Francesco Graziani
Francesco Graziani at Torino in 1977.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
One of the greatest Italian strikers of the 1970s and 1980s, "Ciccio" Graziani is a legend of Torino, his goals and his partnership with Paolo Pulici helping to fire "Il Toro" to their last Italy Serie A title in 1976. It would become one of the most prolific strike partnerships of the 1970s, Paolo Pulici ending up as the Serie A top-scorer three times, whilst Graziani topped the charts in 1976.
After eight years with Torino Graziani moved on to Fiorentina and then a successful three year spell with Roma, before finally calling time on his Serie A career with Udinese in 1988.
At national level, Graziani was also an important player for Italy. Whilst other more glamorous players may have made the headlines and taken the glory, Graziani just quietly went about his business for the Azzurri, his 23 goals in 64 appearances between 1975 and 1983 still make him the ninth-highest all-time scorer for the Italian national team. He was also an ever-present in the Azzurri team that won the 1982 World Cup, although he was unfortunate in the final as he had to be substituted after only seven minutes following a shoulder injury following a collision with the West German midfielder Wolfgang Dremmler.
Francesco Graziani - Info
Name: | Francesco Graziani |
---|---|
Date of Birth: | 16th December 1952 |
Nationality: | Italy |
Position(s): | Striker |
Career: | 1970 to 1988 |
Regular Shirt Number(s): | 9 (Clubs), 19 (Italy) |
Nickname(s): | Ciccio |
Other articles featuring Francesco Graziani
Tweet