excellent hostess and a subtle psychologist is a real homemaker. Florindo Baggio, Roberto's dad, is wisdom and prudence. It was his father who taught young Robbie not to bend in front of difficulties, to meet any trials with dignity.

ROMEO AND JULIET

The main person of his life, Roberto calls his wife, the beautiful Andreina. Another such strong alliance still needs to be looked for. Robbie first saw Andreina exactly 21 years ago - in February 1982. Then both were fifteen. Andreina swept past Roberto ... on a moped with her friend. A quick glance was enough to ignite a real feeling. They have been compared to Romeo and Juliet. Only the love story of Roberto and Andreina had a happy continuation. "We grew up together, changed together, started a family. Together we learned to rejoice, to accept correct decisions and achieve harmony, - Andreina recalls. - I always loved Roberto, even when there were no fireworks in his honor around ... "When Andreina was expecting her first child, she drove from Vicenza to Turin for every Juve match. And after the ill-fated 94 World Cup final, while all the players and their wives went to the banquet, Andreina remained to console her husband in a hotel room. Roberto simply worships her: "A woman is the core around which a family is built," Baggio is sure. - A man with hard work and big goals in life needs a reliable rear, where he finds peace and joy. For me, such a rear is Andreina. "

The happy couple are raising two children: 12-year-old Valentina and 8-year-old Mattia. “I can't convey what my kids mean to me,” admits Roberto. “Children are a great joy in life. Following this motto, I try to be an exemplary father and make as few mistakes as possible. Especially incorrigible.”