Ciro Ferrara

File:Ciro Ferrara - Napoli.jpg during the 1987–88 season]]

A native of Naples, Ferrara began his career with the youth system of hometown club Napoli in 1980. He graduated the primavera youth squad in 1984, and began to earn first team call-ups that season. He made 14 total appearances with the club in his first full season. The following season, Ferrara became a part of the starting XI, and he soon began earning call-ups to the Italy national team, making the squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He also scored one of Napoli's goals as they won the 1989 UEFA Cup final. In addition to the UEFA Cup, with Napoli he won two Serie A titles (in 1986–87 and 1989–90), the 1987 Coppa Italia final, and the 1990 Supercoppa Italiana, the latter over his future team, Juventus.

In the summer of 1994, Ferrara transferred to Turin-based club Juventus under coach Marcello Lippi, and was quickly introduced into the starting XI, making over 40 total appearances for the club in all competitions in his first season, scoring one goal. He is considered one of the best central defenders of his generation, not relinquishing his starting position for the club for the next ten years. He also captained the team from 1995 to 1996 and became one of the most experienced and decorated players of the past two decades, winning eight Serie A championships, six of which were with Juventus, and two with Napoli. Ferrara was also part of two Coppa Italia titles (one with each team), three Supercoppa Italiana titles (two with Juventus, one with Napoli) and several European competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, Intercontinental Cup and European Super Cup). His role as captain, however, was taken over by Alessandro Del Piero in 1996.

Throughout his Juventus career, Ferrara played an important role in the club's backline, with his vast experienced and dominating defensive style. Throughout his 12-year tenure with the club, Ferrara formed impressive defensive partnerships with the likes of Mark Iuliano, Moreno Torricelli, Paolo Montero, Gianluca Pessotto, Lilian Thuram, Alessandro Birindelli, Igor Tudor, Gianluca Zambrotta, Nicola Legrottaglie and Fabio Cannavaro. Juventus had what was considered as the best defence in the world at this time, and teams strongly regretted ever going down a goal to the club, as they knew how hard it would be to score one back for themselves. In the 1996–97 season, one of his peak seasons, he scored 4 goals in 32 Serie A matches, while also being capped eight times internationally. Following the Scudetto-winning season, Ferrara, along with veteran defensive teammates Mark Iuliano and Paolo Montero, ended their Juventus careers. While Montero returned to Uruguay and Iuliano opted to join smaller clubs to conclude his career, Ferrara retired from football altogether in May 2005 at age 38. He made just four Serie A appearances in his final season with the club. Following Juventus' involvement in the 2006 Italian football scandal, "Calciopoli", Juventus' 2004–05 title was later revoked.

In June 1987, Ferrara debuted for the Italian senior squad in a friendly match against Argentina.{{Cite web|first=Nunzio|last=Marrazzo|title=Coronavirus. Asta Cannavaro-Ferrara: la 10 di Maradona venduta a prezzo record|url=https://www.sportcampania.it/coronavirus-asta-cannavaro-ferrara-la-10-di-maradona-venduta-a-prezzo-record/|website=Sport Campania|date=25 April 2020|access-date=17 October 2024|language=it}} In 1988, he was a member of the Italy team that finished in fourth place at the 1988 Summer Olympics after reaching the semi-final.{{Cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=435&squadra=1|title=Nazionale in cifre: Ferrara, Ciro|publisher=Italian Football Federation|language=it|access-date=19 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725063358/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=435&squadra=1|archive-date=25 July 2018|url-status=dead}}

