Francesco Coco facts for kids

Francesco Coco (born January 8, 1977) is a former Italian football player. He played as a defender. Even though he was naturally right-footed, he often played as a left wing-back or left-back. He played for famous Italian clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan, and also spent a season with FC Barcelona in Spain. Early in his career, many people thought he would become a great player, possibly following in the footsteps of the legendary Paolo Maldini.

Coco won two Serie A league titles with AC Milan. He also played for the Italian national team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Club Career Highlights

Francesco Coco was born in Paternò, Italy. He spent most of his club career playing for teams in Milan. He started with A.C. Milan from 1993 to 2002. Later, he joined Inter Milan from 2002 to 2007.

Playing for Milan and Loans

During the 2001–02 season, Coco played on loan for FC Barcelona in Spain. He performed well there. He also had loan spells with other Italian clubs like Vicenza Calcio and Torino F.C.. While playing for AC Milan, he helped the team win the Serie A league title in the 1995–96 and 1998–99 seasons.

Moving to Inter Milan

In 2002, AC Milan traded Coco to Inter Milan. This deal was part of an exchange for another player, Clarence Seedorf. Coco's time at Inter Milan was affected by injuries. He helped Inter reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2003. He also won the Italian Cup with Inter in 2005.

Coco later said that a back surgery he had in 2003 caused him to be out of action for two years. This was much longer than expected. In the 2005–06 season, he was loaned to Livorno. He played one season there before returning to Inter.

Later Career and Retirement

In January 2007, Coco had a trial with the English club Manchester City. However, after a few days, the club decided he was not part of their plans. He then went on loan to Torino for the 2006–07 season.

After his loan, he returned to Inter Milan. On September 7, 2007, he and Inter agreed to end his contract. Later, Coco announced that he wanted to stop playing football. He decided to try an acting career instead.

International Career

Francesco Coco also played for Italy's national youth teams. He played for the Italy U18 team and the Italy U21 team. He was part of the Italy U21 team that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2000. He also played for the Italy U23 team that won the Mediterranean Games in 1997.

Playing for Italy's Senior Team

Coco made his first appearance for the Italy national football team on October 7, 2000. This was in a 3–0 win against Romania during a 2002 World Cup qualifying match. He also played for Italy in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. His last call-up to the national team was in September 2002. In total, he played 17 matches for the Italian national team.

Style of Play

Coco was known as a fast and strong player. He was also very versatile, meaning he could play in different positions. He usually played as an attacking fullback or wingback. This was because he was tough, worked hard, and was good at both defending and attacking.

Even though he was naturally right-footed, he could play well on both the right and left sides of the field. He was known for his strong tackles, physical strength, and ability to cross the ball with both feet. Because of his speed, stamina, and skill, he sometimes played as a wide midfielder. Despite his talent, he often faced injuries and was sometimes inconsistent.

Off the Field Activities

Besides being a football player, Francesco Coco was also a businessman. He owned shops with his father, Antonio. He also had his own clothing brand called "Urban 77". Coco was a well-known celebrity in Italy, often seen at parties and social events.

After he stopped playing professional football, Coco said he wanted to become an actor. He appeared on L'Isola dei Famosi, which is the Italian version of the TV show Survivor. He left the show voluntarily a few days after it started.

Honours

Club

Milan

• Serie A: 1995–96, 1998–99

Inter

• Coppa Italia: 2004–05

International

Italy

• UEFA Under-21 European Championship: 2000
• Mediterranean Games: 1997

See also

In Spanish: Francesco Coco para niños