| Berardino Capocchiano | |
| Birth Date: | 16 August 1965 |
| Birth Place: | Zapponeta, Italy |
| Height: | 1.85 m[1] |
| Position: | Forward |
| Years1: | –1987 |
| Clubs1: | Carugatese |
| Years2: | 1987–1989 |
| Clubs2: | TSV Havelse |
| Years3: | 1989–1990 |
| Clubs3: | Arminia Bielefeld |
| Years4: | 1990–1991 |
| Clubs4: | TSV Havelse |
| Caps4: | 35 |
| Goals4: | 14 |
| Years5: | 1991 |
| Clubs5: | 1860 Munich |
| Caps5: | 0 |
| Goals5: | 0 |
| Years6: | 1991–1992 |
| Clubs6: | Lazio |
| Caps6: | 2 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Years7: | 1992–1996 |
| Clubs7: | Bari |
| Caps7: | 27 |
| Goals7: | 4 |
| Years8: | 1994 |
| Clubs8: | → Avellino (loan) |
| Caps8: | 0 |
| Goals8: | 0 |
| Years9: | 1994–1996 |
| Clubs9: | → Chieti (loan) |
| Caps9: | 59 |
| Goals9: | 13 |
| Years10: | 1996–1997 |
| Clubs10: | Latina |
| Caps10: | 7 |
| Goals10: | 2 |
| Years11: | 1997–1998 |
| Clubs11: | Rondinella |
| Caps11: | 9 |
| Goals11: | 2 |
Berardino Capocchiano (born 16 August 1965) is an Italian former footballer who played as a forward.
Capocchiano grew up in Italy, but moved to West Germany for personal reasons in 1987. He played for TSV Havelse and Arminia Bielefeld in Germany before transferring to Serie A club Lazio in 1991, where he appeared in 2 league matches. He subsequently played for Bari, Avellino, Chieti, Latina and Rondinella.
Born and raised in Zapponeta,[2] [3] Capacchiano began his career in Italy, playing for amateur side Carugatese.[4] He moved to West Germany in 1987 for family reasons, and signed for third-tier TSV Havelse shortly after.[5] [6] He joined Arminia Bielefeld in 1989 before returning to Havelse a year later, now in the 2. Bundesliga.[6] After 14 goals in 35 league games for Havelse during the 1990–91 season,[6] Capocchiano transferred to TSV 1860 Munich for a reported fee of 140,000 Deutsche Marks in July 1991.[7] However, Capocchiano never played for 1860 Munich - he terminated his contract shortly after signing for the club in order to sign for Serie A club Lazio, whilst having reportedly told 1860 Munich that he had to go to Italy to look after his mother and sister. The transfer was subject to a complaint by 1860 Munich president Helmut Schmitz to the DFB and FIFA, with Lazio paying 70,000 marks as a result in addition to the 140,000 they initially paid according to 1860 Munich. The protracted nature of the transfer also left Capocchiano unavailable for Lazio until November.[5] He made his debut for the club on 4 December 1991 as a substitute against Torino in the Coppa Italia,[5] and in total made just 2 league appearances for the club.[6]
In the summer of 1992, Capocchiano signed for Serie B club Bari on a five-year contract.[3] Across the 1992–93 season, Capocchiano scored 4 goals in 21 games, whilst he failed to score in 6 appearances during the 1993–94 season, leading to criticism of his performances for the club and the nickname "Pibe de piombo" ("lead pipe") being coined for him by comedy duo Toti e Tata.[3] He subsequently had spells on loan at Avellino, where he made no appearances, and Chieti, where he scored 13 goals in 59 league games.[4] [6] After leaving Bari in 1996, played for amateur sides Latina, scoring twice in 7 matches and Rondinella, scoring twice in 9 games.[3]
Since his football career, Capocchiano has become an entrepreneur - he is the owner of the Coesi Group.[3] He attempted to purchase Piacenza Calcio 1919 in 2011, but later decided against the purchase given the clubs financial condition.[4]
Capocchiano also unsuccessfully ran for office as a councillor for the newly formed Province of Monza and Brianza in 2009.[3]