Francesco Graziani
Encyclopedia
Francesco "Ciccio" Graziani (born December 16, 1952) is an Italy
football manager and former player.
, in the province of Rome
.
As striker, he started his footballing career in Arezzo
. Later he became famous as one of the leading members of the last scudetto won by Torino
. He joined the granata in 1973, and soon became a key player for the team, winning the Serie A
in 1976. In 1977, he was the Serie A top-scorer with 21 goals.
Graziani then played for ACF Fiorentina
(1981–1983) and AS Roma
(1983–1988), and failing to win a European Cup in a penalty defeat against Liverpool (Graziani himself missed a penalty shoot-out in the match). He then played also for Udinese
, before abandoning his playing career. Graziani totalled 353 appearances, with 130 goals, in the Italian Serie A.
He was also an international player for Italy, representing the Azzurri at the 1978 FIFA World Cup
, 1982 FIFA World Cup
and in Euro 80
. He scored one goal in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
against Cameroon
, a tournament that Italy
won. With 23 goals in 64 caps, he is (as of April, 2006) ranked as the ninth highest all-time scorer for his national team.
in 1990, and Avellino
in 1993. In the 2001–2002 season, Graziani, who was the managing director of Catania
in Serie C1
, was successively appointed as manager, and led the Sicilian
team to a promotion in Serie B
. He then resigned as football coach after nine match of the next season, and in 2003–2004 he coached Montevarchi
of Serie C2
with little success, being fired before the end of the season. From 2004 to 2006, he coached Cervia
, an amateur team of Emilia-Romagna
from Eccellenza
league which was subject of an Italian reality show, Campioni – Il Sogno. He led the team to an immediate promotion to Serie D
, being popular to the public because of his hot-blooded attitudes, especially during league matches. He currently works for Mediaset
as a football pundit.
Graziani's son, Gabriele, is a football player too; he currently plays in the role of forward for Serie C1
team Cremonese
.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
football manager and former player.
Playing career
Graziani was born in SubiacoSubiaco, Italy
Subiaco is a town and comune in the Province of Rome, in Lazio, Italy, from Tivoli alongside the river Aniene. It is mainly renowned as a tourist and religious resort for its sacred grotto , in the St. Benedict's Abbey, and the other Abbey of St. Scholastica...
, in the province of Rome
Province of Rome
The Province of Rome , is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. The province can be viewed as the extended metropolitan area of the city of Rome, although in its more peripheral portions, especially to the north, it comprises towns surrounded by rural landscape.-Geography:The Province of Rome...
.
As striker, he started his footballing career in Arezzo
A.C. Arezzo
Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Atletico Arezzo is an Italian association football club based in Arezzo, Tuscany...
. Later he became famous as one of the leading members of the last scudetto won by Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
. He joined the granata in 1973, and soon became a key player for the team, winning the Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
in 1976. In 1977, he was the Serie A top-scorer with 21 goals.
Graziani then played for ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
(1981–1983) and AS Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
(1983–1988), and failing to win a European Cup in a penalty defeat against Liverpool (Graziani himself missed a penalty shoot-out in the match). He then played also for Udinese
Udinese Calcio
Udinese Calcio is an Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and currently plays in the Serie A. Founded in 1896, Udinese is the second oldest club in the Serie A, after Genoa....
, before abandoning his playing career. Graziani totalled 353 appearances, with 130 goals, in the Italian Serie A.
He was also an international player for Italy, representing the Azzurri at the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
, 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
and in Euro 80
1980 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1980 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in Italy. This was the sixth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. With eight teams competing, the final tournament took place between 11 and 22 June 1980...
. He scored one goal in the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
against Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
, a tournament that Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
won. With 23 goals in 64 caps, he is (as of April, 2006) ranked as the ninth highest all-time scorer for his national team.
Managing career
Graziani coached a number of teams with little fortune: Fiorentina in 1989, RegginaReggina Calcio
Reggina Calcio are an Italian association football club, the main club of the city of Reggio Calabria. Founded in 1914, they currently play in the Italian Serie B, and play their home matches at the 27,763 seater Stadio Oreste Granillo...
in 1990, and Avellino
U.S. Avellino
Associazione Sportiva Avellino 1912 , since summer 2010, is the new name of the Italian football club, based in Avellino, Campania. The club was founded in 1912 and its traditional colours are green and white...
in 1993. In the 2001–2002 season, Graziani, who was the managing director of Catania
Calcio Catania
Calcio Catania is an Italian football club founded in 1908 and based in Catania, Sicily. The club has spent much of its history in Serie B, gaining promotion to Italy's top league Serie A five times...
in Serie C1
Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
, was successively appointed as manager, and led the Sicilian
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
team to a promotion in Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
. He then resigned as football coach after nine match of the next season, and in 2003–2004 he coached Montevarchi
Montevarchi Calcio Aquila 1902
Montevarchi Calcio Aquila 1902 is an Italian association football club, based in Montevarchi, Tuscany.- History :The club was founded in 1902 as Aquila Montevarchi....
of Serie C2
Serie C2
Lega Pro Seconda Divisione is the name of the fourth highest football league in Italy, the lowest with a professional status. Usually it consists of 54 teams, but in the season 2010–11 the teams are only 49 divided geographically into three divisions of 17, 16 and 16 teams each...
with little success, being fired before the end of the season. From 2004 to 2006, he coached Cervia
A.S.D. Cervia 1920
Associazione Calcio Dilettante Cervia 1920 is an Italian football club located in Cervia, Emilia-Romagna. Their colors are blue and yellow....
, an amateur team of Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
from Eccellenza
Eccellenza
Eccellenza is the sixth level of Italian football. It is a regional league, composed of 28 divisions divided geographically. All 20 regions are represented by at least one division except for Piedmont and Aosta Valley which share 2 divisions...
league which was subject of an Italian reality show, Campioni – Il Sogno. He led the team to an immediate promotion to Serie D
Serie D
Serie D is the top level of the Italian non-professional football association called Lega Nazionale Dilettanti. The association represents over a million football players and thousands of football teams across Italy. Serie D ranks just below Lega Pro Seconda Divisione , and is thus considered the...
, being popular to the public because of his hot-blooded attitudes, especially during league matches. He currently works for Mediaset
Mediaset
Mediaset S.p.A., known as Gruppo Mediaset in Italian, is an Italian-based media company which is the largest commercial broadcaster in the country...
as a football pundit.
Graziani's son, Gabriele, is a football player too; he currently plays in the role of forward for Serie C1
Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
team Cremonese
U.S. Cremonese
Unione Sportiva Cremonese is an Italian football club, based in Cremona. The club was founded in 1903. Cremonese played the 2005/2006 season in Serie B, having won Serie C1/A the previous season. However, in the 2005/2006 Serie B campaign, Cremonese came out twenty-first, being therefore relegated...
.