Antonio Di Gennaro facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Antonio di Gennaro | ||
| Date of birth | 5 October 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Florence, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1976–1980 | Fiorentina | 44 | (5) |
| 1980–1981 | Perugia | 24 | (3) |
| 1981–1988 | Verona | 182 | (18) |
| 1988–1991 | Bari | 64 | (4) |
| 1991–1992 | Barletta | 28 | (3) |
| Total | 342 | (33) | |
| International career | |||
| 1984–1986 | Italy | 15 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Antonio di Gennaro (born 5 October 1958) is an Italian former footballer. He played as a midfielder, a player who helps both attack and defense.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Antonio di Gennaro played for several football clubs during his career. He started his professional journey at the age of 18 with his hometown club, Fiorentina, in 1976. Even though he was very talented, it was hard for him to get a regular spot on the team. This was because another star player, Giancarlo Antognoni, played in the same position.
To get more playing time, Antonio moved to Perugia for the 1980–81 season. However, that year was tough for Perugia, and they were moved down to a lower league called Serie B.
The next season, Antonio joined Hellas Verona. This move changed his career! He became a very important player for Verona, acting as the team's main playmaker. A playmaker is a player who creates scoring chances for their teammates. He helped Verona get promoted to Serie A, the top Italian league, in his first year.
Even more amazingly, Antonio was part of the Verona team that won their first-ever Serie A title in the 1984–85 season. This was a huge achievement for the club! He played 182 games for Verona and scored 18 goals.
In 1988, he joined Bari. There, he became the team's captain. He helped Bari get promoted to Serie A and also win the Mitropa Cup in 1990. Antonio retired from playing football in 1991, after helping Bari stay in Serie A.
Playing for Italy
Antonio di Gennaro also played for the Italy national football team. He played 15 games for Italy and scored 4 goals between 1984 and 1986.
He was part of the Italian team that played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. He played in all four of Italy's matches in that tournament. Italy was knocked out by France in the "round of 16," which means they lost in the first knockout stage. Antonio made his first international appearance on 3 November 1984, in a game against Switzerland. All his games for Italy happened while he was playing for Verona.
How He Played
Antonio di Gennaro was known as a "modern" footballer. He was quick, agile, and could play in many different midfield positions. He was good at dribbling the ball and could adjust to different situations during a game.
He was known for his speed, hard work, and stamina. He was also good at winning the ball back from opponents. But he wasn't just a defensive player; he was also very creative and good at attacking. He could play as a defensive midfielder or as a deep-lying playmaker. This meant he had great vision and passing skills to start attacks.
Even though he was mainly a team player, he could also move forward and score goals. He was a powerful and accurate shooter. He could even play as an attacking playmaker, helping to create goals closer to the opponent's goal. Besides his football skills, he was also known for his leadership and fun personality.
After Football
After he stopped playing football, Antonio di Gennaro worked as one of the directors for his old club, Fiorentina, for a while.
Awards and Trophies
Antonio di Gennaro won several trophies during his career:
- Verona
- Serie B: 1981–82 (This means they won the second-highest league and got promoted)
- Serie A: 1984–85 (This is the top Italian league title)
- Bari
- Mitropa Cup: 1990 (An international club competition)
See also
In Spanish: Antonio Di Gennaro para niños
