Ferri was born in Crema, in Lombardy, and debuted in Serie A with Inter Milan in October 1981. Soon a first-team defender, he became a mainstay of the team's starting eleven, playing for Internazionale for a total of 13 seasons.[2]
After representing his country at under-21 level in the 1984 (third place)[5] and 1986 (second place)[6] under-21 European championships, Ferri went on to receive 45 caps for Italy senior national team, scoring 4 goals. He made his senior international debut on 6 December 1986, in a 2–0 away win against Malta, marking his first international appearance by scoring a goal; he made his final Italy appearance in 1992.[3] He played for Italy in Euro 1988, where Italy reached the semi-finals, and in the 1990 World Cup on home soil, where Italy managed a third-place finish after a penalty shoot-out defeat to defending champions Argentina in the semi-finals.[4] He also competed for Italy at the 1984 Summer Olympics, where Italy finished in fourth place after a semi-final defeat.[7][8]
A world-class, tenacious, and combative defender, with excellent man-marking abilities, Ferri usually played in the role of centre-back.[9] Although he possessed good technique,[10] he preferred to mainly focus on the defensive aspect of the game rather than attempting to build plays from the back;[11] however, he occasionally took free-kicks.[12] He also excelled in the air and was known for his ability to anticipate his opponents.[13] The Dutch former AC MilanstrikerMarco van Basten named Ferri and Pietro Vierchowod as two of the best defenders he ever faced.[14]
Riccardo Ferri was in charge of the Inter Academy Florida based in Broward County, Florida (north of Miami), before being appointed to the role of Inter Club Manager on 25 July 2022, replacing Lele Oriali.[15]
^Giovanni Trapattoni (2015). Bruno Longhi (ed.). Non dire gatto. La mia vita sempre in campo, tra calci e fischi (in Italian). Milano: Rizzoli. ISBN978-8817081092.
