Marco Tardelli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Marco Tardelli

Tardelli in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Marco Tardelli
Date of birth	(1954-09-24) 24 September 1954 (age 70)
Place of birth	Capanne di Careggine, Italy
Height	1.78 m
Playing position	Midfielder, defender
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1972–1974	Pisa	41	(4)
1974–1975	Como	36	(2)
1975–1985	Juventus	259	(35)
1985–1987	Internazionale	43	(2)
1987–1988	St. Gallen	14	(0)
Total		393	(43)
National team
1976–1986	Italy	81	(6)
Teams managed
1988–1990	Italy U-16
1990–1993	Italy U-21 (assistant)
1993–1995	Como
1995–1996	Cesena
1997–2000	Italy U-21
2000–2001	Inter Milan
2002–2003	Bari
2004	Egypt
2005–2008	Arezzo
2008–2013	Republic of Ireland (assistant)
Honours Men's football Representing  Italy (as player) FIFA World Cup Winner 1982 Spain Representing  Italy (as manager) UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2000 Slovakia
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Marco Tardelli (born 24 September 1954) is a famous Italian former football player and manager. He played as a midfielder for many Italian clubs. He started his career with Pisa, then played for Como, Juventus, and Internazionale. He finished his playing days with the Swiss club St. Gallen.

Tardelli had a very successful time playing for Juventus. He won five league titles and several Coppa Italia cups. He also won four major European competitions. These were the European Cup, Cup Winner's Cup, UEFA Cup, and UEFA Super Cup. He was one of the first three players ever to win all three main UEFA club competitions. His teammates Antonio Cabrini and Gaetano Scirea also achieved this.

Marco Tardelli was also very successful with the Italian national team. He played for Italy in three FIFA World Cups (1978, 1982, and 1986). He helped Italy win the 1982 World Cup. His goal celebration in the 1982 final is one of the most famous moments in World Cup history. After scoring, he ran with his fists shaking, tears on his face, screaming "Gol! Gol!". He also played in UEFA Euro 1980, where Italy finished fourth. He was even named to the team of the tournament for Euro 1980.

Many people think Tardelli is one of Italy's best midfielders ever. He was known for being energetic and strong in tackles. But he was also very skilled with the ball. He could help both in attack and defense. In 2015, he was added to the Italian Football Hall of Fame.

After his playing career, Tardelli became a manager. He coached the Italy Under-16 team and was an assistant for the Under-21 team. He then managed several clubs in Italy. He also led the Italy national under-21 football team to win the 1997 Mediterranean Games and the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Later, he managed the Egypt national football team and was an assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland national football team.

Playing for Clubs

Marco Tardelli was born in Capanne di Careggine, a town in Tuscany, Italy. He started his football journey in 1972 with Pisa in Italy's lower leagues. Two years later, he moved to Como. In October 1975, he joined the famous Serie A club, Juventus.

He played for Juventus for ten years and achieved great success. He became one of the first three players to win all three major European club competitions. These were the UEFA Cup in 1977, the Cup Winners' Cup in 1984, and the European Cup in 1985. With Juventus, he also won five Italian league championships and two Coppa Italia cups. He also won the 1984 European Super Cup.

Tardelli scored an important goal in the first game of the 1977 UEFA Cup final. This goal helped Juventus win their first ever European title.

Overall, Tardelli played 376 games for Juventus and scored 51 goals. He left Juventus in 1985 and joined their rivals, Internazionale. He played there until 1987. He finished his playing career in 1988 after one season with the Swiss team St. Gallen.

Playing for Italy

Tardelli (center) celebrates with Roberto Bettega and Enzo Bearzot, manager of the Italy national team, after a victory over England in November 1976.

Marco Tardelli played his first game for the Italian national team on 7 April 1976 against Portugal. He played in the 1978 FIFA World Cup and the 1980 European Championship. Italy finished fourth in both tournaments. He was also chosen for the team of the tournament at Euro 80.

