Giovanni Francini Explained

Giovanni Francini
Fullname:Giovanni Francini
Birth Date:3 August 1963
Height:1.80 m
Years1:1980–1987
Caps1:111
Goals1:8
Years2:1982–1983
Clubs2:→ Reggiana (loan)
Caps2:30
Goals2:0
Years3:1987–1994
Caps3:184
Goals3:10
Years4:1994
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:1994–1996
Caps5:30
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:1984–1986
Nationalcaps1:12
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:1986–1990
Nationalcaps2:8
Nationalgoals2:0

Giovanni Francini (pronounced as /it/; born 3 August 1963) is a retired Italian footballer, who played as a defender.

Club career

During his club career Francini played for Torino (1978–87), making his debut in 1980, and during this period he was sent to Serie B side Reggiana on loan for the 1982–83 season, where he could not help the team avoid relegation to Serie C. During his time with the Turin club, he managed to reach three consecutive Coppa Italia finals between 1980 and 1982, also managing a second-place finish in Serie A in 1985, and he also made his European debut during his time at the club. He later played for Maradona's Napoli side (1987–1994), where he enjoyed another successful period. During this time, he won the Serie A, the Supercoppa Italiana, and the UEFA Cup, also reaching the Coppa Italia final. He moved to Genoa briefly in 1994, and subsequently to Brescia (1994–96), where he retired in 1996, at the age of 32, in Serie B.[1]

International career

Francini represented Italy at under-21 level on 12 occasions, scoring 2 goals, and reaching the final of the 1986 UEFA Under-21 European Championships under manager Cesare Maldini. He earned 8 senior caps for the Italy national football team under manager Azeglio Vicini between 1986 and 1990, and took part in the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship, where the Italians reached the semi-final of the tournament. Throughout his career, he received limited playing time for Italy, due to the presence of Antonio Cabrini, and later, Paolo Maldini in his role.[2]

Style of play

Francini primarily played as a left-sided fullback, where he excelled due to his pace, stamina, consistency, composure, and work-rate.[3] He was also capable of playing as a man-marking centre-back, known as a "stopper," in Italian football jargon. Despite being known as a tenacious and hard-tackling defender, he was also known for his offensive capabilities as a full-back, due to his technique and crossing accuracy, as well as eye for goal, courtesy of his heading, ability to cut inside and shoot on goal with his stronger left foot, and his ability to make attacking runs into the penalty area.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] He also stood out for his leadership throughout his career.[9]

Honours

Napoli[3]

1989–90

1990

1988–89

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Francini Giovanni . Lega Serie A . Italian . 23 January 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150123212347/http://www.legaseriea.it/it/serie-a-tim/calciatore?p_p_id=BDC_dettaglio_calciatore_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_BDC_dettaglio_calciatore_WAR_LegaCalcioBDC_idPersona=1169 . 23 January 2015 .
  2. Web site: Convocazioni e presenze in campo: Giovanni Francini. FIGC. Italian. 23 January 2015.
  3. Web site: La storia siete voi: il terzino dimenticato, Giovanni Francini. Tutto Napoli. Italian. 23 January 2015.
  4. Web site: I dieci terzini sinistri più forti della storia del Napoli . Il Napolista . Italian . Morgera . Davide . 19 January 2017 . 26 January 2020 .
  5. Web site: Vecchie glorie azzurre: Giovanni Francini! . napolisoccer.net . Italian . Morra . Manuele . 28 September 2017 . 26 January 2020 .
  6. News: Napoli-Real Madrid e quel precedente di 30 anni fa. Francini: "L'eliminazione brucia ancora, spero che gli azzurri possano riscattarsi" . La Repubblica . Italian . Tina . Pasquale . 12 December 2016 . 26 January 2020 .
  7. Web site: Giovanni Francini: "Napoli, per il futuro punterei su Allegri" . www.tuttomercatoweb.com . Italian . Passante . Salvio . 17 February 2009 . 26 January 2020 .
  8. Web site: Francini: "Villarreal? Il Napoli dovrà cercare di chiudere la partita nel primo tempo" . www.areanapoli.it . Italian . 5 December 2011 . 26 January 2020 .
  9. News: Giovanni Francini, 48 anni e ancora tanta voglia di giocare . Il Tirreno . Italian . Mastracca . Paolo . 24 February 2012 . 26 January 2020 .