Giuseppe Signori

Giuseppe Signori

Giuseppe Signori with Lazio in 1994
Personal information
Date of birth	(1968-02-17) 17 February 1968
Place of birth	Alzano Lombardo, Italy
Height
Position(s)	Striker, Left Winger
Youth career
1981–1984	Internazionale
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1984–1986	Leffe	38	(8)
1986–1989	Piacenza	46	(6)
1987–1988	→ Trento (loan)	31	(3)
1989–1992	Foggia	100	(46)
1992–1997	Lazio	152	(117)
1998	Sampdoria	17	(7)
1998–2004	Bologna	142	(70)
2004–2005	Iraklis	5	(0)
2005–2006	Sopron	10	(3)
Total		541	(260)
International career
1992–1995	Italy	28	(7)
Medal record Italy FIFA World Cup USA 1994
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Giuseppe "Beppe" Signori (Italian pronunciation: [dʒuˈzɛppe siɲˈɲori]; born 17 February 1968 in Alzano Lombardo, Bergamo) is a retired Italian football striker, one of the top scorers in Serie A history, although he never received a winners medal in competitive football. He was a fast, left footed striker who was a prolific goalscorer, due to his powerful, accurate shot. During the early part of his career he was used as a left winger, where his technique, accurate crossing, passing, and pace were put to good use. He was also an accurate set piece and penalty-kick taker, and was notable due to his tendency to take set pieces and penalties without taking a run-up.

Signori was sponsored by Diadora and used to squeeze his feet into boots that were too small for him, claiming that this improved his touch and accuracy on the ball. At international level, Signori represented Italy at the 1994 World Cup, where they reached the final.

Club career

As a youngster Signori played in the youth system of Internazionale, but was eventually released after being told by the club that he was too short to succeed as a professional. He went on to make his pro debut for Leffe (1984–86), followed by Piacenza (1986–87 and 1988–89), Trento (1987–88), Foggia (1989–92), Lazio (1992–97), Sampdoria (January–June 1998) and Bologna (1998–2004). He then spent two short periods abroad: first in Greece in 2004 with Iraklis Thessaloniki; and then in October 2005 he signed a one-year contract with Hungarian team MFC Sopron to end his professional career.

The pinnacle of Signori's career came at Lazio, where he was the top goalscorer in Serie A three times, in 1993, 1994, and 1996 (the last title shared with Igor Protti). In 1998 he was sold for an undisclosed figure to Sampdoria after being used more sparingly by the Lazio coach Sven-Göran Eriksson. At Bologna, he helped the club to qualify for the 1998–99 UEFA Cup by winning the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup that season. Bologna went on to reach the semi-final of the UEFA Cup that season. Overall, he scored 188 goals in Italy's top division, the eighth highest in the history of the league.

International career

Signori was not able fully to translate his success to the national level, partly due to differences between him and national coach Arrigo Sacchi, who preferred to play him in the midfield, as a left winger, only using him as a forward on occasion, both as a striker and as a supporting forward. He played for the national side 28 times between 1992 and 1995, scoring seven goals. The only major tournament Signori played in was the 1994 FIFA World Cup, where he appeared six times as Italy finished in second place, but he did not play in the final against Brazil, as Italy were defeated on penalties after a 0–0 draw following extra time. Despite going scoreless during the tournament, he assisted Dino Baggio's match-winning goal against Norway in Italy's second group match, and Roberto Baggio's match-winning goal in the 87th minute of the quarter-final match against Spain.

After retirement

After working as a Serie A football pundit for RAI Radio1, he served as director of football of Ternana Calcio from 2008 to 2009. He is currently undertaking coaching classes in the renowned Coverciano school in Florence, with the aim to become a football manager himself.

Signori was arrested on 1 June 2011 for his involvement in a betting scandal, together with other former players such as Stefano Bettarini and Mauro Bressan. On 9 August 2011, it was announced that he had been banned from any football-related activity for 5 years for his role in alleged match fixing.

Honours

Club

Foggia

• Serie B: 1990–91

Bologna

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1998

International

Italy

• FIFA World Cup (Runner up): 1994

Individual

• Serie A Top Scorer (3): 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96 (shared with Igor Protti)
• Coppa Italia Top Scorer (2): 1992–93, 1997–98
• Guerin d'Oro: 1993
• National Gaetano Scirea Career Achievement Award: 2004