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Francesco Morini

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Francesco Morini
Morini (Enschede, 1971)
Personal information
Date of birth (1944-08-12) 12 August 1944 (age 80)
Place of birth San Giuliano Terme, Italy
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1969 Sampdoria 161 (0)
1969–1980 Juventus 256 (0)
1980 Toronto Blizzard 22 (0)
Total 439 (0)
International career
1973–1975 Italy 11 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Francesco Morini (Italian pronunciation: [franˈtʃesko moˈriːni]; born 12 August 1944) is a retired Italian football player, who played as a defender. He competed for the Italian national team in the 1974 FIFA World Cup[1] and earned a total of 11 caps. He played for clubs such as U.C. Sampdoria and, most notably, Juventus F.C., with which he achieved great success. Morini was a fast, strong, and tenacious centreback, with good technique, who was known for his tackling ability, as well as his tight marking of opposing forwards. He was given the nickname "Morgan" the pirate as he excelled as a powerful ball-winner; despite his physical style of play, he was also known for his correct behaviour on the pitch, and he rarely committed aggressive challenges.[2][3] On the pitch, he was also well known for his rivalry with Inter forward Roberto Boninsegna, who later became his teammate.[4] After his retirement he worked as Juventus's sporting director for several years.[5]

Biography

Morini has two sons; one is Jacopo Morini, who is known for his role in the Italian television program "Le Iene", and the other, Andrea, is a singer and guitarist in a band.[5]

Club career

Morini (left) playing for Juventus in 1974 against his iconic rival of Inter Milan, and future Juventus teammate, Roberto Boninsegna.

Morini made his Serie A debut for Sampdoria in a 0–2 loss against Roma on 2 February 1964, and in 1969, he was transferred to Juventus.[6] He made 387 appearances in Serie A, as well as 30 in Serie B with Sampdoria during the 1966–67 season, during which he won the title.

During a highly successful domestic and European stint with Juventus, Morini won five Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia during the 1978–79 season, and an UEFA Cup during the 1976–77 season, also reaching the European Cup final during the 1972–73 season, and the semi-final of the European Cup Winners' Cup during the 1979–80 season, his final season at the club. Throughout his professional footballing career as a defender, Morini never scored a goal; although he once appeared to score one during a friendly tournament, it was disallowed. Morini ended his career in Canada with the Toronto Blizzard.[2][3][7]

International career

Morini made his international debut for Italy in a 1–0 home win over Turkey on 25 February 1973,[7] and was a member of the Italian squad that took part in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He played for Italy 11 times between 1973 and 1975.[7] Although he was still part of the Italian national side during the mid 70s, he was notably excluded by Enzo Bearzot from the Italian squad that finished in fourth place at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.[2][3]

Honours

Club

Juventus[2][3]
Sampdoria

References

  1. ^ Francesco Morini – FIFA competition record (archived)
  2. ^ a b c d "Francesco MORINI" (in Italian). Il Pallone Racconta. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Stefano Bedeschi (13 August 2013). "Gli eroi in bianconero: Francesco MORINI" (in Italian). TuttoJuve. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. ^ Fabio Monti. "BONINSEGNA, Roberto" (in Italian). Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002). Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Francesco Morini - Calciatore E Dirigente". Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  6. ^ Almanacco illustrato del calico 1979. Panini. 1979. p. 51.
  7. ^ a b c "Morini Francesco" (in Italian). Enciclopedia del Calcio. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  • Profile at Enciclopediadelcalcio.it (in Italian)
  • Profile at FIGC.it (in Italian)

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