Francesco Toldo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Francesco Toldo

Toldo with Inter Milan in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth	(1971-12-02) 2 December 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth	Padua, Italy
Height	1.96 m
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1983–1985	USMA Caselle
1985–1987	Montebelluna
1987–1990	Milan
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1990–1993	Milan	0	(0)
1990–1991	→ Hellas Verona (loan)	0	(0)
1991–1992	→ Trento (loan)	38	(0)
1992–1993	→ Ravenna (loan)	31	(0)
1993–2001	Fiorentina	266	(0)
2001–2010	Inter Milan	148	(0)
Total		483	(0)
National team
1993–1994	Italy U21	8	(0)
1995–2004	Italy	28	(0)
Honours Men's football Representing  Italy UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 1994 France UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2000 Belgium–Netherlands
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Francesco Toldo was a famous Italian football player. He was a fantastic goalkeeper. Many experts think he was one of the best goalkeepers of his time. Toldo played football for 20 years. He spent most of his career with two big clubs: Fiorentina and Inter Milan. He won 15 trophies with these teams. He also played for the Italian national team. He helped Italy reach the final of the Euro 2000 tournament.

Club Career

Early Years and Fiorentina

Francesco Toldo was born in Padua, Italy. He started playing football with Milan in 1990. He never played a game for Milan's main team. Instead, he was loaned out to other clubs. He played for Hellas Verona, Trentino, and Ravenna.

In 1993, Toldo joined Fiorentina. He quickly became their main goalkeeper for eight seasons. In his first year, he helped Fiorentina win the Serie B title. This meant the team was promoted to Serie A, Italy's top league. With Fiorentina, Toldo won the Coppa Italia twice. He also won the Supercoppa Italiana once. He played in the UEFA Champions League and reached the semi-finals of the 1996–97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In 2000, he was named the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year.

In 2001, Toldo was set to join Parma. However, he decided not to go there. He didn't want to replace Gianluigi Buffon, another great goalkeeper. Instead, Toldo joined Inter Milan.

Time at Inter Milan

Toldo joined Inter Milan in 2001. In his first season, he played very well. Inter reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup. They also almost won the Serie A title. Toldo quickly became a fan favorite. People loved his passionate and high-quality performances.

The next season, he was praised for his amazing saves against Valencia in the Champions League. Fans even called Valencia's stadium "La Plaza de Toldo" because of his great play. He helped Inter reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. They lost to their city rivals, Milan. Toldo also helped score a famous equalizing goal against Juventus in 2003. It was first thought he scored it himself!

Toldo practicing with Inter Milan

In the 2004–05 season, Toldo helped Inter win the Coppa Italia. They also reached the Champions League quarter-finals. He then won another Supercoppa Italiana title in 2005.

Later in 2005, a Brazilian goalkeeper named Júlio César became Inter's main goalkeeper. Toldo became the backup. However, Toldo still helped Inter win many titles. He contributed to Inter winning the Serie A title in 2006. They also won the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana that year. He also played in the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons when Inter won more league titles.

In 2009, Toldo signed a new contract until 2011. He continued to be a backup goalkeeper. In June 2010, Toldo decided to retire from football. He ended his career after a fantastic season. Inter Milan won the Serie A, Coppa Italia, and Champions League all in one year! This is known as a "treble."

International Career

Toldo's Euro 2000 Italy jersey located in the Football Museum in Florence

Toldo played eight games for the Italian under-21 team. He helped them win the 1994 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 1994. He made a very important save in a penalty shootout against France.

He played 28 times for the Italian national team. His first game was in 1995. He was a reserve player for the Euro 1996 tournament.

Toldo became Italy's starting goalkeeper for Euro 2000. This happened because Gianluigi Buffon broke his hand right before the tournament. Toldo helped Italy reach the final. He kept three clean sheets (meaning no goals were scored against him). He helped Italy beat both host nations, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the semi-final against the Netherlands, he saved one penalty during the game. He then saved two more penalties in the shootout! He was named the best player of that match. In the final, Italy lost to France. Toldo was chosen for the Team of the Tournament.

After Euro 2000, Buffon returned as Italy's main goalkeeper. Toldo was a reserve for the 1998 World Cup, 2002 World Cup, and Euro 2004 squads. He retired from international football in 2004.

How He Played

Francesco Toldo started playing in other positions when he was young. But he was inspired by his hero, Dino Zoff, to become a goalkeeper. Toldo was a very consistent and quick goalkeeper. He had strong reactions and was good with the ball at his feet.

Even though he didn't like facing penalties when he was younger, he became known for saving them. He was also calm and had a strong personality in goal. Toldo was a tall and strong player. He was excellent at stopping shots, especially low ones. He could get down to the ground very quickly.

Career Numbers

Club

International

Trophies and Awards

Fiorentina

• Coppa Italia: 1995–96, 2000–01
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1996
• Serie B: 1993–94

Inter Milan

• Serie A: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10
• Coppa Italia: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2005, 2006, 2008
• UEFA Champions League: 2009–10

Italy U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1994

Italy

• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2000

Individual Awards

• Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year: 2000
• UEFA European Championship All-Star-Team: 2000
• ESM Team of the Year: 2001–02
• ACF Fiorentina Hall of Fame: 2015
• Fiorentina All-time XI
• Inter Milan Hall of Fame: 2019

Orders

• 
  5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2000

See also

In Spanish: Francesco Toldo para niños