Michelangelo Rampulla
Encyclopedia
Michelangelo Rampulla is a former Italian
football goalkeeper
.
, Rampulla joined Cremonese
in 1993 and became a protagonist in the club's rise to the Serie A
league.
He is best remembered for being the first ever goalkeeper to score a goal in the Italian top flight from open play: in the 22nd round of matches of the 1991–92 season on 23 February 1992, his team, Cremonese, fell behind to the home side, Atalanta
, through a first-half penalty by Brazilian striker Carlos Bianchezi
. With his team still trailing in the dying seconds, Rampulla joined his teammates in attack and headed home a corner from the right from close range, thus rescuing a point for his team and stunning the home crowd. However, it was not enough to save them from relegation at the end of the season. He subsequently moved to Juventus
where he was a reserve goalkeeper for the remainder of his career, retiring from active football in 2002.
His goal-scoring feat would be matched by fellow Italian Massimo Taibi
nine years later.
On July 2011 he was announced as new head coach of Serie D
amateurs Derthona.
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...
football goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
Playing career
After a short stint with Sicilian amateurs Pattese followed by three seasons at VareseA.S. Varese 1910
A.S. Varese 1910 is an Italian football club from Varese, founded 22 March 1910. It currently plays in Serie B, ranked one division below Serie A in the Italian football league.-History:...
, Rampulla joined Cremonese
U.S. Cremonese
Unione Sportiva Cremonese is an Italian football club, based in Cremona. The club was founded in 1903. Cremonese played the 2005/2006 season in Serie B, having won Serie C1/A the previous season. However, in the 2005/2006 Serie B campaign, Cremonese came out twenty-first, being therefore relegated...
in 1993 and became a protagonist in the club's rise to 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...
league.
He is best remembered for being the first ever goalkeeper to score a goal in the Italian top flight from open play: in the 22nd round of matches of the 1991–92 season on 23 February 1992, his team, Cremonese, fell behind to the home side, Atalanta
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
, through a first-half penalty by Brazilian striker Carlos Bianchezi
Carlos Alberto Bianchezi
Carlos Alberto Bianchezi is a retired Brazilian footballer who played for Brazilian sides Marília Atlético Clube, Guarani and Palmeiras, as well as in Italy for Atalanta and in Mexico for CF Monterrey.-External links:*...
. With his team still trailing in the dying seconds, Rampulla joined his teammates in attack and headed home a corner from the right from close range, thus rescuing a point for his team and stunning the home crowd. However, it was not enough to save them from relegation at the end of the season. He subsequently moved to 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...
where he was a reserve goalkeeper for the remainder of his career, retiring from active football in 2002.
His goal-scoring feat would be matched by fellow Italian Massimo Taibi
Massimo Taibi
Massimo Taibi is a retired Italian football goalkeeper, who played for several clubs, mostly in Italy's Serie A, B, and C1.-Italy:...
nine years later.
Coaching career
After his retirement, Rampulla accepted to stay at Juventus in the club's backroom staff, serving as goalkeeping coach for most of his time. He parted company with Juventus on October 2010.On July 2011 he was announced as new head coach of 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...
amateurs Derthona.