Angelo Colombo

{{Infobox football biography

| image =

| caption =

| name = Angelo Colombo

| fullname = Angelo Colombo

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|2|24}}

| birth_place = Mezzago, Italy

| height = 1.77 mhttps://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/oicAAOSw5Oxa8yXX/s-l1600.jpg {{Bare URL image|date=August 2024}}

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1979–1984

| years2 = 1984–1985

| years3 = 1985–1987

| years4 = 1987–1990

| years5 = 1990–1992

| years6 = 1994–1995

| clubs1 = Monza

| clubs2 = Avellino

| clubs3 = Udinese

| clubs4 = Milan

| clubs5 = Bari

| clubs6 = Marconi Stallions

| caps1 = 108

| caps2 = 30

| caps3 = 51

| caps4 = 77

| caps5 = 26

| caps6 = 17

| totalcaps = 309

| goals1 = 4

| goals2 = 6

| goals3 = 1

| goals4 = 7

| goals5 = 2

| goals6 = 2

| totalgoals = 22

| nationalyears1 = 1988

| nationalteam1 = Italy Olympic

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2009

| managerclubs1 = Calcio Montebelluna

| manageryears2 = 2010–2011

| managerclubs2 = Carpenedolo

}}

Angelo Colombo (born 24 February 1961) is an Italian former footballer who played for Milan as a midfielder, and was part of their European Cup victories in 1989 and 1990. He is now a scout for the club.{{cite web|url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/protagonisti/Gioc-Colomboang.html|title=Angelo Colombo|website=magliarossonera.it|language=Italian|accessdate=22 April 2015}}

Club career

Angelo Colombo began his career with the Monza in 1979, first with the youth squad, at the age of 13, and later making his professional debut with the club in Serie B. In 1984, he was acquired by Pierpaolo Marino's Avellino side, and he made his Serie A debut with the club on 16 September 1984, in a 0–0 home draw against Roma.{{cite web|url=http://www.pianeta-calcio.it/?page=vedi_incontri_vip&id=268|title=Angelo Colombo|website=pianeta-calcio.it|language=Italian|accessdate=22 April 2015|archive-date=26 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026084256/http://www.pianeta-calcio.it/?page=vedi_incontri_vip&id=268|url-status=dead}}

The following season, he transferred to Udinese, in 1985, and in 1987, he was bought by Milan, under manager Arrigo Sacchi, making his club debut in the Coppa Italia on 23 August 1987, in a 5–0 win over Bari. He enjoyed a successful three-season spell with Milan, winning the 1987–88 Serie A title, the 1988 Supercoppa Italiana, consecutive European Cups (1988–89 and 1989–90), as well as the 1989 Intercontinental Cup, and the 1989 European Super Cup, with his final appearance coming in Milan's 1–0 victory over Benfica in the 1990 European Cup Final on 23 May; in total he made 115 appearances for the club between 1987 and 1990, scoring 7 goals, all of which came in his 77 Serie A appearances with the club.{{cite web|url=http://luirig.altervista.org/enciclopedia-online/index.php?lemma=Angelo%20Colombo|title=Angelo Colombo – Carriera, Giocatore, Allenatore|website=altervista.org|language=Italian|accessdate=22 April 2015}}

In 1990, he moved to Bari, at the request of Salvemini, to replace Carbone, who had recently been purchased by his former club Milan. In 1992, he left the club, temporarily retiring from football, although in 1994, he returned to football, signing for Australian side Marconi Stallions, with whom he ended his career after the 1994–95 season.

International career

Although he was never capped for the Italian senior side,{{cite web |url=https://storiedicalcio.altervista.org/blog/miraggi-azzurri-11-campioni-senza-nazionale.html |title=Miraggi Azzurri: 11 campioni senza Nazionale |publisher=Storie di Calcio |language=it-IT |date=5 September 2019 |access-date=19 November 2022 }} Colombo played for the Italy Under-21 side at the 1988 Summer Olympics, where they reached the semi-finals, finishing the tournament in fourth place.{{cite web|publisher=Sports Reference|title=Angelo Colombo Biography and Statistics|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/angelo-colombo-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418012548/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/co/angelo-colombo-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2020-04-18}}

