He was a skilled and flexible winger, able to play on either side of the field or in the middle. Donadoni started his career with Atalanta. He later became a key player for the powerful AC Milan team in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He won many titles with Milan in Italy and internationally. Later in his career, he was one of the first big players in Major League Soccer (MLS). He played two seasons for the NY/NJ MetroStars. He finished his playing career with Saudi Premier League team Ittihad in 2000.

Donadoni was also an important part of the Italian national team from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s. He played for Italy in the 1988 and 1996 European Championships. He also played in the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups. With Italy, he reached the semi-finals of Euro 1988. He won bronze (third place) at the 1990 World Cup and silver (second place) at the 1994 World Cup. He played 63 games for Italy and scored five goals over ten years.

After his playing career, Donadoni became a manager in 2001. He coached Italian clubs like Lecco, Livorno, and Genoa. He was then chosen to be the head coach of the Italy national team. He took over from Marcello Lippi, who left after winning the 2006 World Cup. At Euro 2008, Donadoni led Italy to the quarter-finals. They lost to Spain in a penalty shootout. Spain went on to win the tournament. Donadoni was removed from his role on 26 June 2008. This happened even though he had signed a contract extension. The contract allowed termination if Italy did not reach the semi-finals. Lippi returned as the national team manager. After coaching Italy, Donadoni managed Napoli, Cagliari, and Parma. He then joined Bologna and later Shenzhen.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting with Atalanta and AC Milan Success

Donadoni began his football journey with Atalanta in 1982. He helped them win the Serie C1 title and the Serie B title in 1984. In 1986, he joined AC Milan. He quickly became a key player for their famous team. This team was very successful in Italy and Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Donadoni usually played on the right side of midfield. He was a crucial part of Milan's team under coaches Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello. During his time at Milan, he won six Serie A titles. He also won three European Cups, four Supercoppa Italiana, three European Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups. He reached the Coppa Italia final twice but did not win it.

In a 1989 European Cup game, Donadoni was seriously injured. He was knocked out and broke his jaw. He recovered and continued to play a big role. In the 1989 European Cup final, he helped set up a goal in Milan's 4–0 win. He also assisted a goal in Milan's 4–0 victory over Barcelona in the 1994 UEFA Champions League final.

Playing in the United States

After winning his fifth Serie A title with Milan, Donadoni moved to play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. The NY/NJ MetroStars signed him in 1996. He was a central player for their team. During his first year, he was called back to play for the Italy national team. He was a strong player and was named to the league's Best XI in 1996. He also became an MLS Eastern Conference All-Star. He scored six goals for the MetroStars.

Return to Milan and Final Season

Donadoni briefly returned to Milan after the 1997 MLS season. He helped them reach another Coppa Italia final in 1998. He also won another Serie A title in 1999 under Alberto Zaccheroni. This was his sixth and final Serie A title. In total, Donadoni scored 18 Serie A goals for Milan in 287 games. He scored 23 goals in 390 games across all competitions.

He finished his playing career with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. He won the Saudi Premier League with them in the 1999–2000 season. He retired from professional football soon after.

International Career for Italy

Youth Team and Early Senior Games

Roberto Donadoni was part of the Italy under-21 national team. They reached the final of the 1986 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He made his first appearance for the senior Italy national team on 8 October 1986. This was in a 2–0 win against Greece. He quickly became a key player for his country.

He helped Italy reach the semi-finals of Euro 1988. He then played in the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy. Italy finished in third place. In the semi-final penalty shootout against Argentina, he unfortunately missed one of the penalties. He played five games in the tournament.

World Cup 1994 and Euro 1996

Donadoni also played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup under coach Arrigo Sacchi. Italy finished in second place, losing to Brazil in a penalty shootout. Donadoni did not take a penalty in that final shootout. On the way to the final, he helped set up goals in the quarter-final and semi-final matches.

He also represented Italy at UEFA Euro 1996. This was his last international tournament. He played in all three group matches. His final game for Italy was on 19 June 1996. It was a 0–0 draw against Germany. Italy was eliminated in the first round. Overall, Donadoni played 63 games for Italy and scored five goals.

