Gianfranco Zigoni is a 77-year-old pensioner. He has understandably slowed down under the burden of years. But, oh boy, if only you could have seen him fifty years ago! The former Juventus, Roma and Hellas Verona maverick remains a legendary figure today. Verona fans, who like to proclaim their madness to anyone who’d listen, celebrate the craziest footballer ever to grace their beloved home Bentegodi. You could write books and make movies about Zigoni. But, for a start, here’s the short version.Gianfranco was born in a family of peasants in northern Italy, but that wasn’t the scene for him. A tall and quick lad, his footballing exploits in his village ensured Juventus came calling when he was only 17. Gianfranco Zigoni, Juventus #Juventus #Juve pic.twitter.com/fSDGPqDNPu— Football Memories (@footballmemorys) February 1, 2021 He was too young and too wild. He only played in four games in his first three seasons and went on a loan to Genoa in 1964. Although he suffered relegation there and then failed to win promotion back to Serie A, he always maintained that it was a period of his career that made him a player.Zigoni returned to Juventus and played four more seasons for them – without ever belonging there. At that time, Juventus’ Paraguayan coach Heriberto Herrera made the club feel “like a concentration camp” in which players enjoyed no freedoms whatsoever. Herrera had even punched Zigoni during the half-time break of Juventus’ Champions Cup game against Olympiacos because his performance wasn’t good enough. He suffered mentally, but he stayed. It was only when the coach asked him to cut his hair that Zigoni decided he’s had enough.When Cinderella gave a fairy tale to Bentegodi: Verona’s iconic goal against Juve was scored by a bootless DaneHe played for Roma for two years and recovered mentally. But other problems started to follow him. Rumours that he used to sleep with Herrera’s wife and was banished from Juventus for his sins started going around. At that time, he started carrying his gun everywhere. Not to shoot anyone but to have fun. His hobby was shooting street lamps when he was bored. After he shot many lightbulbs in the Italian capital, he moved on to Verona and put their streetlamps in danger.Gianfranco Zigoni con la maglia del Verona pic.twitter.com/CcPYPkBpaM— allafacciadelcalcio (@facciacalcio) September 2, 2020 The Gialloblu had only made it to Serie A in 1968, but they were just a mid-table team when Zigoni joined them in 1972. At first, he thought his career had ended with that move. But thankfully, he quickly realized that they love their mad heroes in Verona.”I fell in love with Verona at first sight. I realized that I could become an important player. In the first few matches, I touched the ball, and the applause would roar. So I said to myself that I could be someone there.”##NAJAVA_MECA_6767665##Anecdotes about Zigoni’s time in Verona stretch the limits of imagination and belief. There was that time he lost control of his car on the way home from training and crashed into a ditch. For some reason, he played dead until the paramedics attended to him. Or when he pointed his gun out of the Verona chairman until he got the terms he wanted. Or the time he was suspended and fined six months’ salary for shouting unspeakable obscenities to a linesman. One time, he was left out of the starting eleven, so he sat the entire match on the subs’ bench wearing a white fur coat and a cowboy hat. Later, it turned out that he did that for a bet. Of course, his outfit that day instantly became legendary and added to the myth that was Zigoni.Valcareggi escluse Gianfranco Zigoni dai titolari del Verona. Risultato? Pelliccia di volpe e cappello da cowboy… pic.twitter.com/358uohxZ3y— Calcio Nostalgico (@c_nostalgico) January 19, 2016 In the meantime, he used to sleep until noon while his teammates had to come to training early. He made his young roommate Francesco Guidolin bring him breakfast in bed. Zigo was a divinity in Verona. Why would Hellas put up with his madness? Quite simply, his performances were so good that he could do what he wanted. And the supporters adored him. The love was mutual. Zigoni would later tell the reporters of his affection for the Gialloblu poetically.”I dreamed of dying on the field, wearing the Verona shirt. I imagined the headlines of the newspapers and the collection of signatures to change the name of the stadium – no longer Bentegodi, but Gianfranco Zigoni.”Hellas Verona 1975/76Capitão Sirena, Busatta, Nanni, Catellani, Mascetti, Zigoni, Ginulfi, Maddé, Franzot, Macchi, Adelio Moro. Com um empate por 2×2 em Firenze nos salvamos do rebaixamento na última rodada.#DaiVerona #HVFC #Gialloblu #HellasVerona #Verona 💙💛 pic.twitter.com/TxM8to60kP— Hellas Verona FC Brasil (@BRHellasVerona) February 3, 2021 After six years in Verona, he went on to play for Brescia in 1978. He proved his love for Verona once more in 1980 when his Brescia was due to play Verona in the league. He refused to play against his beloved Veronese. Later in his career, he played for lower-league teams, going strong until the age of 43.Tonight, two former clubs of this larger-than-life character will meet at Bentegodi. And there will be songs by crazy fans about a crazy guy who used to delight their fathers and grandfathers at that very place.SERIE A – ROUND 12SaturdayNapoli – Sassuolo 4-0 (3-0)/Osimhen 4, 19, 77, Kvaratskhelia 36/Lecce – Juventus 0-1 (0-0)/Fagioli 73/Inter – Sampdoria 3-0 (2-0)/De Vrij 21, Barella 44, Correa 73/SundayEmpoli – Atalanta 0-2 (0-1)/Hateboer 32, Lookman 59/Cremonese – Udinese 0-0Spezia – Fiorentina 1-2 (1-1)/Nzola 35 – Milenkovic 14, Cabral 90/Lazio – Salernitana 1-3 (1-0)/Zaccagni 41 – Candreva 51, Fazio 68, Dia 76/Torino – Milan 2-1 (2-0)/Djidji 35, Miranchuk 37 – Messias 67/Monday20:30: (4.70) Verona (3.50) Roma (1.80)22:45: (2.35) Monza (3.35) Bologna (3.40)***odds are subject to change***
