Bruno Conti

Bruno Conti (Italian pronunciation: [ˈbruːno ˈkonti]; born 13 March 1955) is an Italian football manager and former player. He coached Serie A club Roma from 14 March 2005 to 30 June 2005; he is currently head of the club's youth sector.[2] Throughout his playing career, he was usually deployed as a winger, and also previously played for Roma, where he spent his entire club career, aside from two season-long loan spells with Genoa in the 1970s. He is considered by many in the sport to be one of the greatest Italian players of all time in his position. Nicknamed "The Mayor of Rome", he was an important figure in the club's history, and won a league title as well as five Coppa Italia titles during his time in the Italian capital. At international level, he was notably a member of Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup winning team, and also took part at the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

Bruno Conti
Italian national team that played against Argentina in Spain in 1982. The players are Zoff, Antognoni, Scirea, Graziani, Collovati and Gentile; Rossi, Conti, Cabrini, Oriali and Tardelli.
Personal information
Full name Bruno Conti
Date of birth (1955-03-13) 13 March 1955[1]
Place of birth Nettuno, Italy
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Playing position(s) Winger
Club information
Current team
 Roma (Director of Youth Sector)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1991 Roma 304 (37)
1975–1976 → Genoa (loan) 36 (3)
1978–1979 → Genoa (loan) 32 (1)
Total 372 (41)
National team
1980–1986 Italy 47 (5)
Teams managed
1991–1992 Roma (Berretti)
1992–1993 Roma (Primavera)
2005 Roma (caretaker)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early life

A native of Nettuno, a comune in the province of Rome, Conti is one of seven children and was a keen baseball player in his youth.[3][4] His father Andrea was a bricklayer.[5]

Club career

Conti spent his entire career, aside from two year-long loan spells at Genoa in Serie B during the 1975–76 (during which he won the Serie B title) and the 1978–79 seasons, at Roma. He had initially been a member of the club's youth squad between 1972 and 1974, eventually making his senior club and Serie A debut on 10 February 1974, in a 0–0 home draw against Torino, during the 1973–74 Season, under Nils Liedholm, at the age of 19. As a youngster, he had been overlooked by scouts during trials with several professional clubs, including Roma manager Helenio Herrera, who felt that his physique would not allow him to succeed at the top level, despite his talent.[6][7]

During his time with the Roma, Conti famously wore the number 7 shirt, and he became an important figure with the club on the right wing, as he won the Scudetto during the 1982–83 season and the Coppa Italia five times between 1979 and 1991. He played a key role in helping Roma to reach the 1984 European Cup Final, where they were defeated on penalties by Liverpool, with Conti missing his penalty in the shootout. He also helped Roma to reach the 1991 UEFA Cup Final, during his final season with the club, also winning his final Coppa Italia that season.[6][7]

Due to his performances for Roma throughout his club career, Conti was given the nickname: "The Mayor of Rome".[8] He was one of the eleven members to be inducted into the A.S. Roma Hall of Fame in 2012.[9]

International career

Conti made his senior international debut for Italy on 11 October 1980, in a 2–0 win against Luxembourg. He scored his first goal for Italy in a 2–0 home win against Yugoslavia, in Turin, on 15 November 1980 during their 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. Upon becoming a regular member of the Italian national side, he was often regarded as the heir of his more experienced teammate, Causio, due to their similar role and playing style.[7]

Conti was part of the Italian national side that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain, featuring in every match of the tournament, and scoring a goal in Italy's first round draw against Peru. In the final against West Germany, despite being booked after 31 minutes, he was a central figure in Italy's second goal that was scored by Marco Tardelli, and he single-handedly created Italy's third goal by breaking down the right side from the half-way line through the German defence, and crossing the ball to Alessandro Altobelli, who scored from the top of the box after 81 minutes. He also won a penalty for Italy during the match, which Cabrini failed to convert, however. The Italians won the final game 3–1 and they were awarded their third World Cup title.[6][10][11] Conti was elected to be part of the team of the tournament for his performances. Due to his pace, flair, creativity, influence, and technical ability, Conti was given the nickname "Mara-Zico" throughout the World Cup (a reference to the players Maradona and Zico); at the conclusion of the tournament, Pelé stated that he believed that Conti had been the best player of the tournament, and that he was one of the best players in the world.[12]

Conti continued to be an important member of the Italian squad throughout the 1980s, although the team failed to qualify for the 1984 European Championship. Conti took part with Italy at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, playing in every match; the Italians were eliminated in the round of 16. He retired from international football after the tournament, following manager Enzo Bearzot's departure from the national team. In total, he managed 5 goals in 47 appearances for Italy between 1980 and 1986.[7][13]

Post-retirement

After retiring, Conti remained at Roma as a member of the youth sector's coaching staff. Following the departure of coach Luigi Delneri, he moved up from his position as head of the club's youth teams to first team coach during the 2004–05 season. Conti did not possess a coaching licence, but was a respected figure at the club, and at the time, World Cup winners, were exempted from taking the coaching exams needed to obtain an official Serie A coaching licence.[14] He led Roma to the Coppa Italia final and to a UEFA Cup berth.[15] His short term role as caretaker manager finished when Roma appointed Luciano Spalletti as coach.[16]

