Gianluca Pagliuca

For a decade, Italian footballer Gianluca Pagliuca was one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He started his career in the youth teams at Bologna before making his League début with Sampdoria, with whom he won Serie A (1991), three Italian Cups (1988-89, 1994), an Italian Super Cup (1991), and a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (1990). He also played in the 1992 European Cup Final at Wembley, won in extra time by Barcelona.

After Sampdoria, Pagliuca spent five seasons at Inter Milan, winning the UEFA Cup in 1998. He returned to his hometown and played for Bologna before ending his career with Ascoli Calcio in the 2006/07 season. He made 592 Serie A appearances.

Internationally, Pagliuca was the replacement goalkeeper at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, was third choice in the World Cup two years later, and was first choice for the 1994 World Cup in the USA when he kept goal in the final against Brazil, after returning to the team following a sending off against Norway. He got a call-up as first choice for the 1998 World Cup after a last-minute injury to first choice keeper Angelo Peruzzi. Pagliuca won a total of 39 full caps (conceding 27 goals) and four under-21 caps.