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Roberto Tricella

Roberto Tricella is an Italian former professional footballer and sweeper renowned for winning Serie A with Hellas Verona, Coppa Italia, and a UEFA Cup.

1. Overview

Roberto Tricella, born on March 18, 1959, is a distinguished Italian former professional footballer Roberto TricellaRoberto TritchellaItalian primarily known for his exceptional defensive capabilities, often deployed as a sweeper. Throughout his notable career, Tricella played for several prominent Italian clubs, including Internazionale, Hellas Verona, Juventus, and Bologna. His club career was marked by significant achievements, most notably winning the Coppa Italia with Internazionale, leading Hellas Verona to their historic and sole Serie A title, and securing a Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup double with Juventus. At the international level, Tricella represented the Italy national team in the 1984 Summer Olympics and was part of the squad for the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He was known for his modern interpretation of the sweeper role, emphasizing offensive play and ball distribution rather than just defensive clearance.

2. Early Life

Roberto Tricella's formative years laid the groundwork for his illustrious football career.

2.1. Birth and Background

Roberto Tricella was born on March 18, 1959, in Cernusco sul Naviglio, a municipality located near Milan in the Lombardy region of Italy. His early life and upbringing in this area preceded his entry into professional football.

3. Playing Career

Roberto Tricella had a distinguished playing career spanning over 15 years, achieving significant success at both club and international levels.

3.1. Club Career

Tricella's club career saw him play for four major Italian clubs, where he achieved notable successes and evolved into a key defensive figure. He accumulated a total of 363 league appearances with 5 goals across his club career.

3.1.1. Internazionale

Roberto Tricella began his professional career with Internazionale, where he played from 1977 to 1979. During his tenure with the club, he made his Serie A debut, marking his entry into the top tier of Italian football. A significant achievement during this period was winning the Coppa Italia in the 1977-78 season, which was his first major trophy as a professional player. He made 5 appearances for Internazionale during this period without scoring any goals.

3.1.2. Hellas Verona

Following his time at Internazionale, Tricella moved to Hellas Verona in 1979, where he remained until 1987. This period proved to be the most iconic of his club career. After joining the club while they were in Serie B, Tricella notably captained Osvaldo Bagnoli's Hellas Verona side during the 1984-85 Serie A season. Under his leadership, the club achieved an historic and unprecedented Serie A victory, which remains the only league title in Hellas Verona's history. His leadership and defensive prowess were instrumental in this Cinderella story triumph. Beyond the league title, he also won the Serie B title with Verona in the 1981-82 season, leading to their promotion to Serie A. During his time at Verona, he made 255 appearances, scoring 3 goals. His impact was so significant that even Pope John Paul II commented on his youth and captaincy.

3.1.3. Juventus

In 1987, Tricella transferred to Juventus, where he played for three seasons until 1990. He was brought in as a highly anticipated replacement for the legendary Gaetano Scirea, a testament to his esteemed reputation as a sweeper. During his final season with the club, the 1989-90 season, Tricella briefly served as the team's captain in 1989. Under the management of Dino Zoff, Juventus achieved a notable Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup double in that season, with Tricella playing a crucial role in the defensive lineup. For Juventus, he registered 80 appearances and scored 2 goals.

3.1.4. Bologna

Roberto Tricella concluded his professional club career with Bologna, playing for the club from 1990 to 1992. His tenure with Bologna marked the final two years of his active playing days. He made 23 appearances for Bologna.

3.2. International Career

Roberto Tricella represented the Italy national team on 11 occasions between 1984 and 1987, although he did not score any goals for his country. His international career included participation in major tournaments.

He was part of the Italian squad that competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics. In this tournament, the Italy team performed strongly, reaching the semi-finals before ultimately finishing in fourth place.

Tricella was also selected for Italy's squad for the 1986 FIFA World Cup under manager Enzo Bearzot. Despite being part of the World Cup roster, he did not make any appearances during the tournament. He primarily served as a backup to the established libero, Gaetano Scirea. After Bearzot's tenure, under his successor Azeglio Vicini, Tricella continued to find playing opportunities limited, largely due to the formidable presence of Franco Baresi within the national team's defensive setup.

4. Style of Play

Roberto Tricella was renowned for his distinctive and effective style of play as a defender, primarily operating as a sweeper. He was characterized as a tenacious yet fair player, possessing a keen ability to time his challenges and excel in one-on-one defensive situations due to his significant mobility.

What truly set Tricella apart was his modern interpretation of the sweeper role. Unlike traditional sweepers who primarily focused on clearing the ball away from danger, Tricella frequently ventured forward with the ball. He would initiate quick attacking plays after recovering possession, leveraging his tactical intelligence, extensive passing range, and elegance on the ball. His capacity to launch counter-attacks with long passes added a crucial offensive dimension to his defensive position. While primarily a sweeper, he was also capable of playing as a centre-back, demonstrating his versatility in the defensive line.

5. Honours

Roberto Tricella achieved significant team honors throughout his club career:

  • Hellas Verona
    • Serie A: 1984-85
    • Serie B: 1981-82
  • Internazionale
    • Coppa Italia: 1977-78
  • Juventus
    • Coppa Italia: 1989-90
    • UEFA Cup: 1989-90

6. Retirement and Later Life

Information regarding Roberto Tricella's life and activities subsequent to his retirement from professional football is not widely documented.