Conti later became Technical Director (Direttore tecnico)[17] and is currently in charge of the Youth Sector (Responsabile del Settore Giovanile).[2]

Conti is featured in the football video game FIFA 14's Classic XI – a multi-national all-star team, along with compatriots Giacinto Facchetti, Gianni Rivera, and Franco Baresi.[18]

Style of play

Normally a winger in midfield or in the offensive line, Conti was among the best players in the world during his prime, and is regarded as one of Italy's greatest wingers, and by some, even as Italy's best right winger ever. Despite being left footed, he was capable of playing on either flank, and also in the centre as an attacking midfielder, although he was usually deployed on the right as a wide midfielder. A diminutive winger, with a slender physique, he was a quick, agile, dynamic, creative, and hard-working player, with excellent technical ability, who was renowned for his pace, outstanding dribbling skills, vision, passing, and crossing ability, which allowed to create chances for his teammates, and made him an excellent assist provider, while also enabling him to function as a playmaker. Due to his significant speed, stamina, control, flair, and his ability with either foot, he was capable of beating players on the run, as well as during one on one situations, with feints; known for his tactical intelligence, he also had an excellent positional sense, and he excelled at making attacking runs down the wing to lose his markers and deliver balls into the area to his teammates. Despite not being particularly prolific in front of goal throughout his career, in part due to his more creative role in his team, he also possessed a powerful and accurate shot from distance with either foot. A precocious talent in his youth, Conti later established himself as one of the greatest Italian players of his generation, and is regarded as one of Roma's best ever players.[6][7][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]

Personal life

Conti and his wife Laura have two sons, Daniele and Andrea, both former professional footballers.[17]

Honours

Club
Genoa[27]
Roma[7][27]

International
Italy[27]

Individual
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References
  1. "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - Bruno CONTI". FIFA.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  2. "Bruno Conti". asroma.it. 3 July 2013.
  3. "Casalotti, l'appello di Padre Federico a Bruno Conti: "Torna a trovarci"" (in Italian). Il Messaggero. 22 December 2013.
  4. "Conti: "Ero una promessa del baseball, prima di dedicarmi al calcio"" (in Italian). 1 September 2008.
  5. "L'orgoglio dei Conti, papà Bruno scrive a Daniele "Onori la nostra famiglia, dentro e fuori il campo"". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). 13 November 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  6. "Bruno Conti". A.S. Roma. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  7. Marino Bortoletti. "CONTI, Bruno" (in Italian). Treccani (Enciclopedia dello Sport, 2002). Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  8. "Bruno Conti: "Quando Eto'o venne a Roma…"" (in Italian). Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  9. "Hall of Fame: gli undici eletti della Classe 2012" (in Italian). A.S. Roma.it. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  10. Molinaro, John. "1982 World Cup: Rossi to the resuce for Italy". cbc.ca. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  11. Glanville, Brian (2014). The Story of the World Cup: 2014: The Essential Companion to Brazil 2014. Faber and Faber. ISBN 9780571312542.
  12. Piccioni, Valerio (17 February 2011). "Essere Bruno Conti Eccome come si fa". gazzetta.it (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  13. "Nazionale in cifre: Conti, Bruno". figc.it (in Italian). FIGC. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  14. "Calcio, via Del Neri la Roma a Bruno Conti" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 14 March 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  15. "La Roma risorge a Udine, vale la finale la prima vittoria di Bruno Conti". La Repubblica. 19 May 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  16. "Roma, Conti resta: Si occuperà delle giovanili" (in Italian). Calciomercato. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  17. "Conti: "Soffriamo insieme"" (in Italian). Gazetta dello Sport. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  18. "FIFA 14 Classic XI". fifa-almanac.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  19. "Legend of Calcio: Bruno Conti". Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  20. "Gianni Brera: Bruno Conti, un gatto con il gomitolo" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  21. "Scatti, dribbling e fantasia: è tornata l'ala destra" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  22. Mario Sconcerti (11 January 2017). "Da Buffon a Riva, il gioco infinito della squadra ideale" (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  23. "Roma 1982/83: Cuore Giallorosso" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  24. "Vierchowod uomo in più, Nappy jolly" (in Italian). La Stampa. 10 May 1983. p. 20. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  25. Enrico Currò (24 January 1998). "'Io, gregario di Ronaldo ripudiato dalla Roma'" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  26. "Essere Bruno Conti: il libro sul più "grande" di Roma" (in Italian). sport.sky.it. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  27. "Bruno Conti". Eurosport. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  28. "FIFA World Cup Awards: All-Star Team". Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  29. "Del Piero, Gullit, Conti and seven other legends enter the Italian Football Hall of Fame". vivoazzurro.it. 5 December 2017.
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