Full name Fabrizio Ravanelli 1986–1989 Perugia Weight 84 kg Place of birth Perugia, Italy Name Fabrizio Ravanelli Spouse Lara Casoni | Playing position Position Forward Years Team Height 1.88 m | |
 | ||
Similar People Gianluca Vialli, Juninho Paulista, Adrian Mutu, Guillermo Ochoa, Dennis Oliech Date of birth (1968-12-11) 11 December 1968 (age 51) | ||
Fabrizio ravanelli the white feather
Fabrizio Ravanelli ([faˈbrittsjo ravaˈnɛlli]; born 11 December 1968) is an Italian football manager and former international footballer, who was most recently manager of French Ligue 1 club AC Ajaccio.
Contents
- Fabrizio ravanelli the white feather
- Fabrizio ravanelli amazing goal
- Early career in Italy
- Juventus
- Middlesbrough
- Olympique de Marseille
- Lazio
- Derby County
- Dundee
- Perugia
- International career
- Style of play
- Goal celebrations
- AC Ajaccio
- Media career
- Club
- International goals
- Manager
- Individual
- References
A former striker, Ravanelli started and ended his playing career at hometown club Perugia Calcio, and most famously played for Middlesbrough, Juventus and Marseille. He won five titles with Juventus, including a Serie A championship in 1995 and a Champions League title in 1996 where he scored in the final. In all, during his career he played with twelve clubs from four countries; his native Italy, England, France and Scotland. Nick-named 'The Silver Fox', he earned 22 caps for the Italian national team, scoring 8 goals, and was a member of the Italian squad that took part at UEFA Euro 1996.
Fabrizio ravanelli amazing goal
Early career in Italy
Ravanelli began his club career with his hometown club Perugia Calcio in 1986, where he remained until 1989. He had a spell with Avellino later that year, and subsequently played with Casertana for a season. In 1990, he moved to Reggiana, where he remained for two seasons.
Juventus
After joining Juventus in 1992, he formed a formidable offensive line alongside players such as Roberto Baggio, Gianluca Vialli, Paolo Di Canio, Andreas Möller, and Alessandro Del Piero. Affectionately known as the "White Feather" (in Italian: Penna Bianca) in recognition of his prematurely white hair, he was one of Europe's top goalscorers in the mid-1990s. With the Turin club, Ravanelli won one Serie A title (1994–95), one Coppa Italia (1994–95), one Supercoppa Italiana (1995), one Champions League (1995–96), where he scored in the final against Ajax, and one UEFA Cup (1992–93). On 27 September 1994, he memorably scored all five goals for Juventus against CSKA Sofia in a 5–1 win. In the 1996 UEFA Champions League Final, he put Juventus 1–0 up at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Ajax subsequently equalised, but Juventus still won the game through a penalty shootout.
Middlesbrough
Ravanelli made an immediate positive impact on moving to the Premier League with Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough on a £7 million transfer in 1996, where his success was sustained. He scored a hat-trick on his league debut against Liverpool on the opening day of the 1996–97 season. Despite being one of the league's top scorers, Middlesbrough were relegated in the year that he joined. He did, however, help them to the final of both domestic cup competitions that season. He started both finals, as Middlesbrough lost 2–0 against Chelsea in the FA Cup Final, and Leicester City 1–0 in the replay of the League Cup Final, he scored the first goal in the final of the first meeting, only for Emile Heskey to equalise and send the game to a replay, which Leicester subsequently won. He alienated himself from teammates and fans, with his constant complaints and criticisms of the club's training regime and facilities, as well as the town itself, despite being the highest paid footballer in the Premiership at the time. Whilst at the club, he resided in the local small North Yorkshire village of Hutton Rudby, where Middlesbrough football associates, such as Paul Merson, Gordon McQueen and several other notable individuals have had residences.
Olympique de Marseille
After Middlesbrough's relegation, Ravanelli moved to Olympique de Marseille. In the 1998–99 season, Marseille finished in second place in the French Division 1, one point behind Girondins de Bordeaux. The following season l'OM competed in the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League, with Ravanelli scoring once against Sturm Graz at the Stade Vélodrome.
Lazio
In January 2000, Ravanelli returned to Italy to sign for Lazio. Ravanelli won his second Scudetto as Lazio ended the 1999–2000 season as champions, also winning the Coppa Italia, and the Supercoppa Italiana.
Derby County
In July 2001, Ravanelli joined Derby County on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal, but could not save the club from relegation in 2002. Due to Derby's financial problems, they had to defer his wage payments which they paid for several years.
Dundee
He then joined Dundee, following the end of his Derby contract, but was sacked after the club released all of their top earners. The only game in which Ravanelli scored for Dundee was against Clyde in a League Cup match, when he produced a hat-trick.
Perugia
After the experience in Scotland, he returned to Italy to finish his career with his hometown club Perugia, with whom he had also started his professional career, with the aim of trying to save the club from relegation.
International career
Ravanelli earned 22 caps for the Italian national team between 1995 and 1999, under managers Arrigo Sacchi, Cesare Maldini, and Dino Zoff, scoring eight goals. He made his international debut under Sacchi on 25 March 1995, in a 4–1 home victory over Estonia, in an UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying fixture in Salerno, also scoring his first international goal during the match. He was a member of the Italian squad that took part at UEFA Euro 1996, and made two appearances throughout the tournament, which came in Italy's opening two group matches, a 2–1 win over Russia, and a 2–1 loss against the Czech Republic, as Italy were eliminated in the first round. He missed out on a spot at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, however, as striker Enrico Chiesa was selected by Maldini in his place.
Style of play
Ravanelli was a strong, complete, energetic, and hardworking striker, who, in addition to scoring goals, was also capable of playing off of his team-mates. Although not the most technically skilled player, he was a prolific goalscorer, with notable temperament, who was good in the air, and possessed an accurate shot.
Goal celebrations
Ravanelli's signature celebration when scoring a goal involved pulling his shirt over his head and running around the field. He was therefore a strong opposer of the new FIFA regulation, which impeded players from removing their shirts during post goal-celebrations, and which punished any violators with a yellow card.
Juventus
Ravanelli started his coaching career with the Juventus youth team. He joined the club's coaching staff in July 2011 and remained there until 2013.
AC Ajaccio
On 8 June 2013, Ravanelli signed a two-year contract as the new head coach of French Ligue 1 club AC Ajaccio. On 2 November 2013, he was sacked from his post after his club had suffered its fifth consecutive Ligue 1 defeat (this time losing 3–1 at home against Valenciennes FC) on the same day that left them in 19th (second from bottom) position (1 win, 4 draws and 7 defeats in 12 Ligue 1 matches) in the Ligue 1 standings. "It is not an easy decision (to sack Ravanelli) for a number of reasons. I really appreciated Fabrizio Ravanelli, I really wanted it to work. I do not remember seeing a staff work that much, from morning till night without stopping. You know what football is like. If things are not going well, the only solution is to change the staff," said Alain Orsoni, the president of AC Ajaccio.
Media career
Following his retirement, Ravanelli also worked as a football pundit for Sky Italia, Fox Sports, and Mediaset.
Club
* = Scored 3 goals in a Scottish League Cup match.