Gianfranco Zigoni
Encyclopedia
Gianfranco Zigoni is an Italian
former football
striker
. Nicknamed Zigogol by his fans, he played with several major Serie A
throughout his career in the 1960s and the 1970s, including Juventus
and AS Roma
, being famous for his colourful style.
, playing only four games in three seasons with the bianconeri (with a goal), and being successively loaned out to Genoa
in 1964. With the rossoblu jersey, he spent a season in the Serie A
, with the loan being renewed for another year following Genoa's relegation to Serie B
. In 1966 he returned to Juventus, and stayed with the bianconeri until 1970, then leaving the club also because of his strained relationship with then Juve boss Heriberto Herrera. During this period, he also played his only game with the Italian team
, a 1–0 win against Romania
on June 25, 1967.
He successively signed for AS Roma
, spending two seasons under the guidance of Helenio Herrera
and scoring 12 goals with the giallorossi. In 1972 he moved to Verona
, quickly becoming a team mainstay and a fan favourite, and playing six seasons with the scaligeri. In 1978, aged 34, he signed for Serie B
's Brescia
, playing two seasons with the rondinelle mostly as a backup player.
In 1980 he left professional football and returned to his native Oderzo
, joining the local Serie D
team, Opitergina. In 1983 he joined an offer from Terza Categoria
club US Piavon, playing until the age of 43.
, an AC Milan player; has later become a footballer too and made his debut with Serie B
's Treviso
in January 2009, also scoring a goal in his first professional match.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. Nicknamed Zigogol by his fans, he played with several major Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
throughout his career in the 1960s and the 1970s, including Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
and AS Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
, being famous for his colourful style.
Career
Zigoni started his professional career at the age of 17 with JuventusJuventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, playing only four games in three seasons with the bianconeri (with a goal), and being successively loaned out to Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
in 1964. With the rossoblu jersey, he spent a season in the Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, with the loan being renewed for another year following Genoa's relegation to Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
. In 1966 he returned to Juventus, and stayed with the bianconeri until 1970, then leaving the club also because of his strained relationship with then Juve boss Heriberto Herrera. During this period, he also played his only game with the Italian team
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, a 1–0 win against Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
on June 25, 1967.
He successively signed for AS Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
, spending two seasons under the guidance of Helenio Herrera
Helenio Herrera
Helenio Herrera Gavilán was a Franco-Argentine football player and manager.Although born in Argentina, Herrera's parents were both Spanish, his father being a well-known Spanish anarchist in exile...
and scoring 12 goals with the giallorossi. In 1972 he moved to Verona
Hellas Verona F.C.
Hellas Verona Football Club is a professional Italian association football team, based in Verona, Veneto. The team's colours are yellow and blue and gialloblu is the team's most widely used nickname...
, quickly becoming a team mainstay and a fan favourite, and playing six seasons with the scaligeri. In 1978, aged 34, he signed for Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
's Brescia
Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
, playing two seasons with the rondinelle mostly as a backup player.
In 1980 he left professional football and returned to his native Oderzo
Oderzo
Oderzo is a town and comune in the province of Treviso, Veneto, northern Italy.It lies in the heart of the Venetian plain, about 66 km to the northeast of Venice...
, joining the local Serie D
Serie D
Serie D is the top level of the Italian non-professional football association called Lega Nazionale Dilettanti. The association represents over a million football players and thousands of football teams across Italy. Serie D ranks just below Lega Pro Seconda Divisione , and is thus considered the...
team, Opitergina. In 1983 he joined an offer from Terza Categoria
Terza Categoria
Terza Categoria is the name of the lowest level of "amateur" football in Italy. It is considered to be the 10th and lowest level in the Italian football league system. Each individual league winner within the Terza Categoria level progresses to their closest regional league in the Seconda...
club US Piavon, playing until the age of 43.
Family
Zigoni has four children; one of them, GianmarcoGianmarco Zigoni
Gianmarco Zigoni is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Avellino on loan from A.C. Milan.- Early years :...
, an AC Milan player; has later become a footballer too and made his debut with Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
's Treviso
Treviso F.B.C. 1993
Football Club Treviso is an Italian football club based in Treviso. The club was formed in 1909, and refounded in 1993 and in 2009. The club currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.Treviso's official colours are light blue and white.-History:...
in January 2009, also scoring a goal in his first professional match.