Baggio speaks about calcio

By: Francesco | November 11th, 2008

Since retiring from the calcio world, Roberto Baggio has dedicated himself to his family and has stepped out of the limelight, preferring to live the normal life. Every now and again he’ll give the odd interview, and when he does it’s always interesting to see what the most skillful player Italy has produced in the last 25 years has to say about the current state of the calcio world. Baggio was interviewed by “La Nuova Sardegna” on various topics and gave his thoughts.

On Jose Mourinho: “I find it funny when he argues with journalists, first he draws them in by agreeing with their thoughts, then he gives his thoughts and silences them all. He obtained extraordinary results in Portugal and England and they speak for themselves.”

On Alessandro Del Piero, his ex-teammate and considered a “rival” on the Nazionale: “Ale is a phenomenon. When you journalists thought and wrote that he was finished, he proved you wrong with tons of goals, beautiful ballistic efforts, and a very serious and professional behavior. Ale is phenomenal on the pitch and off of it, and is demanding first and foremost of himself. An exemplary captain for the youngsters, a guide for the newcomers, a trusted colleague for the veteran bianconeri like Nedved, Camoranesi and Buffon. I’ll say that he’s the mark of quality in this Juventus, and in my opinion he can make them fight until the end in the Campionato and Champions League.”

Then he had some quick words on Lazio: “Pandev and Zarate, che fenomeni (what phenomenons)”

on Cagliari striker Roberto Acquafresca: “I like him because he has strength, intuition, the essentials of the game and sees the goal like very few do.”

on Udinese and Napoli: “I won’t exclude an exploit from the Friuli side, I’m sympathetic towards Reja’s squad“.

and finally on Roma: “Roma, beautiful and fun to watch up until a few months ago, is like a withered old woman who needs plastic surgery to bring back it’s beauty and glamor.”

And for all those people reading this that are now becoming nostalgic and missing the beautiful play of Roberto Baggio on the pitches of Serie A, don’t worry I found a cure. Watch the following video:

Some Related Serie A Posts:

Category: Cagliari, Inter, Juventus, Lazio, Napoli, Players, Roma, Rumors & News, Serie A, Udinese

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John

In my years as a Juventus and Serie A fan, my single biggest regret was not seing more of Roberto Baggio. I first started watching Calcio around november 99, when I was 8, (Im 18 next year, so that will mark ten years watching Italian football for me:) anyway, in Nov99 Channel4 had the rights to Italian Football in the UK, and as you may imagine when it came to which teams where given the most airtime, it was Juventus, Milan, Inter, Viola and Lazio. The first few weeks I started watching, two players amazed me. Alessandro Del Piero and Batigol.

From then on in Juventus and Fior were the two teams I loved to watch, but as time grew on Juve where the team I followed, and still are to this day. Anyway back in them days, after Robby had moved to Brescia, they recieved little coverage, maybe a two minute highlight package every week re-caping their match from the previous weekend, so I didn't really know who, or how great Baggio was. I'd heard of him in Fifa/PES games etc, but that was the extent of it.

Since he retired,I've been fasanted with him, I've seen all his youtube vid's, read loads of articles etc and I maintain I am the biggest Baggio fan in the world who never seen him play:)

A huge regret, thank fuck for Youtube.
Nina

God I miss him! I just wished we could see more of him.
a.

When I think of Baggio I think of a curling shot to the far post. I've pretty forgotten the pk until someone brings it up.
a.

For all his obvious class, Managers never fully trusted the guy, to their cost. Dropped for the semis in 90 in favour of the "star", Italy out. Dropped inexplicably from the quarters even though he was carrying the team, again to bring in the false star, Italy out. The one time he probably shouldn't have played, in 94 final, they play him. I wonder if he insisted to play and Sacchi therefore had to pick him?
fadi

this brought back lovely and sad memories. WC 90, WC 94, Champions League, Serie A.....
Maldini, Baresi, Baggio they should have won both World Cups, its a same to see the Germans and Brazilians win both in a penalty.
LorenzoRosanero

APPUNTO Paolo! Only idiots bring up the "missed penalty" without realizing the entirety of the WC '94 and how he basically guided them to the final single-handedly, while battling a hamstring injury.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that in that game in '98 against France, Baggio was subbed WAY too late in the game and immediately provided a spark to the offense. His volley was just inches away from going in.
alessio

Totally agreed, Paolo. It's like Zidane and the headbutt, shame that that's how most people remember him.

Thanks ursus...it looked so familiar, I knew ADP had scored a similar one.
Paolo

Football Tipster, Baggio will forever be remembered for the penalty he missed, but only to the people who never really knew him.

