FREE ESSAY ON ROBERTO BAGGIO

ROBERTO BAGGIO

ROBERTO BAGGIO
Roberto Baggio was born on February 18, 1967 to his mother Matilde and his father
Fiorindo, in the small Italian town of Caldogno which is located north of the city of
Vicenza. His brothers and sisters are Gianna, Walter, Carla, Giorgio, Anna Maria, Nadia,
and Eddy. Roberto had much freedom as a child. His father often took him to a soccer
field where he stayed until late evening. Roberto's passion for soccer was evident. 
Roberto started his soccer career in his home town of Caldogno, at the age of nine. His
first coach, Gian Pero Zenere, saw for the first time the greatness in Roberto. He had
become a star. A scout named Antonio Mora persuaded Roberto to play for Vicenza, then a
club in the serie C1 league. The fee was $500. The first season the coach of Vicenza was
Cade, and he started the 15 year old Roberto in one C1 game. The next season, new Vicenza
coach, Bruno Giorgi, used young Roberto in six league matches and he got one goal, the
first professional goal of his career. On the 15th of February 1984 Roberto was called to
make his first under 16 national game. On the ninth of January Roberto played his first
national juniors game. On the third day in May of 1985 Vicenza sold Roberto to Fiorentina
of the serie A. The world famous ponytail was first seen on the pitch in 1987. 
The following year Roberto really got noticed. With such a great year, he was called up
in November 1988 for his first international match. At the end of the season Roberto
married Andreina, his long time girlfriend, in their hometown of Caldogno. At the end of
the season, Fiorentina sold Roberto to rivals Juventus of Turin for a then record fee of
17 million dollars. Before Roberto made his first appearance for Juve, he was called to
play for the Italian national team in world cup '90 in Italy. Roberto had a great first
year in Juventus where he played in 33 matches in the 1990- 91 serie. In that same year
his wife gave birth to their first child, Valentina, on December 2 1990. 
1992-93 was Roberto's best year. He also lead Juventus to the UEFA Cup in that year. It
was Roberto's first major trophy. He continued his great play the next season, 1993-94,
when he got his one hundredth serie A goal vs Genoa in October. Roberto was awarded the
Golden Ball trophy as Europe's best player, and the sports writers voted Roberto Best
Player in the World. His wife Andreina gave birth to their second child Mattia, in June
1994. Then it was off to USA '94, and Roberto lead the team that was built around him,
'the Azzurri', right to the finals of the World Cup, with goal after important goal for
Italy. 
On July sixth 1995 Roberto left Juventus for an even bigger club, Milan. Roberto was on
his second consecutive serie A championship winning team. On July 18 1997, Roberto signed
with Bologna F.C. of the serie A. With the ponytail gone and new hope after a great
international goal vs Poland. in April of '97 Roberto and his fans were expecting a great
1997-98 season culminating with a World Cup victory in France '98. Unfortunately his team
lost in the semi- finals against the home team, France. Roberto is still considered one
of the best in the world and it is predicted he will get another chance for the world
cup.