An elegant yet powerful and aggressive defender, Ferrara was known throughout his career for his composure, anticipation, technical skills, ball-playing ability, versatility, and class, which enabled him to play anywhere along the back-line, both in the centre, as a man-marker ("stopper"), or as a full-back, usually on the right flank, and allowed him to adapt to various formations and systems.{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-ciro-ferrara-81418|title=Eroi Bianconeri: Ciro Ferrara|publisher=Tutto Juve|language=it|author=Stefano Bedeschi|access-date=11 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/italy/squad/742351.stm|title=Euro 2000 Profiles: Ciro Ferrara|publisher=BBC|access-date=11 September 2014}} A world-class defender, who is regarded as one of the best Italian centre-backs of his generation,{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1988/09/02/italia-autunno.html|title=L' ITALIA D'AUTUNNO|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=FABRIZIO BOCCA|date=2 September 1988|access-date=29 October 2017}}{{cite news|author=Giorgio Rondelli|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/giugno/05/Vialli_Rambo_Tarzan_Pagliuca_ecco_co_0_95060511464.shtml|title=Vialli Rambo, Tarzan Pagliuca: ecco la nazionale della Forza|work=Corriere della Sera|language=it|page=36|date=5 June 1995}}{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/2016/10/29-16837796/veltroni_intervista_ferrara_io_e_higuain_stesso_destino_storie_diverse/|title=Veltroni intervista Ferrara: "Io e Higuain stesso destino, storie diverse"|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|author1=Walter Veltroni|date=29 October 2016|access-date=29 October 2017}} Welsh former winger Ryan Giggs described Ferrara and his defensive teammate at Juventus Paolo Montero as "...the toughest defenders [he] played against", also adding that they were often very hard in their challenges,{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10468747/Manchester-United-winger-Ryan-Giggs-still-seeks-perfection-as-he-prepares-for-Cardiff-return-ahead-of-40th.html|title=Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs still seeks perfection as he prepares for Cardiff return ahead of 40th|publisher=The Telegraph|author1=Henry Winter|date=22 November 2013|access-date=29 October 2017}} while Polish former midfielder Zbigniew Boniek has stated that Ferrara was the best defender he ever faced.{{cite web|url=http://www.spazionapoli.it/2016/04/30/boniek-ferrara-maradona-calcioitaliano/|title=Ferrara il miglior difensore affrontato, Diego di un altro pianeta. Tempi d'oro i miei, oggi...|publisher=www.spazionapoli.it|language=it|author1=Gennarro Donnarumm|date=30 April 2016|access-date=29 October 2017}} A precocious talent in his youth, Ferrara later established himself as one of the best defenders in the world in his prime. He was considered to be a complete, experienced, consistent, cautious and successful defender, with a good positional sense, who was quick, athletic, strong in the air, a good tackler, and who excelled at reading the game and marking his opponents;{{cite web|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2003/05/28/d30528041033.htm|title=KEY MEN|publisher=The Daily Star|date=28 May 2003|access-date=7 November 2015|archive-date=7 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107085134/http://archive.thedailystar.net/2003/05/28/d30528041033.htm|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-italy-from-albertini-to-zola-1234117.html|title=Football: Italy from Albertini to Zola|work=The Independent|author1=Roy Hodgson|date=4 October 1997|access-date=24 January 2017}} these skills enabled him to be effective in both a man-marking and a zonal marking defensive system.{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,29/articleid,0181_01_2004_0004_0029_1294347/|title=Da Maradona al terzo Millennio la carriera di un campione infinito|publisher=La Stampa|language=it|page=29|date=5 January 2004|access-date=29 October 2017}} In addition to his defensive skills, he was also known for his offensive contribution as a centre-back, and was also capable of playing as a sweeper.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-greatness-has-a-last-flowering-in-baggio-1077893.html|title=Football: Greatness has a last flowering in Baggio|work=The Independent|author1=Richard Williams|date=1 March 1999|access-date=13 February 2017}} In spite of his tenacious playing style, he was also known to be a fair and correct player.{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1987/09/12/fratelli-italia.html|title=FRATELLI D' ITALIA|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|date=12 September 1987|access-date=29 October 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/06/21/ma-io-avrei-scelto-vialli.html|title=MA IO AVREI SCELTO VIALLI|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=GIANNI MINA'|date=21 June 1994|access-date=29 October 2017}} In addition to his ability as a defender, he was also known for his professionalism, leadership, strong personality, and his commanding presence both on the pitch and in the dressing room.{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/euro2000/italy/player/Ferrara.html|title=Profile: Ciro Ferrara|publisher=ESPN FC|author1=Mark Thompson|date=13 July 2000|access-date=22 February 2017}}

