Giovanni Trapattoni

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Lore & Background

A former defensive midfielder, 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. One of the most celebrated managers in football history, Trapattoni is one of only six coaches, alongside Carlo Ancelotti, Ernst Happel, Tomislav Ivić, José Mourinho and Eric Gerets, to have won league titles in four different European countries; in total, Trapattoni has won 10 league titles in Italy, Germany, Portugal and Austria. Alongside Udo Lattek and José Mourinho, he is one of the three coaches to have won all three major European club competitions (European Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup) and the only one to do so with the same club (Juventus). Also, he is the only one to have won all official continental club competitions and the world title, achieving this during his first spell with Juventus. He is one of the rare few to have won the European Cup, the Cup Winners' Cup and Intercontinental Cup as both a player and manager. Regarded as the most famous and consistent disciple of Nereo Rocco, Trapattoni coached his native Italy national team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2004, but could not replicate his club successes with Italy, suffering a controversial early exit in both competitions. Trapattoni led the Republic of Ireland national team to their first European Championships in 24 years, enjoying a successful UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. This followed narrowly missing out on the 2010 FIFA World Cup, after his team were controversially knocked out by France. He is one of only five coaches, alongside Ignacio Trelles, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Roy Hodgson and Dick Advocaat, to have managed 1,000 or more club games and 100 or more national team games.

In Their Own Story

In the 1984–85 season, Trapattoni's Juventus reached the European Cup final against Liverpool. The team had previously suffered a surprising defeat to Hamburg in the 1982–83 Athens final. Under his management, the club achieved a unique feat: winning all official continental club competitions and the world title during his first spell. This period established him as one of only three coaches to win the European Cup, Cup Winners' Cup, and UEFA Cup, distinguished by being the only one to achieve this with a single club.

Reader's Guide

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. After moving to Varese and a successful season, he retired from professional football and embarked on a highly successful managerial career. He began coaching at Milan as a youth team coach, then caretaker coach from 9 April 1974 to 30 June 1974. He was head coach for Juventus for ten consecutive years, from 1 July 1976 to 30 June 1986, winning six Serie A titles, two Coppa Italia, the European Cup in 1984–85, the Intercontinental Cup in 1985, the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1983–84, the European Super Cup in 1984, and the UEFA Cup in 1976–77. He coached Inter Milan from 1986 to 1991, winning the Serie A in 1988–89, the Supercoppa Italiana in 1989 and the UEFA Cup in 1990–91. He then managed Juventus again between 1991 and 1994, winning the UEFA Cup in 1992–93. He coached Bayern Munich in 1994–95, then Cagliari in 1995–96, returning to Bayern from 1996 to 1998, winning the Bundesliga in 1996–97, the German Cup in 1997–98 and the German League Cup in 1997. He coached Fiorentina from 1998 to 2000. In July 2000, he took charge of the Italy national team, leading them to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2004.

Did You Know?

• Trapattoni is one of only three coaches to have won all three major European club competitions (European Cup, European Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup).
• He is the only coach to have won all three major European club competitions with the same club (Juventus).
• He is one of only six coaches to have won league titles in four different European countries.
• He is one of only five coaches to have managed 1,000 or more club games and 100 or more national team games.