“STEVE MCCLAREN COMPARED ME TO DEL PIERO – THAT WAS TOO MUCH, BUT I DIDN’T FEEL UNDUE PRESSURE”
The fiery forward on his love for all things Middlesbrough, firing them to the UEFA Cup final and flopping with Italy
You made your first- team debut for Milan against Treviso in 1998, replacing the great Roberto Baggio. What do you remember of that experience?
I always have wonderful memories of that time, training from the age of 16 with icons like Roberto, Zvonimir Boban, Paolo Maldini
and Dejan Savicevic. I was fortunate to learn my craft from them. I remember that friendly against Treviso; it was a fantastic experience under a top coach in Fabio Capello. You were sold to second- tier side Empoli in 2000 where you were worked alongside Antonio Di Natale in a youthful front two. What was that partnership like?
After moving to Empoli, I was lucky enough to find a healthy environment which allowed me to grow. We had a very strong team, with several youngsters, and were able to secure promotion to Serie A. In my first season we came within a point of going up, then in year two we managed it. I had a couple of terrific seasons at Empoli – that gave me the belief that I could play at a higher level. While with Empoli, you became one of few Serie B players to represent Italy, against England in 2002. How did that come about?
I’d played for Italy’s under- 21s in Bradford the night before my first senior appearance. I had an excellent first half and put us 1- 0 up. At half- time, our coach said he had to take me off. I asked why, as I was playing so well, and he told me that because Christian Vieri was out injured, I’d be joining the first team. From the bitterness of the substitution, came the joy that I’d be representing the Azzurri.
During that Italy bow, you won the penalty that Vincenzo Montella converted to beat England at Elland Road. Later in 2002, you joined Middlesbrough and became a cult hero. Was England always a special place? The score was 1- 1 and our coach, Giovanni Trapattoni, asked me if I felt OK to come on. Of course, I said yes and it went well for me.
Then fate decided that I would sign for Boro, which was an amazing chapter in my story. You won the League Cup at Middlesbrough but suffered injury problems – how do you look back on your time there?
First of all, it must be said that I refused the advances of many clubs in Italy and England, as I was happy where I was. But Empoli said they’d be selling me to Middlesbrough for one simple reason: the offer was too good to turn down. Boro invited me over for a few days so I could see if I liked it. I was apprehensive at the start, but as soon as I arrived there I fell in love with the city, the ground, the training facilities and the ambitious plans they had. We won the League Cup and reached a UEFA Cup final. I have wonderful memories of my time in England. I had a superb relationship with Boro fans, more so than I ever had with supporters of another club. Upon signing for Boro, boss Steve Mcclaren likened you to Alessandro Del Piero. What did you make of that?
Mcclaren’s statement was a mistake. I scored many good goals throughout my career, and this was one of my many strong qualities, but the comparison with Del Piero was too much. He was a fantastic footballer. Fortunately, the comparison didn’t weigh on me. My strong personality on the field ensured I didn’t feel any undue pressure because of what Steve said. I started well in my first season at Boro, but then came an injury that kept me out for five months. I recovered and did well again, helping the side to victory in the League Cup. Yet, due to niggling injuries, my time at Boro was a period marked by both regret and joy. I learnt a lot as a young player who moved to a foreign country at an early age. I was alone in England, without family or friends. I made some errors that I’d never have committed in later life, but that is part of the growth of any individual. During my final six months at Boro I could have given a little more for the team, but the club also made promises they never intended on keeping. I think the fault should be divided 50- 50 between myself and them.
You scored twice for Boro against Steaua Bucharest in the 2005- 06 UEFA Cup semis, firing them to the final. How does it feel to be remembered for such an iconic display? I’d spent some time away from Boro on loan at Parma and Siena before that UEFA Cup run. Those spells were really important for me and helped me to rediscover my confidence after one of the most difficult periods of my career. I’d had injuries and missed home. Reaching the UEFA Cup final was nice, but I remember what happened in the quarter- finals more. We were 3- 0 down on aggregate to Basel, so the coach threw me on. I managed to score in the 90th minute, to win the game 4- 1 and send us through. The semi- final was almost like a carbon copy. They are memories that will remain with me forever, and the story of that goal can still be seen today, carved into the walls of the Riverside Stadium. They sent me a picture of the wall, and I hope to visit it one day and relive the emotions. How would you describe your relationship with Steve Mcclaren?
It went very well until about the middle of my second year, when he started making some decisions I didn’t understand. He showed me a lack of respect, and our relationship began to change from that moment. From one day to the next, for no reason, he’d say he didn’t want me in his team and tell me to look for a new club, and then something else the next day. That behaviour led me to believe I was working for an inconsistent person. However, as I’ve already explained, I admit I also made mistakes in that period and the blame should be shared between us 50- 50. After making your Italy debut, you ended up winning just one more cap. Why didn’t you play more games?
I didn’t play very much for the national team as I was young and made mistakes after my first call- up. I didn’t give my best. I also think my move to England played some part. There were far fewer footballers playing abroad at the time, certainly less than there are today. The Premier League was always an attractive idea for Italian players, but not many of them actually made the move when I did. Anyway, I’m sure my own errors, more than anything, cost me more appearances for the Azzurri. If I had the mentality I gained from the age of 30 at a much younger age, I’m sure it would have been a totally different thing. You’re now embarking on coaching career. Why is this the right path for you?
I just finished my coaching course and can’t wait to start; to get some experience and to begin this new path of my life and my career. I feel it inside me and will calmly wait for my opportunity with a professional team. In the meantime, I’ve travelled around the country, studying and watching lots of games. I have my own ideas and will try to pass them on to younger people – to future players who will hopefully play professionally one day. I have a passion for football that will remain forever. I hope things go well, so I can reflect on all the positive experiences in my second career.