Romeo Benetti
Encyclopedia
Romeo Benetti is a former Italian footballer. Benetti was a spiteful, brutal pioneer of the Italian midfielder enforcer who also took his defensive duties very seriously and epitomised the ultra-defensive, dont-lose-at all-costs attitude of Italy in the early 1970s with a hard tackle and stamina. However despite this, he was still a very technical player and scored more than his fair share of goals.
The wide midfield player started his career in 1968 with Juventus
. However, he joined Sampdoria
on loan for one season. His breakthrough came in the 1970/1971 Serie A
season, when he joined A.C. Milan
. In 1971 he made his debut for Italy
.
In 1976 he returned to Juventus and won the 1977 and 1978 Scudetti. As his career came to an end he transferred to Roma
in 1979.
In 2007 he was voted in at number 30 in a list of footballs 50 greatest hardmen by times online.
He won 55 caps and was member of the Italian squads in FIFA World Cup 1974 and FIFA World Cup 1978. He was voted into Italy's all time world cup team by website PlanetWorldCup.com and its members.
The wide midfield player started his career in 1968 with Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
. However, he joined Sampdoria
U.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
on loan for one season. His breakthrough came in the 1970/1971 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, when he joined A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. In 1971 he made his debut for Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
.
In 1976 he returned to Juventus and won the 1977 and 1978 Scudetti. As his career came to an end he transferred to Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
in 1979.
In 2007 he was voted in at number 30 in a list of footballs 50 greatest hardmen by times online.
He won 55 caps and was member of the Italian squads in FIFA World Cup 1974 and FIFA World Cup 1978. He was voted into Italy's all time world cup team by website PlanetWorldCup.com and its members.
Honours
- Scudetto 1976–77, 1977–78
- Italian Cup 1971–72, 1972–73, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81.
- UEFA Cup Winners Cup 1972–73
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
1976–77 - Scudetto Runners-up 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1980–81
- Italian Cup Runners-up 1970–71, 1974–75,
- UEFA Super Cup Runners-up 1973
- UEFA Cup Winners Cup Runners-up 1973–74
- Fourth place in 1978 World Cup.
- Fourth place in UEFA Euro 1980.