Roberto Tricella facts for kids

Roberto Tricella, born on March 18, 1959, is a famous Italian former footballer. He was a strong defender who often played as a sweeper. A sweeper is a defender who "sweeps up" any loose balls or opponents who get past the main defense.

Roberto played for several big Italian clubs like Internazionale, Verona, Juventus, and Bologna. He won important trophies, including the Coppa Italia with Inter, the Serie A league title with Verona, and both the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup with Juventus. He also played for the Italy national football team, representing his country at the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Playing for Clubs

Roberto Tricella was born in Cernusco sul Naviglio, a town near Milan, Italy. His club career began in 1977.

Early Career and First Wins

He started playing for Inter Milan from 1977 to 1979. While at Inter, he made his first appearance in Serie A, which is Italy's top football league. He also helped Inter win the 1977–78 Coppa Italia, a major Italian cup competition.

Time at Hellas Verona

After Inter, Roberto moved to Hellas Verona in 1979. At that time, Verona was in Serie B, the second division. He stayed with Verona until 1987. During the 1984–85 Serie A season, Roberto Tricella became the team's captain. He led Verona to an amazing Serie A victory. This was a very special moment because it was the only league title in the club's entire history!

Moving to Juventus

In 1987, Roberto joined Juventus, one of Italy's biggest clubs. He was brought in to replace the legendary defender Gaetano Scirea. In his last season with Juventus, which was the 1989–90 Serie A season, he briefly served as the team's captain. That year, under manager Dino Zoff, Juventus won two important trophies: the 1989–90 Coppa Italia and the 1989–90 UEFA Cup. Winning both in one season is called a "double."

Final Club: Bologna

After his successful time at Juventus, Roberto Tricella played for Bologna from 1990 to 1992 before ending his club career.

Playing for Italy

Roberto Tricella also played for the Italy national football team. He earned 11 caps, which means he played in 11 international matches for his country, between 1984 and 1987.

World Cup and Olympics

He was part of Italy's squad for the 1986 FIFA World Cup under manager Enzo Bearzot. Even though he was in the squad, he did not play in the tournament. He was a backup for Gaetano Scirea, who played in the sweeper position. Roberto also represented Italy at the 1984 Summer Olympics. The Italian team played well and finished in fourth place after losing in the semi-finals.

Competition for a Spot

After Enzo Bearzot, Azeglio Vicini became the manager. Roberto Tricella still found it hard to get playing time because of other talented defenders like Franco Baresi on the team.

How He Played

Roberto Tricella was known as a tough but fair defender. He was very good at timing his tackles to win the ball. He was also excellent at defending against opponents in one-on-one situations because he could move quickly.

Starting Attacks

What made him special was his ability to start quick attacks after winning the ball. He was smart tactically and could make good passes. He played with elegance and skill.

The Sweeper Role

While he could play as a centre-back, he was most often a sweeper. He played this role in a modern way. Instead of just clearing the ball away, he would often move forward with the ball. He would then launch counter-attacks with long, accurate passes, helping his team score goals.

Trophies and Achievements

Roberto Tricella won several important titles during his career.

Verona

• Serie A: 1984–85
• Serie B: 1981–82

Inter Milan

• Coppa Italia: 1977–78

Juventus

• Coppa Italia: 1989–90
• UEFA Cup: 1989–90

See also

In Spanish: Roberto Tricella para niños