Igor Protti
Encyclopedia
Igor Protti is a former Italian
footballer
. He was a prolific, penalty box striker who became a legend at Livorno
. Like his successor as captain and as chief goalscorer, Cristiano Lucarelli
, his personality prevented him from succeeding at international level.
Protti spent the majority of his career playing for teams in lower divisions, but came to more widespread notice in the 1995–1996 Serie A
season, in which he shared the scoring title with Giuseppe Signori
despite his team, Bari
, being relegated. This achievement led to a move to Lazio
, but Protti's stay with the Rome club was not successful, and was eventually released from his contract.
After a spell at Reggiana
, Protti moved on to Livorno
of Serie C1
, where he rapidly became one of the most popular players in that club's history. He captained and led Livorno to promotion to Serie A
in the 2003–2004 season, before retiring in 2005 after the team had finished a surprising 9th in their first top division campaign in many years. Protti's number 10 was then retired by the club. He has also been given the freedom of the city of Livorno in 2007. During the awarding ceremony, he asked the #10 jersey not to be retired any longer in order to "give anybody back the dream to dress it one day". The number will be reassigned starting from the 2007–08 season
, with Francesco Tavano
wearing the #10 shirt.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He was a prolific, penalty box striker who became a legend at Livorno
A.S. Livorno Calcio
Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio is an Italian football club based in Livorno, Tuscany. The club was formed in 1915 and currently plays in Italian Serie B. The team's colors are dark red or maroon...
. Like his successor as captain and as chief goalscorer, Cristiano Lucarelli
Cristiano Lucarelli
He is a staunch admirer of Che Guevara, whose face is frequently displayed on Livorno fans' banners and T-shirts during matches. This first came to the fore in 1997, when, after scoring for Italy's Under-21 side, he celebrated by pulling his jersey over his face to reveal a shirt bearing the...
, his personality prevented him from succeeding at international level.
Protti spent the majority of his career playing for teams in lower divisions, but came to more widespread notice in the 1995–1996 Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
season, in which he shared the scoring title with Giuseppe Signori
Giuseppe Signori
Giuseppe "Beppe" Signori is a retired Italian football striker, one of the top scorers in Serie A history and widely regarded as one of the best football players to have never received a winners medal in competitive football. He was a fast, left footed striker who was prolific goalscorer...
despite his team, Bari
A.S. Bari
Associazione Sportiva Bari is an Italian football club founded in 1908, they are based in Bari, Apulia and plays in Serie B. The club have spent many seasons bouncing between the top two divisions in Italian football, Serie A and Serie B....
, being relegated. This achievement led to a move to Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
, but Protti's stay with the Rome club was not successful, and was eventually released from his contract.
After a spell at Reggiana
A.C. Reggiana 1919
Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919 is an Italian association football club, based in Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1919 as A.C. Reggiana and refounded in July 2005 as Reggio Emilia F.C., but it was renamed A.C. Reggiana 1919 soon after the start of the 2005–06 season. The...
, Protti moved on to Livorno
A.S. Livorno Calcio
Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio is an Italian football club based in Livorno, Tuscany. The club was formed in 1915 and currently plays in Italian Serie B. The team's colors are dark red or maroon...
of Serie C1
Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
, where he rapidly became one of the most popular players in that club's history. He captained and led Livorno to promotion to Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
in the 2003–2004 season, before retiring in 2005 after the team had finished a surprising 9th in their first top division campaign in many years. Protti's number 10 was then retired by the club. He has also been given the freedom of the city of Livorno in 2007. During the awarding ceremony, he asked the #10 jersey not to be retired any longer in order to "give anybody back the dream to dress it one day". The number will be reassigned starting from the 2007–08 season
Serie A 2007-08
The 2007-08 Serie A football season was the seventy-sixth since its establishment, and started on August 26, 2007 and ended on May 18, 2008. Internazionale successfully defended the championship on the final day of the season, finishing first with 85 points, three ahead of Roma.-Plusvalenze...
, with Francesco Tavano
Francesco Tavano
Francesco "Ciccio" Tavano is an Italian football a striker who currently plays for Empoli of Serie B.- Career :...
wearing the #10 shirt.