How He Played Football

Roberto Donadoni is considered one of Italy's best wingers ever. He was a consistent, flexible, and talented player. He could play almost anywhere in midfield, except as a defensive midfielder. He often played on either wing, in the middle, or as an attacking midfielder. He was most often used on the right side.

He was an important player for his club and national teams. He was known for his speed, quickness, dribbling skills, and technical ability. He often tricked defenders with feints and made great individual runs. He also had great stamina and was smart about tactics. This allowed him to play as a box-to-box player. Later in his career, he played more as a playmaker. He could create attacking chances for his team with his vision and passing. Donadoni was good at giving assists to teammates. He could send in curling crosses or use set-pieces. He could also shoot powerfully and accurately from far away with either foot. He was also good at taking free kicks. Famous player Michel Platini called him Italy's greatest player of the 1990s. Donadoni once said, "My greatest satisfaction comes from making the pass that leads to the goal."

Managerial Career

Early Coaching Roles

After retiring as a player, Donadoni became a coach. His first coaching job was with Lecco in 2001. He then coached Livorno (2002–03) and Genoa (2003). In 2005, he returned to coach Livorno again. He led them to a surprising ninth-place finish. He resigned in 2006 due to disagreements with the club chairman.

Coaching the Italy National Team

In July 2006, Donadoni was named the new head coach of the Italy national team. This happened after Marcello Lippi resigned. Lippi had just led Italy to win the 2006 World Cup. Donadoni's first goal was to help Italy qualify for UEFA Euro 2008.

His first game as Italy coach was a friendly match against Croatia. Italy lost 2–0. Donadoni's first competitive game was a 1–1 draw with Lithuania. Then, Italy lost 3–1 to France. Despite a tough start, Donadoni led Italy to qualify for Euro 2008. They finished first in their group, ahead of France.

Euro 2008 Tournament

At Euro 2008, Italy lost 3–0 to the Netherlands. This was a big defeat for Italy. Donadoni was criticized for his player choices. Italy then drew with Romania. They beat France 2–0 to reach the quarter-finals. They played against Spain, who were very strong. The game ended 0–0, but Spain won 4–2 on penalties. Spain went on to win the tournament.

After Italy's performance, Donadoni was removed as coach on 26 June 2008. Italian Football Federation (FIGC) brought Lippi back as manager.

Club Coaching After Italy

Napoli

On 10 March 2009, Napoli appointed Donadoni as their new head coach. His first game was a 1–1 draw. After a 2–1 loss to Roma on 6 October 2009, Donadoni was removed as Napoli manager.

Cagliari

On 16 November 2010, Donadoni became head coach of Cagliari. They were struggling in Serie A. Under Donadoni, Cagliari won their next two matches. However, on 12 August 2011, Donadoni was surprisingly fired by Cagliari's chairman.

Parma

On 9 January 2012, Donadoni became head coach of Parma. The team was close to the relegation zone. Parma's results quickly improved under Donadoni. They won seven Serie A matches in a row, which was a club record. Parma finished the season in eighth place.

Donadoni helped Parma finish in sixth place in Serie A in 2014. This meant the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League. However, they could not enter the tournament due to financial problems. The club went bankrupt in March 2015. Donadoni left the club at the end of the season.

Bologna and Shenzhen

In October 2015, Donadoni was hired by Bologna. He left Bologna on 24 May 2018. On 30 July 2019, Donadoni was appointed manager of Chinese club Shenzhen.