His career was so much more than that and he was a major factor as to why Italy even had a chance to play that '94 final. Why does no one ever point the finger at Baresi or Massaro who both missed before Baggio? I mean they are equally to blame if not more. Baggio's goal would only have tied it up at 3 a piece with Brazil having the last say. It was a sad day, one I'll never forget becuase Italy (not Baggio) lost that final on my b-day.

Baggio will be remebered for so much more. And if you ask him, he claims the miss he regrets most was the volley he missed against Frnace in the '98 quarter final.
Football Tipster

Roberto Baggio will forever be remembered for the penalty he missed. :D
A

I concur with Ursus on the pic. That's Sammar to the left of the wall.
wtssoccer

I want to translate this article to Chinese
and post on my blog
thanks
ursus arctos

ale, that photo is definitely from the Champions League (you can tell by the advertising hoardings) and I'm virtually certain it is from one of the group stage matches against Dortmund in the 95-96 competiton. ADP scored in both legs (Juve won in Dortmund and lost at home).

The two teams seemed to play each other every year in Europe during that period; the year before they had contested the semi-final of the UEFA Cup (after meeting in the final two years before).
miele

Lorenzo: Thank u! What a great thing to say by ADP. Both incredible players and great men with dignity.
Vincent

THE KING!!! Starting hearing about him before Italia 90 and everything I heard was true when watching the WC!! And watching it here in the USA was very hard at the time, only in Spanish pretty much.

Like it was said before, I have an attachment with Baggio [and Larry Bird] from my childhood that will never be replaced
Paolo

Great Video Francesco! I have that one on my iPod as well as this one: http://video.google.ca/videopl...

My fav Baggio video!!
LorenzoRosanero

miele - yes, it's true.
miele

Random question: Is it true Del Piero once said something like he has only ever cried watching two football players; one was Roberto Baggio and the other Ryan Giggs?
alessio

Err no....I was thinking of another goal. I'm not sure who it's against, other than they have very similar looking uniforms to Borussia but it was his 24th goal ever scored in all competitions...

http://img146.imageshack.us/my...
Any ideas who this was against?
alessio

You're both right. I was thinking of Alex's 1st goal in the Champion's League, against Borussia also. Can't find it on Youtube, only his spendid gol di tacco in the final.
A

@1 min? You kidding me? That goal is fresh in my memory as if it happened yesterday. It was the Uefa cup final against Borussia Dortmund in 93. Del Piero was just getting into his training dipers at Juve at that time.
Francesco

Alessio that free kick at 1:00 is 100% Baggio, I can tell first and foremost by the way he strikes the free kick (Iv'e studied him do it so many times), and secondly the Codino. :)
A

Juve weren't any better than the player. When they found Del Piero they were quick to show Baggio the exit door. Besides, my dad's team was Milan since the late 80's so eventually I thought I would stop fighting with him.
alessio

Juve, Fiorentina, Milan...eh....

I liked Baggio, but I've always been a much bigger fan of Del Piero. Baggio is technically superior but Alex is a Juventino al cuore. Baggio, well, is like A.
A

Juve was my favourite club and Fiorentina my second favourite for a very long time basically because of this guy.

When he was transferred to Milan I flipped. To Milan of all teams, THE hated rival of the time. That did it for me, that was the turning point. There was no loyalty left. One could pick choose clubs as one wished.

I'm Milan fan now and still have a soft spot for Fiorentina. Not so much for Juve but anyway...
alessio

Funny how he played for Fiorentina, Juve, Inter, and Milan...one of the few.
alessio

What a legend.

Though I think the free kick at 1:00 in the video v. BvB was actually Del Piero, I could be mistaken.
Marco P.

Divin Codino. Always.
LorenzoRosanero

There will NEVER be another man like him. He personifies class like few are able to do. He left his mark on calcio and then left the game permanently. He was my childhood idol and I have never been able to have that same sort of attachment to any other player since. If there were ever an Italian player who deserved to taste World Cup glory, it is him. His abilities on the pitch were truly poetic - and his skill was shown without the need to showboat. I miss seeing him play and calcio certainly misses him even more - for his type of person is a dying breed in the game today.

SEI GRANDE!!!
Rob

That first goal sends a chill down my spine "oh yes, OH yes! OH YES!"

Might sound odd for an Englishman to be saying, but Baggio is the reason i discovered football, watching the 94 World Cup (England weren't in it of course) was my discovery of football, and Baggio captivated me. I started watching Serie A right after, along with the Prem, and had a soft spot for Italy forever after.

What a player.