He played especially well during Italy's amazing 1982 World Cup win. He scored two goals in that tournament. His first goal was in a group stage game against Argentina. His second and most memorable goal was in the final against West Germany. He scored with a powerful shot from outside the box. After scoring, with tears in his eyes, he ran towards the Italian bench. He clenched his fists and screamed "Gol! Gol!" while shaking his head.

In 2014, his famous 1982 FIFA World Cup Final goal celebration was called the fourth greatest World Cup moment ever by the BBC. He played a total of 81 games for Italy. His last game was against Norway in September 1985. He was also Italy's captain between 1983 and 1985. He was part of the team for the 1986 FIFA World Cup, but he did not play in any matches. He stopped playing football in 1988.

How He Played

Tardelli in action with Juventus in 1975.

Marco Tardelli was known for being a strong and skilled defensive midfielder. He could tackle hard but also had great technical skills. He was a very complete player who could help both in defense and attack. Many considered him one of the best midfielders in the world in the early 1980s.

He was quick, determined, and full of energy. He had good control of the ball and is seen as one of Italy's greatest midfielders. He was a two-way midfielder. This means he could run from one end of the field to the other, helping both defense and offense. He was smart about tactics and could play in many different midfield positions.

Even though he was mainly known for his speed, stamina, and defensive skills, he also had a powerful shot. He could kick and pass the ball well with both feet, even though he was naturally right-footed. His Juventus teammate Luciano Spinosi gave him the nickname Schizzo, which means "splash" or "streak", because of his speed and slim build. Besides his football skills, he was also a strong leader on the field.

Coaching Career

Tardelli began his coaching career right after he stopped playing in 1988. He started as the head coach of the Italy Under-16 national team. Two years later, he became an assistant coach for the Under-21 team, working with Cesare Maldini. In 1993, he took over Como, a team in a lower Italian league. He helped Como get promoted to Serie B, but they were later relegated.

Tardelli (left) as Republic of Ireland assistant manager, near Giovanni Trapattoni, in September 2013.

In 1995, he became the coach of Cesena, another Serie B team. After three seasons with Cesena, Tardelli became the head coach of the Italian Under-21 team. He led them to win the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and the 1997 Mediterranean Games. He also coached the Italian team at the 2000 Summer Olympics, where they reached the quarter-finals.

His success with the Under-21 team led him to become the manager of Internazionale for the 2000–01 season. His time there was short. After some difficult losses, including a 6–0 defeat to rivals A.C. Milan, Tardelli left in June 2001. He also coached Bari, the Egyptian national team, and Arezzo.

In February 2008, he joined the coaching staff of the Republic of Ireland national football team as an assistant manager. He worked with Giovanni Trapattoni, who was also his former teammate at Juventus. Tardelli left the Republic of Ireland team on 11 September 2013.

Personal Life

Marco Tardelli came from a working-class family. He was the youngest of four children. His father worked in a factory, and his mother was a housewife. He was known for his strong beliefs in fairness and equality. When he was young, he worked as a waiter in Pisa during the summers to earn money. He also earned a diploma in surveying.

Tardelli has two children. His daughter, Sara, is a journalist. His son, Nicola, is a model. Since 2016, Tardelli has been in a relationship with journalist Myrta Merlino.

Honours

Player

Juventus

• Serie A: 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84
• Coppa Italia: 1978–79, 1982–83
• European Cup: 1984–85
• UEFA Cup: 1976–77
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1983–84
• UEFA Super Cup: 1984

Tardelli's FIFA XI kit, on display at the Museo del Calcio in Florence.

Italy

• FIFA World Cup: 1982

Individual Awards

• UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: Ranked 37th
• FIFA XI: 1979
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1980
• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2015

Coach

Italy Under-21

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

Images for kids

• 

  Tardelli's No.14 Italy shirt

See also

In Spanish: Marco Tardelli para niños

• List of players to have won the three main European club competitions