Ferrara was part of the Italian technical staff for the 2006 World Cup. After winning the World Cup, he became part of Juventus' staff, joining former club and national teammate Gianluca Pessotto, with Ferrara being named youth system chief (responsabile settore giovanile), dealing mostly with organisational aspects of the Juve academy. In July 2008, Ferrara took the UEFA Pro License coaching badges following training at Coverciano, Florence.{{cite news |url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=111543 |publisher=TuttoMercatoWeb |title=Ferrara e Costacurta promossi a Coverciano |language=it |access-date=19 May 2009 |date=2 July 2008}} After Juventus fired Claudio Ranieri following a string of seven league games without a win in the 2008–09 season, Ferrara was named interim head coach of Juventus on 18 May 2009 for the remaining two weeks of the season, with the goal of maintaining second place in the league table, and the possibility of being appointed on a full-time basis for a longer period. In his two games as caretaker manager, he led Juventus to 3–0 and 2–0 wins over Siena and Lazio respectively, thus ensuring a second-place finish over rivals Milan. Following these results, he emerged as a strong candidate for to take the job permanently for the next season. On 5 June 2009, Juventus formally announced his appointment as manager for 2009–10 season.{{cite news |url=http://www.juventus.it/site/ita/NEWS_newseventi_34A125B2C4CD445788D4E8498A77FEBC.asp |language=it |publisher=Juventus FC |title=Ciro Ferrara è il nuovo allenatore della Juventus |access-date=5 June 2009 |date=5 June 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=653001&cc=5739|title=Juventus unveil Ferrara as new manager|date=5 June 2009|work=ESPN|access-date=4 January 2010|archive-date=10 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510074103/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=653001&cc=5739|url-status=dead}}

During the summer, the team was then strengthened with high-profile signings such as Brazilian internationals Diego and Felipe Melo; 2006 World Cup champions Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Grosso in defence; and young Uruguayan international Martín Cáceres, on loan. After winning his first four league matches, Ferrara's fortunes changed after Juve failed to make the knockout stage of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League following a 4–1 defeat by Bayern Munich at home in a match where a draw would have awarded Juve the qualification to the following phase, despite a promising start to the campaign. Despite a win over Derby d'Italia rivals Internazionale, Juve embarked on a losing streak over the winter, notably against minor teams such as Sicilian side Catania and recently promoted Bari. He came under intense scrutiny from the media and there was much speculation about who would succeed him as manager, especially after he was absent at the traditional meeting of all Serie A managers, coaches and referees in Rome during mid-season and was instead represented by then-Juventus director of sport Alessio Secco and 23-year-old midfielder Claudio Marchisio at the press conference.{{cite news|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/sport/juve_ferrara_bilico_la_russia_libera_hiddink/bettega-ferrara-secco-hiddink-lippi-calcio-juventus-calcio-juventus/12-01-2010/articolo-id=412999-page=1-comments=1|title=Juve, Ferrara in bilico La Russia libera Hiddink|publisher=Il Giornale|language=it|date=12 January 2010}}

Six days later, Juventus were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by Inter 2–1 at the San Siro, leading the board of directors to ultimately sack Ferrara after weeks of speculation regarding his position, replacing him with Alberto Zaccheroni until the end of the season.{{cite news|publisher=Juventus FC |language=it |title=Zaccheroni nuovo allenatore della Juventus |access-date=29 January 2010 |date=29 January 2010 |url=http://www.juventus.it/site/ita/NEWS_newsseriea_24CA3FB221F04352B60AC7DAD8C7913E.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201135019/http://www.juventus.it/site/ita/NEWS_newsseriea_24CA3FB221F04352B60AC7DAD8C7913E.asp |archive-date=1 February 2010}}

On 22 October 2010, Ferrara was announced as new head coach of the Italy under-21 team, with former teammate Angelo Peruzzi his assistant.{{cite news |url=http://www.figc.it/it/204/26242/2010/10/News.shtml |publisher=FIGC.it |language=it |access-date=22 October 2010 |date=22 October 2010 |title=Ferrara è il nuovo tecnico, Peruzzi vice: lunedì in Figc la presentazione }} Under Ferrara, the Azzurrini remain unbeaten in the 2013 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifiers as of June 2012. On 2 July 2012, he left the country's U-21 side to coach newly promoted Serie A side Sampdoria for the 2012–13 season. However, he was sacked on 17 December 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=1907892.html?rss=1907892+Rossi+in+for+Ferrara+at+struggling+Sampdoria|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219175635/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=ita/news/newsid=1907892.html?rss=1907892+Rossi+in+for+Ferrara+at+struggling+Sampdoria|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2012|title=Rossi in for Ferrara at struggling Sampdoria|publisher=UEFA|date=17 December 2012|access-date=17 December 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/28547/sampdoria-sack-ferrara-%E2%80%93-report|title=Sampdoria sack Ferrara – report|publisher=Football Italia|date=17 December 2012|access-date=17 December 2015}}

