Giuseppe Bergomi (born 22 December 1963 in Milan) is a former Italian footballer, who spent his entire career at Internazionale.

Equally at ease as a centre or right back, he was also a key member of the Italian national team in the 1980s and 1990s. He is affectionately referred to as "Lo zio" ("the uncle") because of the impressive moustache he wore, even as a 18-year old in the 1982 World Cup. Also considered one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game, he was also dubbed "Il Capitano" ("the captain").

[edit] Football career

Bergomi made his club debut in the 1980–81 season, at the age of 17. The 19 seasons he went on to spend with Inter were often in the shadow of A.C. Milan, as he only won the scudetto once, in 1989 (he did win the UEFA Cup on three occasions). For a moment in his career, he held the records for both the most appearances in European competition by an Italian player and the most Milan derbies played, both broken by Paolo Maldini.^[1][2]

With the national team, Bergomi won the 1982 FIFA World Cup, and also played in the 1986 and 1990 campaigns, as well as UEFA Euro 1988. After being sent off in a match against Norway in an Euro 1992 qualifier, Bergomi spent years without getting a callback to the Azzurri, but received a surprise recall for the 1998 World Cup, at nearly 35,^[3] after playing 28 times in the league and leading the Nerazzurri to the UEFA Cup - his third and last.

He retired in 1999 at almost 36, with a total of 81 appearances for his country, subsequently working as a football pundit for Italian satellite television Sky Italia, and commented Italy's matches in the 2006 FIFA World Cup together with Fabio Caressa.

Bergomi was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.^[4]

[edit] Club statistics

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

• Serie A: 1988–89
• Coppa Italia: 1981–82
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1989
• UEFA Cup: 1990–91, 1993–94, 1997–98

[edit] Country

• FIFA World Cup: 1982; Third place 1990

[edit] See also

• List of one-club men

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• National team data (Italian)
• NationalFootballTeams data

Italy squads v • d • e Italy squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup Winners (3rd Title) 1 Zoff • 2 Baresi • 3 Bergomi • 4 Cabrini • 5 Collovati • 6 Gentile • 7 Scirea • 8 Vierchowod • 9 Antognoni • 10 Dossena • 11 Marini • 12 Bordon • 13 Oriali • 14 Tardelli • 15 Causio • 16 Conti • 17 Massaro • 18 Altobelli • 19 Graziani • 20 Rossi • 21 Selvaggi • 22 Galli • Coach: Bearzot v • d • e Italy squad – 1986 FIFA World Cup 1 Galli • 2 Bergomi • 3 Cabrini • 4 Collovati • 5 Nela • 6 Scirea • 7 Tricella • 8 Vierchowod • 9 Ancelotti • 10 Bagni • 11 Baresi • 12 Tancredi • 13 De Napoli • 14 Di Gennaro • 15 Tardelli • 16 Conti • 17 Vialli • 18 Altobelli • 19 Galderisi • 20 Rossi • 21 Serena • 22 Zenga • Coach: Bearzot v • d • e Italy squad – UEFA Euro 1988 semi-finalists 1 Zenga • 2 Baresi • 3 Bergomi • 4 Cravero • 5 Ferrara • 6 Ferri • 7 Francini • 8 Maldini • 9 Ancelotti • 10 De Agostini • 11 De Napoli • 12 Tacconi • 13 Fusi • 14 Giannini • 15 Romano • 16 Altobelli • 17 Donadoni • 18 Mancini • 19 Rizzitelli • 20 Vialli • Coach: Vicini v • d • e Italy squad – 1990 FIFA World Cup Third Place 1 Zenga • 2 Baresi • 3 Bergomi • 4 De Agostini • 5 Ferrara • 6 Ferri • 7 Maldini • 8 Vierchowod • 9 Ancelotti • 10 Berti • 11 De Napoli • 12 Tacconi • 13 Giannini • 14 Marocchi • 15 Baggio • 16 Carnevale • 17 Donadoni • 18 Mancini • 19 Schillaci • 20 Serena • 21 Vialli • 22 Pagliuca • Coach: Vicini v • d • e Italy squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Toldo • 2 Bergomi • 3 P. Maldini • 4 Cannavaro • 5 Costacurta • 6 Nesta • 7 Pessotto • 8 Torricelli • 9 Albertini • 10 Del Piero • 11 D. Baggio • 12 Pagliuca • 13 Cois • 14 Di Biagio • 15 Di Livio • 16 Di Matteo • 17 Moriero • 18 R. Baggio • 19 Inzaghi • 20 Chiesa • 21 Vieri • 22 Buffon • Coach: C. Maldini