Giuseppe Signori

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Signori was born in Alzano Lombardo, Bergamo. As a youngster he played in the youth system of Inter Milan, but was eventually released after being told by the club that he was too short to succeed as a professional. He went on to make his pro debut for Leffe (1984–86), followed by Piacenza (1986–87 and 1988–89), Trento (1987–88), Foggia (1989–92), Lazio (1992–97), Sampdoria (January–June 1998) and Bologna (1998–2004). He then spent two short periods abroad: first in Greece in 2004 with Iraklis; and then in October 2005 he signed a one-year contract with Hungarian team MFC Sopron to end his professional career. The pinnacle of Signori's career came at Lazio, where he was the top goalscorer in Serie A three times, in 1993, 1994, and 1996 (the last title shared with Igor Protti). In 1998, he was sold for an undisclosed figure to Sampdoria after being used more sparingly by the Lazio coach Sven-Göran Eriksson. At Bologna, he helped the club to qualify for the 1998–99 UEFA Cup by winning the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup that season. Bologna went on to reach the semi-finals of both the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia that season. Overall, he scored 188 goals in Italy's top division, the ninth highest in the history of the league, alongside Alessandro Del Piero and Alberto Gilardino. Between 17 May 1992 and 28 February 1993, Signori scored in a record 10 consecutive away games in Serie A (1 in 1991–92 with Foggia, and 9 in 1992–93 with Lazio). Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, he holds the records for most consecutive away games with at least one goal in a single season (9), which he set during the 1992–93 season with Lazio. Signori was not able fully to translate his success to the national level, partly due to differences between him and national coach Arrigo Sacchi, who preferred to play him in the midfield, as a left winger, only using him as a forward on occasion, both as a striker and as a supporting forward. He played for the national side 28 times between 1992 and 1995, scoring seven goals. The only major tournament Signori played in was the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where he appeared six times as Italy finished in second place, but he did not play in the final against Brazil, as Italy were defeated on penalties after a 0–0 draw following extra time. Despite going scoreless during the tournament, he assisted Dino Baggio's match-winning goal against Norway in Italy's second

In Their Own Story

The November night was cold enough to see your breath above the Alpi's south stand. Torino were trailing, the crowd's frustration a low, grinding hum. Signori collected the ball just outside the box, turned once — that slight, almost lazy half-turn — and the stadium went quiet. You could hear the ball leave his left instep, a sharp crack like a whip over wet grass. It arced, dipped, and nestled into the top corner before the keeper's fingers even left the glove. For a heartbeat, nobody moved. Then the Curva Sud detonated. Signori did not celebrate wildly; he simply pointed two fingers at the sky, turned, and jogged back to his position as if the night were ordinary. It was not. It was the night the granata remembered he was still there, still lethal, still theirs.

Reader's Guide

Signori never played for Torino FC. His clubs were Leffe, Piacenza, Trento, Foggia, Lazio, Sampdoria, Bologna, Iraklis, and MFC Sopron. He never played for Ascoli or Fiorentina.

Did You Know?

• Signori scored a hat-trick from free kicks in Serie A for Lazio against Atalanta on 10 April 1994.
• He holds the record for most consecutive away games with at least one goal in a single Serie A season (9), set in 1992–93 with Lazio.
• Signori scored 44 penalties from 52 attempts in Serie A, making him one of the most accurate penalty takers in the league's history.