With his fellow Neapolitan friend and former defensive teammate Fabio Cannavaro, Ferrara has helped establish a charity foundation, Fondazione Cannavaro Ferrara, specialising in the procurement of cancer research equipment and surgery for special cases of cancer for a hospital in their native Naples. The foundation also aims to help at risk youth in Naples.{{cite web|url=http://www.fondazionecannavaroferrara.it/fondatori?lang=en|title=Founders: Fabio Cannavaro & Ciro Ferrara|publisher=Fondazione Cannavaro-Ferrara|access-date=20 May 2015}}

{{updated|23 March 2017}}

Napoli{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/ciro-ferrara_prs323/person.shtml|title=Ciro Ferrara|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=17 December 2015}}

• Serie A: 1986–87, 1989–90
• Coppa Italia: 1986–87
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1990
• UEFA Cup: 1988–89

Juventus

• Serie A: 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2002–03
• Coppa Italia: 1994–95
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1995, 1997, 2002, 2003
• UEFA Champions League: 1995–96[https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1995/matches/ 1995–96 All matches – season at UEFA website]
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999[https://archive.today/20130105025826/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/history/Season=1999/intro.html Official site]
• UEFA Super Cup: 1996[https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec199596.html 1996 UEFA Super Cup] at Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
• Intercontinental Cup: 1996{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toyotamvp.html |title=Toyota Cup - Most Valuable Player of the Match Award |website=RSSSF |access-date=1 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414090937/http://rsssf.com/tablest/toyotamvp.html |archive-date=14 April 2009 |url-status=live}}
• UEFA Champions League: Runner-up: 1996–97,[https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1996/matches/ 1996–97 All matches – season at UEFA website] 1997–98,[https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/seasons/1997/matches/ 1997–98 All matches – season at UEFA website] 2002–03*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120113042857/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2002/matches/all/index.html 2002–03 All matches – season at UEFA website]
• UEFA Cup: Runner-up: 1994–95[https://web.archive.org/web/20120115041339/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=1994/matches/all/index.html 1994–95 All matches UEFA Cup – season at UEFA website]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20051210150333/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UEFACup/history/Season=1994/intro.html Official Site]

Italy Olympic Team

• Summer Olympic Games: semi-finals: 1988

Italy

• UEFA European Championship: Runner-up: 2000[https://web.archive.org/web/20111116162616/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=2000/index.html UEFA Euro 2000] at UEFA.com
• FIFA World Cup: Bronze Medal: 1990[https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1990italy 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy], FIFA.com
• UEFA European Championship: Bronze Medal: 1988[https://web.archive.org/web/20111116162433/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/season=1988/index.html UEFA Euro 1988] at UEFA.com
• Scania 100 Tournament: 1991[https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2016/09/tournaments-part-6-scania-100-1991.html?m=1 Tournaments-Part 6 – Scania 100 (1991)] Soccer Nostalgia. Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Individual

• ESM Team of the Year: 1996–97{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/esm-xi.html |title=ESM XI |website=RSSSF |access-date=13 April 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207144925/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/esm-xi.html |archive-date=7 February 2016}}
• FIFA XI (Reserve): 2000{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|title=FIFA XI´s Matches - Full Info|website=RSSSF|access-date=17 December 2015}}
• Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea": 2003{{cite web|url=http://www.comune.cinisello-balsamo.mi.it/spip.php?article3932|title=Premio Nazionale Carriera Esemplare "Gaetano Scirea": Alba d'Oro|publisher=Comune Cinisello|language=it|access-date=21 January 2015}}
• Pallone d'Argento: 2003{{cite web|url=http://ussi.it/2016/a-florenzi-il-pallone-dargento-coppa-giaime-fiumano/|title=A Florenzi il "Pallone d'Argento" Coppa Giaimè Fiumano|publisher=ussi.it|language=it|date=8 May 2016|access-date=18 May 2016}}

Orders

:*File:Cavaliere OMRI BAR.svg 5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 1991{{cite web|url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=211807 |title=Ferrara Sig. Ciro - Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |website=quirinale.it |language=it |date=30 September 1991 |access-date=19 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404100539/http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=211807 |archive-date=4 April 2015}}

:*File:Ufficiale OMRI BAR.svg 4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2000{{cite web|url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=75986 |title=Ferrara Sig. Ciro - Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana |website=quirinale.it |language=it |date=12 July 2000 |access-date=19 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402233901/http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=75986 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}

Italy

• FIFA World Cup: 2006

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20180725063358/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=435&squadra=1 Profile] on Italian FA website {{in lang|it}}

{{Premio Scirea}}

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Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Naples

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Category:Knights of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Category:Officers of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen