Andrea Fortunato facts for kids
 |
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 July 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Salerno, Italy | ||
| Date of death | 25 April 1995 (aged 23) | ||
| Place of death | Perugia, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.78 m | ||
| Playing position | Left-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Como | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1989–1991 | Como | 43 | (0) |
| 1991 | Genoa | 0 | (0) |
| 1991–1992 | → Pisa (loan) | 25 | (0) |
| 1992–1993 | Genoa | 35 | (3) |
| 1993–1995 | Juventus | 27 | (1) |
| National team | |||
| 1993 | Italy | 1 | (0) |
|
|||
Andrea Fortunato (born July 26, 1971 – died April 25, 1995) was a talented Italian football player. He played as a left-back. Andrea was seen as one of Italy's most promising young players. He had a successful, but sadly very short, career in Italian football. He passed away in April 1995 after becoming ill.
During his time playing for clubs, he played for Como, Pisa, Genoa, and Juventus. He also played one game for the Italian national team in 1993.
Contents
Early Life
Andrea Fortunato was born in Salerno, Italy. His family was middle-class. His father, Giuseppe, was a heart doctor, and his mother, Lucia, was a librarian. Andrea also had a brother and a sister.
When he was young, Andrea enjoyed swimming and water polo, besides football. He started playing football with the Como youth team when he was 13. His parents wanted him to finish high school, just in case football didn't work out.
Career
Starting Out: Como, Genoa, and Pisa
Andrea Fortunato began his professional football career as a left-back. He joined the Como first team in 1988 when he was just 17. He played his first game in Serie B (Italy's second-highest league) on October 29, 1989. Como won that game 1–0 against Cosenza.
In his first season, Andrea played 16 times for Como. The team was moved down to Serie C1 (a lower league). The next season, he became a regular player, appearing in 27 league games. Como almost got promoted back to Serie B, but lost in a playoff.
Andrea's good playing caught the eye of bigger Italian clubs, especially Genoa. Genoa signed him in 1991. However, he didn't get to play much there. This was because another experienced player, Branco, played in his position.
Because of this, Andrea was loaned out to Pisa, a Serie B team, for the 1991–92 season. He played 25 games for Pisa and did very well.
After his successful time at Pisa, Andrea returned to Genoa. He made his Serie A (Italy's top league) debut on September 6, 1992. It was a 1–1 draw against Fiorentina. He played alongside Christian Panucci, another promising young defender. They formed a strong defensive team.
In his first year in Serie A, Andrea played 33 games and scored 3 goals. One of his goals was an equalizer in a 2–2 draw against Milan. This helped Genoa avoid being moved down to a lower league.
Joining Juventus and Playing for Italy
Andrea Fortunato's great performances with Genoa caught the attention of Juventus coach Giovanni Trapattoni. Juventus bought the talented young player the next season for a lot of money. Andrea quickly became a key player for Juventus. He was given the number 3 shirt, which was a special number.
Andrea started his first season with Juventus very strongly. He became known for his endless running along the side of the field. He also had a great left foot, which he used to send accurate crosses to forwards like Roberto Baggio, Fabrizio Ravanelli, and Gianluca Vialli.
He was a fantastic team player, both on and off the field. His friendly personality made many people like him. The coach of the Italian national team, Arrigo Sacchi, called him "a revelation of Italian football." He called Andrea up to play for Italy.
Andrea made his only international appearance for Italy on September 22, 1993. It was a World Cup qualifier game against Estonia. Andrea played in place of Paolo Maldini and alongside the team captain Franco Baresi. Italy won the game 3–0. Andrea's playing style was very similar to Maldini's. He was even considered for the 1994 FIFA World Cup team.
Illness and Passing Away
During the second half of the 1993–94 season, Andrea started to lose energy. He found it hard to finish games. Doctors later found out he had a rare form of leukemia in May 1994.
Andrea bravely fought his illness. He had treatments and a bone marrow transplant from his sister. Later, he had another transplant from his father, and it seemed like he was getting better. The next season, he was still part of the Juventus team. He even joined the team for a game in February 1995, watching from the stands.
Sadly, Andrea caught the flu and then pneumonia. He could not recover from it. He passed away in a hospital in Perugia on April 25, 1995. This was the day before Italy's game against Lithuania. The Italian national team held a minute of silence for him before the match. They dedicated their 1–0 victory to him.
His funeral was held on April 27 in his hometown of Salerno. That season, Juventus, led by coach Marcello Lippi, went on to win their 23rd League title. They dedicated this win to Andrea, calling it Fortunato's Scudetto. Juventus also won the Italian Cup and the Italian Supercup that year. They also reached the UEFA Cup Final.
Andrea played 27 league games for Juventus, all in the 1993–94 season. He scored one goal for the club. This goal came in a 3–1 loss to Lazio on December 12, 1993.
How He Played
Andrea Fortunato was a strong, hard-working, and energetic team player. He was known for his speed, skill, stamina, and smart thinking on the field. These qualities helped him cover the left side of the field well and win the ball back.
He had a good left foot and was known for his accurate crosses from the sideline. He could also beat opponents and make attacking runs down the wing. Although he mostly played as a left-back, he was very versatile. He could play in many positions, including as a centre-forward or a left midfielder when he was younger. He could also play as a central or defensive midfielder, or even as a centre-back.
Andrea was a very promising young player. Many compared his playing style to that of the famous former Juventus player, Antonio Cabrini. Besides his talent, Andrea was also known for his calm and friendly personality. He had a strong mindset, even though he was a bit quiet.
Honours
Club
- Juventus
- Serie A: 1994–95 (Awarded after his passing)
- Coppa Italia: 1994–95 (Awarded after his passing)
See Also
In Spanish: Andrea Fortunato para niños
