Snap shot: Batistuta ends Roma's long title wait
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
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As ACF Fiorentina and AS Roma meet in the last 16, we look back to an image of one of their most famous sons and ask what happened to him and the others?
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"I remember a game when I wanted to make a substitution. I looked at the bench and realised they were all young lads who were not really ready," Fabio Capello said after his AS Roma side finished sixth in Serie A's 1999/2000 campaign. He responded by signing proven talent in Emerson, Walter Samuel and, of course, Gabriel Batistuta. 'Batigol' is shown celebrating above after taking his tally to 20 league goals in a 3-1 victory over Parma FC on the final day of the 2000/01 season as Roma clinched their third Scudetto.
This image was selected by our Facebook followers in a poll on 5 March that received 7,000 votes
1. Gabriel Batistuta
Still Argentina's record scorer, the 'Lion King' notched 152 Serie A goals in nine seasons for ACF Fiorentina but never finished higher than third (indeed, they spent 1993/94 in Serie B). Batistuta was 31 when he joined Roma and lifted the Scudetto in his first term, but after a short loan spell with FC Internazionale Milano, serious injury ended his career at al-Arabi in 2005. The ankle problem has hampered him ever since, though he dallied with polo before moving into commentating. Currently weighing up a coaching career.
2. Gianluigi Buffon
After a spectacular Parma debut aged 17 in 1995 – keeping mighty AC Milan at bay in a 0-0 draw – Buffon has never looked back. "I knew I was a special goalkeeper," he told UEFA.com. "I kept my feet on the ground but I am not stupid." By 19, Buffon had won the UEFA Cup and was an international, and he proceeded to become the world's most expensive keeper when signing for Juventus in 2001. Fourteen years, seven league titles and a FIFA World Cup later, Buffon is Italy's most-capped player and still going strong.
3. Paolo Cannavaro
Always overshadowed by his much-heralded older sibling (more on him below), Paolo nevertheless carved out a respectable career in Serie A. Like his brother, he had gone to Parma from SSC Napoli and it was to his home-town club that Paolo (eight years Fabio's junior) returned in 2006. He landed the Coppa Italia in 2012, then headed to US Sassuolo Calcio in January 2014, initially on loan. Now 33, he is a key part of a team that has surprised many by settling into mid-table in Serie A this season.
4. Fabio Cannavaro
The last defender to be awarded the Ballon d'Or, Cannavaro was rated one of the best of his generation. He captained Italy to their 2006 World Cup final triumph on what was his 100th Azzurri outing, before quitting the national-team stage in 2010 with 136 caps. The centre-back also picked up the 1999 UEFA Cup with Parma after leaving Napoli, and collected two Liga titles with Real Madrid CF between stints at Juventus. He currently coaches Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande FC.
5. Gianluca Falsini
A product of Parma's youth system, left-back Falsini made his Serie A debut in 1994, aged 18. He spent much of the next six campaigns out on loan, yet was recalled after impressing for Hellas Verona FC. He mustered only 19 more Serie A appearances for the Ducali over the next two years before resuming his travelling: by the time he retired in 2010, Falsini had played for 11 clubs. He was a youth coach at Verona and then AC Siena before the Tuscan team were declared bankrupt in 2014.
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