Luigi Apolloni
Encyclopedia
Luigi Apolloni is a retired Italian football
player, who last served as head coach of Serie B
club Grosseto
.
, without ever get off the field in the first team to advance to Pistoiese
within two years, where he debuted in professional football.
After another year in Serie C1
to Reggiana
, he join Parma
in 1987, became a key member of the squad and a defense line mainstay along with Lorenzo Minotti
, forming a pair of central defenders who later guided the club from the Serie B
to the top levels of European football, including triumphs in the 1991–92 Coppa Italia
, a runners-up Cup Winners' Cup campaign in 1993–94, and two UEFA Cup
s in 1995 and 1999.
In 1996 a serious injury forced him out, and Apolloni did not manage to win back a place in the starting lineup, ultimately leaving Parma in 1999 to join Hellas Verona
, and later ending his career in 2001 with a total of 255 appearances and 7 goals in the Italian top flight.
squad under head coach Arrigo Sacchi
, making his international debut on 27 May 1994 against Finland
and participating in the FIFA World Cup 1994 azzurri campaign, as well as Euro 1996's.
, serving as his aide at Modena
. He was later sacked together with head coach Zoratto on February 2007, only to return at Modena on April 2008.
On January 2009, Apolloni was appointed as caretaker manager of the canarini after Zoratto left the club by mutual consent. He was then permanently appointed to the role after he managed to guide Modena to escape relegation at the final day of the season. In his first full season in charge of the club, Apolloni guided Modena to a mid-table place in the league despite severe financial issues within the club. On July 2010 he left Modena to join ambitious Serie B club Grosseto
. He was however removed by the end of September due to poor results, and replaced by Francesco Moriero
.
Football in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times , trailing only Brazil . Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful European nation in the subject of football...
player, who last served as head coach of 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...
club Grosseto
U.S. Grosseto F.C.
Unione Sportiva Grosseto Football Club is a professional Italian association football club, based in the city of Grosseto, Tuscany. The club was founded in 1912. The team's most associated nickname is grifone, after its logo, depicting a griffon...
.
Club career
He started his career with Lodigiani in 1983–84 in Serie C2Serie 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...
, without ever get off the field in the first team to advance to Pistoiese
A.C. Pistoiese
Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921 is an Italian association football club, based in Pistoia, Tuscany.At the end of the 2010-11 Eccellenza season, Pistoiese was promoted to Serie D....
within two years, where he debuted in professional football.
After another year 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....
to Reggiana
A.C. Reggiana 1919
Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919 is an Italian association football club, based in Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1919 as A.C. Reggiana and refounded in July 2005 as Reggio Emilia F.C., but it was renamed A.C. Reggiana 1919 soon after the start of the 2005–06 season. The...
, he join Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
in 1987, became a key member of the squad and a defense line mainstay along with Lorenzo Minotti
Lorenzo Minotti
Lorenzo Minotti is an Italian former football player in defender role. Minotti was born in Cesena, Emilia-Romagna.-Playing career:...
, forming a pair of central defenders who later guided the club from the 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...
to the top levels of European football, including triumphs in the 1991–92 Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
, a runners-up Cup Winners' Cup campaign in 1993–94, and two UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
s in 1995 and 1999.
In 1996 a serious injury forced him out, and Apolloni did not manage to win back a place in the starting lineup, ultimately leaving Parma in 1999 to join Hellas Verona
Hellas Verona F.C.
Hellas Verona Football Club is a professional Italian association football team, based in Verona, Veneto. The team's colours are yellow and blue and gialloblu is the team's most widely used nickname...
, and later ending his career in 2001 with a total of 255 appearances and 7 goals in the Italian top flight.
International career
Following his successes with Parma, Apolloni gained a spot in the ItalianItaly 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...
squad under head coach Arrigo Sacchi
Arrigo Sacchi
Arrigo Sacchi is an Italian football coach. He is best known for his success coaching Italian teams, particularly with Milan where he won back to back European Cups as coach in the late eighties where he was head coach of the Italy national football team . He was twice manager of A.C...
, making his international debut on 27 May 1994 against Finland
Finland national football team
The Finland national football team represents Finland in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland....
and participating in the FIFA World Cup 1994 azzurri campaign, as well as Euro 1996's.
Managing career
In 2006 Apolloni accepted to follow former Parma teammate Daniele ZorattoDaniele Zoratto
Daniele Zoratto is an Italian association football coach and former player.-Career:Zoratto is best known as one of the AC Parma most prominent players during the early 1990s...
, serving as his aide at Modena
Modena F.C.
Modena Football Club is an Italian football club based in Modena, Emilia-Romagna. The club was formed in 1912 and currently plays in Italian Serie B, after being relegated from a two year period in Serie A in the year 2004. The team's previous stay in Italy's top division ended in 1964. The team...
. He was later sacked together with head coach Zoratto on February 2007, only to return at Modena on April 2008.
On January 2009, Apolloni was appointed as caretaker manager of the canarini after Zoratto left the club by mutual consent. He was then permanently appointed to the role after he managed to guide Modena to escape relegation at the final day of the season. In his first full season in charge of the club, Apolloni guided Modena to a mid-table place in the league despite severe financial issues within the club. On July 2010 he left Modena to join ambitious Serie B club Grosseto
U.S. Grosseto F.C.
Unione Sportiva Grosseto Football Club is a professional Italian association football club, based in the city of Grosseto, Tuscany. The club was founded in 1912. The team's most associated nickname is grifone, after its logo, depicting a griffon...
. He was however removed by the end of September due to poor results, and replaced by Francesco Moriero
Francesco Moriero
Francesco "Checco" Moriero is a retired Italian association football player turned manager.-Playing career:A right winger, Moriero played for several clubs, including US Lecce, Cagliari, AS Roma, Inter Milan and SSC Napoli....
.
As player
Parma F.C.Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
- Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
: 1991–92, 1998–99 - Supercoppa ItalianaSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 19991999 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 1999 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 1998–99 Serie A winners Milan and 1998–99 Coppa Italia winners Parma. It took place on 21 August 1999 at the San Siro in Milan, Italy... - UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
: 1994–95, 1998–99 - UEFA Cup Winners' CupUEFA Cup Winners' CupThe UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
: 1992–93 - UEFA Super Cup: 19931993 UEFA Super CupThe 1993 UEFA Super Cup was contested between Milan of Italy and Parma of Italy . It was won by Parma, 2–1 on aggregate. The final was contested over two legs with a leg at each of the sides' home grounds. The first leg took place at Ennio Tardini, Parma on 12 January 1994 and ended 0–1...