Romeo Benetti facts for kids
Benetti in 1974
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Romeo Benetti | ||
| Date of birth | 20 October 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Albaredo d'Adige, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1963–1964 | Bolzano | 31 | (10) |
| 1964–1965 | Siena | 31 | (7) |
| 1965–1967 | Taranto | 63 | (11) |
| 1967–1968 | Palermo | 35 | (2) |
| 1968–1969 | Juventus | 24 | (1) |
| 1969–1970 | Sampdoria | 27 | (2) |
| 1970–1976 | AC Milan | 170 | (32) |
| 1976–1979 | Juventus | 83 | (12) |
| 1979–1981 | AS Roma | 27 | (1) |
| Total | 491 | (78) | |
| International career | |||
| 1971–1980 | Italy | 55 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Romeo Benetti (born October 20, 1945) is a famous Italian footballer. He played as a defensive midfielder, which means he was great at stopping opponents and winning the ball back. Benetti was known for being a very strong and determined player.
He played for several big Italian clubs during his career. He won important titles with AC Milan, Juventus, and AS Roma. Benetti also played for the Italy national football team 55 times between 1971 and 1980. He took part in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and 1978 FIFA World Cup, as well as UEFA Euro 1980. In the latter two tournaments, his team finished in fourth place.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Romeo Benetti started his professional football journey in the 1960s. He first played for smaller clubs like Bolzano, Siena, and Taranto.
Early Success and Serie A Debut
In 1968, Benetti helped Palermo win the 1967–68 Serie B title. This win meant Palermo was promoted to Serie A, Italy's top football league. After this success, Benetti joined Juventus in 1968. He played 24 games and scored one goal in his first season in Serie A.
Time at AC Milan
Benetti didn't stay long at Juventus at first. He moved to Sampdoria for a season. His career really took off when he joined AC Milan in 1970. He helped AC Milan finish second in the league three times in a row, from 1970 to 1973.
During his time at AC Milan, he won the 1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup. This was a big European trophy. He also won two Coppa Italia trophies in 1972 and 1973. Benetti even became the team's captain. A memorable moment was when he scored a fantastic long-range goal against rivals Inter in the Milan Derby in March 1973.
Return to Juventus and Roma
In 1976, Benetti returned to Juventus. He continued his winning ways there. He helped Juventus win two Serie A titles in 1977 and 1978. He also won the 1976–77 UEFA Cup, another important European trophy. In 1979, he won another Coppa Italia with Juventus.
As his career neared its end, he moved to AS Roma in 1979. He played there until 1981. With Roma, he won two more Coppa Italia titles in a row before he retired from playing.
International Career with Italy
Romeo Benetti played for the Italy national football team 55 times. He scored 2 goals for his country. His first game for Italy was on September 25, 1971, against Mexico.
World Cup and European Championship
Benetti was part of the Italian teams that played in the 1974 FIFA World Cup and the 1978 FIFA World Cup. In the 1978 World Cup, he wore the number 10 shirt. Italy finished in fourth place in that tournament. Benetti scored a goal from outside the penalty area in a 3–1 win against Hungary during the first round.
He also played in the 1980 UEFA European Championship, which was held in Italy. He helped his team reach the semi-finals. Italy finished fourth again after losing a penalty shootout to Czechoslovakia. Benetti scored his penalty in that shootout.
Playing Style and Nicknames
Romeo Benetti was known by several nicknames, including Panzer (which means tank), El Tigre (the tiger), and Roccia (rock). These names show how strong and tough he was on the field.
He was a very energetic and complete midfielder. He was famous for his physical strength, stamina, and leadership. He also had a distinctive moustache for most of his career.
Role on the Field
Even though he started as a winger, Benetti usually played as a central or defensive midfielder. His strong tackling and defensive style fit perfectly with the catenaccio tactics that were popular in Italian football during the 1970s.
Despite being mainly a defensive player, he could also score goals. He had a powerful and accurate shot from long distances. Benetti also had good technique and could pass the ball well. This allowed him to sometimes act as a deep-lying playmaker. He could win the ball back and then start attacks for his team.
Honours and Achievements
Romeo Benetti won many trophies during his career:
Club Honours
Juventus
- Serie A: 1976–77, 1977–78
- UEFA Cup: 1976–77
- Coppa Italia: 1978–79
AC Milan
- Coppa Italia: 1971–72, 1972–73
- UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1972–73
AS Roma
- Coppa Italia: 1979–80, 1980–81
Palermo
- Serie B: 1967–68
International Honours
Italy
- FIFA World Cup: 1978 (fourth place)
- UEFA European Championship: 1980 (fourth place)
See also
In Spanish: Romeo Benetti para niños
