Francesco Morini
{{Short description|Italian footballer (1944–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Francesco Morini
| fullname =
| image = Juventus FC - Enschede, 1971 - F. Morini (cropped).jpg
| caption = Morini in 1971
| birth_date = {{birth date|1944|8|12|df=yes}}
| birth_place = San Giuliano Terme, Tuscany, Italy
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|8|31|1944|8|12|df=yes}}
| death_place = Forte dei Marmi, Tuscany, Italy
| height = 1.85 m
| position = Defender
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 =
| years1 = 1963–1969
| clubs1 = Sampdoria
| caps1 = 161
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1969–1980
| clubs2 = Juventus
| caps2 = 256
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1980
| clubs3 = Toronto Blizzard
| caps3 = 22
| goals3 = 0
| totalcaps = 439
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1973–1975
| nationalteam1 = Italy
| nationalcaps1 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
Francesco Morini ({{IPA|it|franˈtʃesko moˈriːni}}; 12 August 1944 – 31 August 2021) was an Italian professional footballer who played as a defender. He competed for the Italy national team in the 1974 FIFA World Cup{{FIFA player|54527}}{{Cite web|last=Sport|first=Sky|title=È morto Francesco Morini: aveva 77 anni|url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/2021/08/31/francesco-morini-morto|access-date=31 August 2021|website=sport.sky.it|date=31 August 2021 |language=it}} and earned a total of 11 caps. He played for clubs such as Sampdoria and, most notably, Juventus, with which he achieved great success.
After his retirement he worked as Juventus's sporting director for several years.{{cite web|url=http://www.tifosibianconeri.com/forum/topic/113951-francesco-morini-calciatore-e-dirigente/|title=Francesco Morini - Calciatore E Dirigente|date=12 August 2008 |accessdate=28 December 2014}}
Club career
File:Morini Boninsegna 1973-74.jpg, and future Juventus teammate, Roberto Boninsegna.]]
Morini made his Serie A debut for Sampdoria in a 2–0 loss against Roma on 2 February 1964, and in 1969, he was transferred to Juventus.{{cite book|publisher=Panini|title=Almanacco illustrato del calico 1979|year=1979|page=51}} He made 387 appearances in Serie A, as well as 30 in Serie B with Sampdoria during the 1966–67 season, during which he won the title.
During a highly successful domestic and European stint with Juventus, Morini won five Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia during the 1978–79 season, and an UEFA Cup during the 1976–77 season, also reaching the European Cup final during the 1972–73 season, and the semi-final of the European Cup Winners' Cup during the 1979–80 season, his final season at the club. Throughout his professional footballing career as a defender, Morini never scored a goal; although he once appeared to score one during a friendly tournament, it was disallowed. Morini ended his career in Canada with the Toronto Blizzard.{{cite web|url=http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.it/Morini.html|title=Morini Francesco|publisher=Enciclopedia del Calcio|language=Italian|accessdate=28 July 2016}}
International career
Morini made his international debut for the Italy national team in a 1–0 home win over Turkey on 25 February 1973, and was a member of the Italian squad that took part in the 1974 FIFA World Cup. He played for Italy 11 times between 1973 and 1975. Although he was still part of the Italy national side during the mid-70s, he was notably excluded by Enzo Bearzot from the Italian squad that finished in fourth place at the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
Style of play
Morini was a fast, strong, and tenacious centre-back, with good technique, who was known for his tackling ability, as well as his tight marking of opposing forwards. He was given the nickname "Morgan the Pirate" as he excelled as a powerful ball-winner; despite his physical style of play, he was also known for his correct behaviour on the pitch, and he rarely committed aggressive challenges.{{cite web|url=http://ilpalloneracconta.blogspot.ca/2012/08/francesco-morini.html|title=Francesco MORINI|publisher=Il Pallone Racconta|language=Italian|accessdate=28 December 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-francesco-morini-58778|title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Francesco MORINI|publisher=TuttoJuve|language=Italian|author1=Stefano Bedeschi|date=13 August 2013|accessdate=28 July 2016}} On the pitch, he was also well known for his rivalry with Inter forward Roberto Boninsegna, who later became his teammate.{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/roberto-boninsegna_(Enciclopedia-dello-Sport)/|title=BONINSEGNA, Roberto|publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002)|language=Italian|author1=Fabio Monti|accessdate=7 November 2017}}
Personal life
Morini had two sons; one is Jacopo Morini, who is known for his role in the Italian television program "Le Iene", and the other, Andrea, is a singer and guitarist in a band.
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.it/Morini.html Profile] at Enciclopediadelcalcio.it {{in lang|it}}
- [http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=716&squadra=1 Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221045219/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=716&squadra=1 |date=21 February 2014 }} at FIGC.it {{in lang|it}}
{{Italy Squad 1974 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morini, Francesco}}
Category:1974 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Category:Italian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Canada
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:Italy men's international footballers
Category:Juventus FC directors
Category:Toronto Blizzard (1971–1984) players
Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players