Gianfranco Zigoni

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Gianfranco Zigoni

| fullname = Gianfranco Cesare Battista Zigoni

| image = Gianfranco Zigoni - 1960s - Juventus FC (cropped).jpg

| caption = Zigoni with Juventus in the 1960s

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|11|25|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Oderzo, Kingdom of Italy

| height = {{height|m=1.76|precision=0}}

| position = Striker, Left winger

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1961–1970

| years2 = 1964–1966

| years3 = 1970–1972

| years4 = 1972–1978

| years5 = 1978–1980

| years6 = 1980–1983

| years7 = 1983–1987

| clubs1 = Juventus

| clubs2 = → Genoa (loan)

| clubs3 = A.S. Roma

| clubs4 = Verona

| clubs5 = Brescia

| clubs6 = Opitergina

| clubs7 = Piavon

| caps1 = 86

| caps2 = 58

| caps3 = 49

| caps4 = 139

| caps5 = 40

| goals1 = 23

| goals2 = 16

| goals3 = 12

| goals4 = 29

| goals5 = 4

| nationalyears1 = 1967

| nationalteam1 = Italy

| nationalcaps1 = 1

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

Gianfranco Zigoni ({{IPA|it|dʒaɱˈfraŋko ddziˈɡoːni}}; born 25 November 1944 in Oderzo) is an Italian former footballer who played as a forward or as a midfielder. Nicknamed Zigogol by his fans, he was a prolific goalscorer, and played for several major Serie A throughout his career in the 1960s and the 1970s, including Juventus and A.S. Roma. He was capable of playing both as a striker and as a left winger.Zigoni was known in particular for his talent and skillful playing style, as well as his 'colourful' personality and 'rebellious' character.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Juventus/Primo_Piano/2008/02_Febbraio/15/zigoni_1502.shtml |title=Zigoni, il genio ribelle con Juve e Roma nel cuore |trans-title=Zigoni, the rebellious genius with Juve and Roma in his heart |publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=Italian |accessdate=28 January 2009 |date=15 February 2008 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-gianfranco-zigoni-212500|title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Gianfranco ZIGONI|publisher=Tutto Juve|language=Italian|author1=Stefano Bedeschi|date=25 November 2014|accessdate=22 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/zigoni_gianfranco.html|title=Zigoni Gianfranco|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=Italian|accessdate=22 November 2015}}

Career

Zigoni started his professional career at the age of 17 with Juventus, playing only four games in three seasons with the bianconeri (scoring one goal), and being successively loaned out to Genoa in 1964. With the rossoblu jersey, he spent a season in the Serie A, with the loan being renewed for another year following Genoa's relegation to Serie B. In 1966 he returned to Juventus, stayed with the bianconeri until 1970 before leaving the club partly due to his strained relationship with then Juve boss Heriberto Herrera. During this period, he also played his only game with the Italian team, a 1–0 win against Romania on 25 June 1967.{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=1092&squadra=9|title=Zigoni, Gianfranco|publisher=FIGC|language=Italian|accessdate=22 November 2015}}

File:1973–74 Hellas Verona.jpg

He successively signed for A.S. Roma, spending two seasons under the guidance of Helenio Herrera and scoring 12 goals with the giallorossi. In 1972, he moved to Verona, quickly becoming a team mainstay and a fan favourite, and playing six seasons with the scaligeri. In 1978, aged 34, he signed for Serie B's Brescia, playing two seasons with the rondinelle mostly as a backup player.

In 1980, he left professional football and returned to his native Oderzo, joining the local Serie D team, Opitergina. In 1983, he joined an offer from Terza Categoria club US Piavon, playing until the age of 43.

Personal life

Zigoni has four children. Of them, Gianmarco, an A.C. Milan player, has later become a footballer and made his debut with Serie B's Treviso in January 2009. He also scoring a goal in his first professional match.{{cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieB/Primo_Piano/2009/01/27/zigoni.shtml |publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=Italian |title=Zigoni lancia Zigoni "Che coppia saremmo stata" |accessdate=2009-01-28 |date=2009-01-27 }}