Franco Causio

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Franco Causio
Franco Causio
Personal information
Full name Franco Causio
Date of birth (1949-02-01) 1 February 1949 (age 75)
Place of birth Lecce, Italy
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Right winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1965 Lecce 3 (0)
1965–1966 Sambenedettese 13 (0)
1966–1968 Juventus 1 (0)
1968–1969 Reggina 30 (5)
1969–1970 Palermo 22 (3)
1970–1981 Juventus 304 (49)
1981–1984 Udinese 83 (11)
1984–1985 Inter 24 (0)
1985–1986 Lecce 26 (3)
1986–1988 Triestina 64 (5)
Total 570 (76)
International career
1972–1983 Italy 63 (6)
Medal record
Representing  Italy
FIFA World Cup
Winner 1982 Spain
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Franco Causio (Italian pronunciation: [ˈfraŋko ˈkauzjo]; born 1 February 1949) is an Italian former professional footballer who won the 1982 FIFA World Cup and came through the ranks of his hometown club Lecce before making his name at Juventus for many years in the 1970s and 1980s. Regarded as one of Italy's greatest ever wingers, throughout his career, he was given the nickname "The Baron",[1] because of his stylish moves on the pitch, as well as his well-educated upbringing, and his fair attitude in life.

Biography[edit]

Causio was born in Lecce, Apulia, and moved to Juventus when he was 17.

Club career[edit]

Causio (right) with Juventus in 1973, against McGovern of Derby County (left), during the semifinal round of the European Cup.

After some years on loan in Serie B (playing in Reggina and Palermo), he returned to Juventus in 1970. For 11 years he wore the number 7 jersey for Juventus, and played alongside notable players such as Roberto Bettega, Roberto Boninsegna, Pietro Anastasi, Claudio Gentile, Marco Tardelli, Dino Zoff, Gaetano Scirea and Antonio Cabrini. During a highly successful period with the club, he won the scudetto six times, as well as winning a Coppa Italia, and an UEFA Cup. He also reached the European Cup final with Juventus during the 1972–73 season, as well as the Intercontinental Cup final that same year, narrowly missing out on a treble with the club, following their defeat in the Coppa Italia final that season, despite their Serie A title. His best finish in the European Cup Winners' Cup was during the 1979–80 season, when Juventus reached the semi-finals of the tournament.

Immediately after winning the Scudetto for the sixth time in his final season with Juventus, he moved to Udinese in 1981, where he played for three years, teaming up with Brazil national team star player Zico. Following his time at Udinese he played for Inter, and then joined his local town's football team, Lecce, in its debut in Serie A (1985–86). He finished his career playing for Serie B team Triestina at the age of 39.[2]

International career[edit]

Causio made his debut with the Italy national team on 29 April 1972 in a 0–0 draw against Belgium, in a UEFA Euro 1972 qualifying match. He was in the Italian squad at the 1974 World Cup, and at the 1978 World Cup, where the Italians finished in fourth place after reaching the semi-final. He also represented Italy at the 1980 UEFA European Football Championship on home soil, where they once again finished in fourth place after a semi-final finish. He was most notably a member of the Italy squad that won the 1982 World Cup.[3][4] With two red cards throughout his international career, he is Italy's most red carded player ever, alongside Giancarlo Antognoni and Daniele De Rossi.[5]

Style of play[edit]

Regarded as one of the top Italian players of his generation, and one of the best ever Italian players in his position, Causio was usually deployed as a wide midfielder on the right flank, although he was also capable of playing in several other midfield positions, and was also often used as an offensive playmaker, or as a left winger. A creative, nimble, diminutive, and elegant footballer, he was gifted with excellent dribbling skills, and was an accurate crosser of the ball. In addition to his outstanding ball control and technical ability, he was also a fast and hard-working player, who possessed notable stamina, which enabled him to cover the flank effectively, and aid his team defensively as well as offensively.[6][7][8][9][10]

Honours[edit]

Juventus[11]

Italy[11]

Individual

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Palermo All-time". Football Italia. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  2. ^ Roberto Di Maggio (26 March 2005). "Franco Causio - Appearances in Serie A". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  3. ^ Roberto Di Maggio (29 May 2005). "Franco Causio - International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Franco Causio Statistics". FIFA.com. 2 February 2010. Archived from the original on 8 June 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Totale: Espulsioni" [Totals: Sending-offs] (in Italian). Italia1910. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Il consolatore del Sud" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  7. ^ "Scatti, dribbling e fantasia: è tornata l'ala destra" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  8. ^ Mario Sconcerti (11 January 2017). "Da Buffon a Riva, il gioco infinito della squadra ideale" (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  9. ^ "CAUSIO Franco: il Barone Rampante" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. December 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  10. ^ Enrico Currò (24 January 1998). "Io, gregario di Ronaldo ripudiato dalla Roma" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Franco Causio" (in French). Eurosport. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Italy - Footballer of the Year". RSSSF. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
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