Enzo Scifo
Belgian midfield maestro who graced four World Cups and won titles across Europe.
Vincenzo "Enzo" Daniele Scifo (born 19 February 1966) is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He has also managed the Belgium national under-21 football team and several Belgian club sides. He played for clubs in Belgium, France and Italy, where he won several domestic titles. At international level, he was a member of the Belgium national team, for which he played in four FIFA World Cups, being one of four Belgian players ever to do so.
Quick Facts
- Full name
- Vincenzo Daniele Scifo
- Born
- 19 February 1966
- Birthplace
- La Louvière, Belgium
- Height
- 1.78 m / 5 ft 10 in
- Position
- Attacking midfielder
- Total caps
- 478
- Total goals
- 121
Lore & Background
Scifo was born in La Louvière, Wallonia, to Italian parents from Sicily. He was nicknamed "Little Pelé" at his local team, where he scored 432 goals in only four seasons as a junior. He joined R.A.A. Louviéroise as a seven-year-old in 1973 and transferred to R.S.C. Anderlecht in 1982. He made his first team debut with Anderlecht in 1983 at age 17, winning three Belgian First Division championships and helping the team to the 1984 UEFA Cup Final.
He moved to Internazionale in 1987 for a record fee of 7.5 billion Lire, then to Bordeaux in 1988, Auxerre in 1989, Torino in 1991, and AS Monaco in 1993, winning the French championship in 1997. He returned to Anderlecht later that year and won his fourth Belgian league title in 1999–2000. He joined Charleroi in 2000 but retired later that season at age 36 after being diagnosed with chronic arthritis. He scored 121 league goals in 478 official matches.
Reader's Guide
Scifo made his senior international debut on 6 June 1984 for Belgium in a 2–2 friendly draw against Hungary. In Belgium's opening group match of UEFA Euro 1984, on 13 June, he helped his team to a 2–0 victory over Yugoslavia; at age 18 years and 115 days, he was the youngest player ever to appear in the finals at the time. He appeared for Belgium in the 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998 World Cups, playing sixteen games in total; he is one of only 14 players to have participated in four World Cups, and one of only three Belgian players ever to do so.
He helped Belgium to the semi-finals of the 1986 edition, playing in all seven matches and scoring two goals as Belgium finished fourth; he was named the best young player of the tournament. In the 1990 World Cup, he scored a notable long-range goal in Belgium's 3–1 first round victory over Uruguay on 17 June, later elected as the tenth greatest FIFA World Cup goal of the Century in a 2002 poll. Belgium were eliminated in the second round in 1990 and 1994.
Scifo retired from international football after Belgium's first round elimination in the 1998 World Cup; he gained eighty-four international caps and scored eighteen goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Enzo Scifo?
Enzo Scifo was a renowned Belgian playmaker who joined AS Monaco in 1993 after playing for Torino. During his four-year tenure at the club, he became an iconic figure known for his technical skill and creativity on the pitch.
What was Enzo Scifo's biggest achievement at Monaco?
His most significant contribution to AS Monaco was helping secure the Division 1 championship during the 1996–97 season. He was instrumental in this domestic success through his leadership and performance from midfield.
Where did Enzo Scifo come from before joining Monaco?
Before arriving in France, Scifo transferred directly from Italian club Torino where he had previously enjoyed success. His move marked a return to top-tier French football after an earlier, less successful stint with Bordeaux.
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