Style of play

Colombo was capable of playing both as a wide midfielder on either flank (although he was usually deployed on the right) and in the centre as a defensive midfielder. Although not particularly prolific, talented, or skilful from a technical standpoint, he was known for being a quick, determined, selfless, and energetic team player, who was often involved in the build-up of the team's attacking plays. However, he stood out in particular for his stamina, tenacity, intelligence, attacking movement off the ball, and defensive work-rate, as well as his ball-winning abilities, which made him a key player in Sacchi's legendary Milan side of the late 80s, and which allowed him to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Along with his partner Alberigo Evani on the opposite flank, he was often tasking with covering defensively for the overlapping runs of Milan's attacking full-backs, namely Mauro Tassotti on the right, while his defensive skills also enabled him to form a strong partnership with fellow holding midfielder Frank Rijkaard in midfield. Sacchi himself once even described Colombo as being "tactically more important than Maradona." In addition to his qualities as a player, he also stood out for his long blonde hair.{{cite web |url=https://www.udinese.it/news/memories/accadde-oggi-angelo-colombo |title=Accadde oggi Angelo Colombo |website=www.udinese.it |language=It |access-date=19 November 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://football-italia.net/the-immortals-exclusive-extract-colombos-butler/ |title=The Immortals exclusive extract: Colombo's butler |publisher=Football Italia |date=2 November 2021 |access-date=19 November 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.eurosport.it/calcio/serie-a/2019-2020/il-milan-di-arrigo-sacchi-la-squadra-perfetta-che-incanto-l-europa_sto7708348/story.shtml |title=Il Milan di Arrigo Sacchi, la squadra perfetta che incantò l'Europa |website=Eurosport |language=it |date=20 March 2020 |access-date=19 November 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.90min.com/it/posts/6387767-il-milan-di-arrigo-sacchi-contro-il-barcellona-di-pep-guardiola-chi-e-il-piu-forte |title=Il Milan di Arrigo Sacchi contro il Barcellona di Pep Guardiola: chi è il più forte? |publisher=90min.com |language=it |date=10 June 2019 |access-date=19 November 2022 |archive-date=19 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221119200918/https://www.90min.com/it/posts/6387767-il-milan-di-arrigo-sacchi-contro-il-barcellona-di-pep-guardiola-chi-e-il-piu-forte |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/arrigo-sacchi-il-profeta-di-fusignano-che-ha-rivoluzionato-il-calcio-italiano-dal-grande-milan-alla-nazionale/kk9pt3xpu32f1pjgfx1x896lg |title=Arrigo Sacchi, il 'Profeta di Fusignano' che ha rivoluzionato il calcio italiano: dal grande Milan alla Nazionale |publisher=www.goal.com |language=It |last1=Camedda |first1=Paolo |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=19 November 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/04/19/2011barca-acmilan90s |title=Jonathan Wilson: Barcelona 2011 vs. AC Milan 1990 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |last1=Wilson |first1=Jonathan |date=19 April 2011 |access-date=19 November 2022 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/milan-88-inside-story-sacchis-all-conquering-kings-told-them |title=Milan '88: The inside story of Sacchi's all-conquering kings, as told by them |publisher=fourfourtwo.com |last1=Barker |first1=Matt |date=28 October 2016 |access-date=19 November 2022 }}

Managerial career

After retiring, Colombo coached the Milan youth side for five years, and later became a their co-ordinator for four more years, and subsequently a scout for the team. On 26 January 2009, he signed a contract to coach Montebelluna in Serie D, replacing Gianfranco Borgato, and saving the team from relegation in the play-off against Somma.

In May 2010, he took charge of Carpenedolo during the 2009–10 Lega Pro Second Division play-offs against Villacidrese, which ended with the club's relegation to Serie D at the end of the season. The following season, the team were defeated in the Serie D play-off against Mobilieri Ponsacco, but the team were not relegated to the Eccellenza League, as they were re-drawn. On 30 October 2011, Colombo was sacked, as the team were second last during the 2011–12 Serie D season.{{cite web|url=http://www.bresciaoggi.it/stories/Sport/150550__carpenedolo_ora_tocca_a_colombo/?refresh_ce#|title=Carpendolo: ora tocca a Colombo|website=bresciaoggi.it|language=Italian|author1=Luca Canini|accessdate=22 April 2015}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}