Giovanni Trapattoni
Italian defensive midfielder and legendary manager, winner of league titles in four countries and all major European club competitions with Juventus.
Giovanni Trapattoni (born 17 March 1939), popularly nicknamed "Trap", is an Italian former football manager and player, considered the most successful club coach in Italian football. As a player he spent almost his entire club career with AC Milan, where he won two Serie A league titles (1961–62 and 1967–68), and two European Cups, in 1962–63 and 1968–69. Internationally, he played for Italy, earning 17 caps and being part of the squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Defender
- Affiliation
- AC Milan (1959–1971), Varese (1971–1972)
- Major honour
- Serie A Champion (1961–62, 1967–68 with AC Milan)
- Appearances
- 274 Serie A matches (mostly with AC Milan)
- Key achievement
- Won two European Cups with AC Milan (1962–63, 1968–69)
Lore & Background
Born in Cusano Milanino near Milan, Trapattoni had a successful career as a player with AC Milan, playing either as a central defender or as a defensive midfielder. He won two Serie A titles (1961–1962, 1967–1968) and two European Cups (1962–1963, 1968–1969) during his time with Milan. He was one of the stars of the 1963 European Cup Final against Benfica, successfully man-marking Eusébio in the second half. In the 1969 European Cup Final against Ajax, he drew praise for his defending and ability to nullify Johan Cruyff. After a break from the national team, he moved to Varese for one season and then retired from professional football. He also played for Italy between 1960 and 1964, earning 17 caps and scoring 1 goal, and was part of the squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup and the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Reader's Guide
Trapattoni began coaching at Milan as a youth team coach, then became caretaker coach in 1974. He was head coach for Juventus for ten consecutive years from 1976 to 1986, winning six Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia, the European Cup, Intercontinental Cup, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, European Super Cup, and UEFA Cup. He coached Inter Milan from 1986 to 1991, winning Serie A, Supercoppa Italiana, and UEFA Cup. He returned to Juventus from 1991 to 1994, winning the UEFA Cup. He coached Bayern Munich in 1994–95 and again from 1996 to 1998, winning the Bundesliga, German Cup, and German League Cup. He coached Cagliari in 1995–96 and Fiorentina from 1998 to 2000. He managed the Italy national team from 2000 to 2004, leading them to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2004. He later managed the Republic of Ireland national team, leading them to UEFA Euro 2012.
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