Angelo Peruzzi

During 20 consecutive years playing in Serie A, goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi won 12 domestic and European honours, as well as lifting the Series A Goalkeeper of the Year Award three times in 1997-98 and 2007. He started his career at Roma in 1988 and ended it in 2007 at Lazio. In between he played for Hellas Verona, Juventus, Internazionale and also had a second spell at Roma. In all, he played 478 Serie A games.

Most of Peruzzi’s honours came during his time at Juventus (1992-99), where he won the Italian League title three times in 1995, 1997-98. At Juve he also won the Italian Cup (1995), Italian Super Cup (1995 and 1997), UEFA Cup (1993), and Champions’ League, UEFA Super Cup, and Intercontinental Cup (all in 1996). After a move to Lazio he won the Italian Super Cup (2000) and Italian Cup (2004).

Internationally, Peruzzi won 12 under-21 caps and was a member of the 1992 Olympic squad in Barcelona, although he did not play. He went on to win 31 senior caps between 1995-2006 and, after making his début against Estonia, in a Euro 1996 qualifier, was Italy’s starting goalkeeper for the tournament, but Italy made a quick exit. He was scheduled to be the first choice ‘keeper at the 1998 FIFA World Cup but an injury saw him replaced by Gianluca Pagliuca. After the former Italian goalkeeping legend, Dino Zoff, was appointed national coach, he promised Peruzzi the number one goalkeeping spot. However, he changed his mind, and made Gianluigi Buffon the starting goalkeeper for Euro 2000, and Peruzzi decided not to take part as the third-choice goalkeeper. Peruzzi did not play for Italy again until making a substitute appearance in a friendly against Spain in April 2004, and was called up by new coach Giovanni Trapattoni for the Euro 2004 squad. Two years later, Peruzzi was number two to Buffon, as Italy went on to win their fourth FIFA World Cup. Despite not playing, Peruzzi’s presence, and experience, in the squad was an important factor in Italy’s success. He retired from international football after the 2006 World Cup.