Managerial Statistics

Managerial record by team and tenure
Team	Nat	From	To	Record
Team	Nat	From	To	G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Lecco		2 July 2001	3 December 2001	&&&&&&&&&&&&&018.&&&&&018	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&025.&&&&&025	&&&&&&&&&&&&&021.&&&&&021	+4	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.33000033.33
Lecco		20 March 2002	22 June 2002	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&03.&&&&&03	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&09.&&&&&09	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	+4	&&&&&&&&&&&&&042.86000042.86
Livorno		22 June 2002	30 June 2003	&&&&&&&&&&&&&041.&&&&&041	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014	&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014	&&&&&&&&&&&&&054.&&&&&054	&&&&&&&&&&&&&048.&&&&&048	+6	&&&&&&&&&&&&&034.15000034.15
Genoa		30 June 2003	21 September 2003	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&01.&&&&&01	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&07.&&&&&07	−3	&&&&&&&&&&&&&016.67000016.67
Livorno		11 January 2005	6 February 2006	&&&&&&&&&&&&&046.&&&&&046	&&&&&&&&&&&&&017.&&&&&017	&&&&&&&&&&&&&016.&&&&&016	&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013	&&&&&&&&&&&&&060.&&&&&060	&&&&&&&&&&&&&062.&&&&&062	−2	&&&&&&&&&&&&&036.96000036.96
Italy		13 July 2006	26 June 2008	&&&&&&&&&&&&&023.&&&&&023	&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&035.&&&&&035	&&&&&&&&&&&&&022.&&&&&022	+13	&&&&&&&&&&&&&056.52000056.52
Napoli		10 March 2009	6 October 2009	&&&&&&&&&&&&&019.&&&&&019	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08	&&&&&&&&&&&&&023.&&&&&023	&&&&&&&&&&&&&026.&&&&&026	−3	&&&&&&&&&&&&&026.32000026.32
Cagliari		16 November 2010	12 August 2011	&&&&&&&&&&&&&027.&&&&&027	&&&&&&&&&&&&&010.&&&&&010	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	&&&&&&&&&&&&&013.&&&&&013	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.&&&&&033	&&&&&&&&&&&&&043.&&&&&043	−10	&&&&&&&&&&&&&037.&4000037.04
Parma		9 January 2012	22 June 2015	&&&&&&&&&&&&0141.&&&&&0141	&&&&&&&&&&&&&047.&&&&&047	&&&&&&&&&&&&&039.&&&&&039	&&&&&&&&&&&&&055.&&&&&055	&&&&&&&&&&&&0181.&&&&&0181	&&&&&&&&&&&&0195.&&&&&0195	−14	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.33000033.33
Bologna		28 October 2015	24 May 2018	&&&&&&&&&&&&0108.&&&&&0108	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.&&&&&033	&&&&&&&&&&&&&023.&&&&&023	&&&&&&&&&&&&&052.&&&&&052	&&&&&&&&&&&&0115.&&&&&0115	&&&&&&&&&&&&0146.&&&&&0146	−31	&&&&&&&&&&&&&030.56000030.56
Shenzhen		30 July 2019	11 August 2020	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.&&&&&014	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08	&&&&&&&&&&&&&023.&&&&&023	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.&&&&&033	−10	&&&&&&&&&&&&&014.29000014.29
Total				&&&&&&&&&&&&0450.&&&&&0450	&&&&&&&&&&&&0151.&&&&&0151	&&&&&&&&&&&&0119.&&&&&0119	&&&&&&&&&&&&0180.&&&&&0180	&&&&&&&&&&&&0562.&&&&&0562	&&&&&&&&&&&&0608.&&&&&0608	−46	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.56000033.56

Honours and Awards

Player Achievements

A.C. Milan

Serie A: 1987–88, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99
Coppa Italia runner-up: 1989–90, 1997–98
Supercoppa Italiana: 1992, 1993, 1994
European Cup/UEFA Champions League: 1988–89, 1989–90, 1993–94
European Super Cup: 1989, 1990, 1994
Intercontinental Cup: 1989, 1990

Atalanta

Serie B: 1983–84
Serie C1: 1981–82

Al-Ittihad

Saudi Premier League: 1999–2000

Italy National Team

FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1994; third place: 1990
UEFA European Championship semi-finalist: 1988
UEFA U-21 European Football Championship runner-up: 1986

Individual Awards

Serie A Team of The Year: 1986
FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1990
MLS All-star: 1996, 1997
MLS Best XI: 1996
Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea": 1998
Premio internazionale Giacinto Facchetti: 2015
AC Milan Hall of Fame

Orders

5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 1991

Roberto Donadoni facts for kids

Contents