1. Overview
Sergio "Bobo" Gori (Sergio "Bobo" Goriˈsɛrdʒo ˈbɔːbo ˈɡɔːriItalian; 24 February 1946 - 5 April 2023) was an Italian professional footballer who played primarily as a midfielder and a forward. Gori is renowned for a unique achievement in Italian football, being one of only five players to win the Serie A title with three different clubs. His illustrious career included significant spells with Inter Milan, Cagliari, and Juventus, where he collected a total of five Serie A championships and other major European trophies. He also represented the Italy national team and was part of the squad that reached the final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
2. Early Life and Background
Sergio Gori was born on 24 February 1946, in Milan, Kingdom of Italy. He passed away on 5 April 2023, at the age of 77, in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy. Throughout his career, he stood at 5.8 ft (1.78 m) tall.
3. Club Career
Sergio Gori's club career spanned over a decade, marked by his ability to contribute to title-winning teams across Italy. He holds a unique distinction as one of only five footballers to have won the Serie A title with three different clubs, a feat he achieved with Inter Milan, Cagliari, and Juventus.
3.1. Inter Milan (1964-1966, 1968-1969)
Gori began his professional journey with Inter Milan at a very young age, making his debut at 18. He featured in 10 matches and scored 2 goals for Inter between 1964 and 1966, during the golden era of the club known as the "Grande Inter" of the 1960s. During this initial spell, he contributed to Inter's success, winning the 1964-65 Serie A and 1965-66 Serie A titles. He also lifted the 1964-65 European Cup and the 1965 Intercontinental Cup with the club.
In 1966, he was sent to gain experience with Lanerossi Vicenza for two seasons as part of an exchange deal for the reigning Serie A top scorer Luis Vinício. Following notable performances with Vicenza, Gori returned to Inter for the 1968-69 Serie A season, playing 14 matches and scoring one goal. After this season, he was sold to Cagliari Calcio, alongside Angelo Domenghini, in exchange for Roberto Boninsegna.
3.2. Vicenza and Cagliari (1966-1975)
His time at Vicenza from 1966 to 1968 proved crucial for his development, as he gained valuable first-team experience over 56 appearances, scoring 16 goals.
After his second spell at Inter, Gori moved to Cagliari Calcio in 1969. His tenure with Cagliari, lasting from 1969 to 1975, was arguably the most impactful period of his career. He became a key member of the starting lineup during the 1969-70 Serie A season, when Cagliari achieved their historic first and only Scudetto (Italian title). Gori formed an experimental attacking duo with legendary striker Gigi Riva, often functioning as a supporting striker behind Riva. His exceptional performances that season, where he played 166 matches and scored 33 goals, earned him a call-up to the Italy national team for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
3.3. Juventus and Later Career (1975-1979)
In 1975, Gori transferred to Juventus, where he spent two seasons. During his time in Turin, he continued his remarkable run of success, winning his fourth Serie A title and the 1976-77 UEFA Cup during the 1976-77 Serie A season. For Juventus, he made 29 appearances, scoring 7 goals.
He concluded his Serie A career with Hellas Verona during the 1977-78 Serie A season, playing 18 matches and scoring 3 goals. Gori subsequently ended his professional playing career in 1979, after spending a season with Sant'Angelo in Serie C2, where he made 26 appearances and scored 5 goals, helping the team achieve promotion to Serie C1.
Across his entire club career, Gori made a total of 319 appearances, scoring 67 goals. He is one of only five footballers in history to win the Serie A title with three different clubs. The other four players who have achieved this remarkable feat are Giovanni Ferrari, Pietro Fanna, Aldo Serena, and Attilio Lombardo.
4. International Career
Sergio Gori made his debut for the Italy national football team at the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. His first appearance came in the quarter-final match against the host nation, Mexico, when he came on as a substitute for Angelo Domenghini. Italy progressed through that match and ultimately reached the final of the tournament, where they were defeated by Brazil. Following the World Cup in 1970, Gori made two more appearances for the Italian national side, bringing his total international caps to three.
5. Honours
Sergio Gori accumulated numerous team titles throughout his distinguished career:
- Inter Milan**
- Serie A: 1964-65, 1965-66
- European Cup: 1964-65
- Intercontinental Cup: 1965
- Cagliari**
- Serie A: 1969-70
- Juventus**
- Serie A: 1976-77
- UEFA Cup: 1976-77
- Italy**
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1970
6. Death
Sergio Gori passed away on 5 April 2023, at the age of 77, in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy.