I have always loved everything about Italy. The culture, the cuisine, the history, the music… and of course, the football.
Italy has a long list of insanely talented footballers but it was the golden era of the 90’s that captivated me the most.
The list of players I admired is endless but one man stood above all else in my eyes and that was Fabrizio Ravanelli. Instantly recognizable, ‘Penna Bianca’, or ‘The White Feather’ as he became affectionately known, displayed everything I loved about the beautiful game - incredible work rate, raw passion, hunger, brute strength, bravery, a short fuse, sheer desire to win and not only was he a great goalscorer but he was a scorer of great goals! As a young kid myself at the time, I experimented with different playing positions and I genuinely loved them all. As a goalkeeper I modeled my style on The Great Dane Peter Schmeichel, as a midfielder I was my fellow compatriot Roy Keane and as a striker I was Fabrizio Ravanelli. I’m naturally right footed but I became equally as confident on my left because I practiced and practiced in an effort to match the mighty Italian. I simply loved the guy! Fabrizio would make guys happy to turn grey if it meant they’d look anything like him! I wore my shirts like him and had a sweatband on my left wrist. I even mimicked his habit of overlapping his two fingers when he ran. It’s amazing the things we pay attention to when we look up to someone.
Born in Perugia, Fabrizio began and finished his playing career with his hometown club but he launched onto the world stage in 1992 when he signed for Turin giants Juventus. I often thought that the really great teams should have 4 great strikers so that they could rotate and keep a team fresh but along with Ravanelli, Juve had a phenomenal array of talent at their disposal. Iconic names such as Roberto Baggio, Pierluigi Casiraghi, Gianluca Vialli, Paolo Di Canio, Andreas Moller and Alessandro Del Piero. The competition for a place in the starting XI was fierce but Fabrizio was never one to shy away from a challenge and during the 1994/95 season he was instrumental to the clubs league and cup double success. This came after claiming the UEFA Cup the season before.
The following season (1995/96) Juventus lifted the holy grail of club football, the UEFA Champions League. Fabrizio scored the most important goal of his incredible career against Ajax in the 13th minute of the final. A goal from a seemingly impossible angle and with his supposedly weaker right foot. Ajax equalized through Jari Litmanen in the 41st minute and so it would remain for the remainder of the match. Extra time could not separate the two teams which meant the destiny of the of European Cup lay at the mercy of the dreaded penalty shootout.
In what turned out to be captain Gianluca Vialli and Fabrizio Ravanelli’s last ever game for The Old Lady, both men bowed out in spectacular fashion - as Kings of Europe. It was a fitting end to their wonderful service to the club.
That summer, Ravanelli represented Italy at Euro ‘96. The tournament took place in England - a country that would become far more familiar in the coming months. The Azzurri surprisingly crashed out at the group stages of the tournament but Ravanelli played a crucial part in the qualifying campaign. In fact, I am the proud owner of the actual shirt he wore away to Ukraine in the 1995 clash. More about that, later.
Italy’s great loss was England’s great gain as the dynamic duo of Ravanelli and Vialli headed for the Premier League. Vialli’s next destination would be the blue of Chelsea. I was gutted Ravanelli wasn’t headed to my beloved Manchester United even though many people don’t know - it almost happened one year later! Considering we (United) finished 2nd in the league in 1997/98, I cannot help but believe Fabrizio would have made the difference for us that year! In the end, I was just incredibly excited at the prospect of seeing him perform week in and week out in the Premier League. Former United hero Bryan Robson was the man to land Fabrizio’s signature in a shock move to Middlesbrough. It was a massive statement of intent by the club. A club that would capture the hearts of millions of fans over the coming season.
The White Feather made a statement of his own on the opening day, netting a hat-trick on his Premiership debut against Liverpool in a thrilling 3-3 draw. But the fiery Italian and the Brazilan wizard Juninho did not hit the ground running in terms of friendship. The little magician has gone on record of saying;
"We argued a lot on the pitch that day, and it continued in the dressing room. Emerson had to take my side, as I was at a disadvantage due to my size! Luckily for me, no fight happened. I wasn’t jealous of Fabrizio at all – for me, the more top players we had, the better it would be for the team. Robson had to call a meeting between the three of us. Ravanelli still didn’t speak English, so he was arguing in Italian. I didn’t speak it very well, but I could pick out the odd word – whenever I didn’t like what he’d said, I confronted him in Bryan’s room. Although it was tense, we cleared everything up and our partnership clicked after that. Ravanelli was such a clever forward, moving between the lines, which perfectly suited my playing style to carry the ball from midfield and wait for the right moment to assist him. Arguments are a normal occurrence in football when they involve ambitious players, like both of us were. That’s why I enjoyed working under Bryan so much – he brought in those characters who were so demanding with each other. No one wanted to lose a thing and we had a great team spirit”.
-(Juninho in a 2020 interview with Teesside Live).
The Boro were simply irresistible to watch all campaign. Free flowing attacking football and scoring for fun. Ravanelli and Juninho formed a breathtaking partnership that saw the Teessiders reach two cup finals and Ravanelli bag 31 goals. An astonishing record that any league champion striker would be proud of but sadly, Boro’s attacking football was not without its problems defensively. They conceded 60 goals during their 38 league games and finished 19th in the table, confirming their relegation. On top of that, they lost both cup finals to finish the season empty handed. It really was a cruel blow. They deserved so much more… but sadly you don’t always get what you deserve in football. I think if you ask any Middlesbrough player, they will all agree that the hardest part was the fact that in December 1996, Boro spoke to the Premier League board about a virus that was rapidly spreading throughout their squad. Between the virus and other injuries, Middlesbrough had 23 players unavailable and so they requested to have their upcoming fixture with Blackburn Rovers postponed. The Premier League disagreed, fined Boro £50,000 and docked the club 3 points. Considering that they lacked 2 points come the final day to stay in the Premier League, that really was the bitterest of pills to swallow. Even now in the year 2020, I personally cannot help but think of Middlesbrough’s appeal to have a game postponed due to a wide-spread virus… kind of ironic when we think of the way the entire world, not just football, stood still this year in a similar, yet, on a much larger scale.
Following Middlebrough’s relegation, the teesside club lost many of their star players. Juninho signed for Atletico Madrid, while Ravanelli moved to the French Ligue 1 side Marseille. In France, Ravanelli began competing for league titles again but narrowly missed out finishing in 2nd place, only one point adrift of Champions Bordeaux. 2nd place did however, see Ravanelli back playing Champions League football the following season.
In January 2000, Ravanelli returned to Italy and winning ways by going on to win another Scudetto title, plus the Coppa Italia and the SuperCoppa Italiana - this time with Lazio.
With fond memories of the Premiership still in the back of his mind, Fabrizio was then brought back to England in 2001 by the late great Jim Smith at Derby County. It was an audacious attempt to save the Rams from relegation. Ravanelli was won over by Smith’s genuine and honest personality and looked forward to teaming up with his fellow countryman Stefano Eranio. Sadly the task at hand was much bigger than the marquee signing of Fabrizio Ravanelli and Derby County were put to the sword after losing 7 of their final 8 games.
Ravanelli stayed with Derby in an effort to claw their way back to the Premier League the following season but Derby’s rapidly increasing debt ultimately forced the parting of ways. A short stint followed at Dundee in Scotland but unfortunately Dundee appeared to have made that common mistake we’ve all been guilty of at one point or another - making a lavish purchase before checking their bank balance. The relationship only lasted 6 games before the club went into administration and offloaded their highest earners - first on the hit list was of course Fabrizio. Just 6 games… but in style true to the great man, he netted 3 goals with a stunning 7 minute hat-trick in a League Cup tie vs Clyde.
At 35 and out of contract, Fabrizio answered the call to come home. His glittering career had come full circle as he ventured back to where it all began, his hometown club - Perugia. In what can only be described as an ‘eventful’ season on and off the pitch, Perugia were relegated at the end of the season. Ravanelli continued to bang in the goals, however, scoring against Juventus, AS Roma and Siena, among others.
Fabrizio hung up his boots in 2005, calling time on his illustrious career. He left behind a legacy that will live on for eternity. His work rate, his passion and his love for the beautiful game is etched in the hearts of football fans all over the world. Whether he scored in a cup final or the referee gave a harsh decision against him, you’d be forgiven for not seeing the difference in his reaction as he bolted down the pitch with an explosion of emotions, almost like a mad man possessed. He wore his heart on his sleeve and we truly loved him for it. He lived the dreams of millions of fans worldwide and we shared his passion for the sport he was simply destined to play. He wowed and entertained the fans no end and cemented his place among the all time greats.
A man I always admired. A man I now proudly call ‘my friend’.
Grazie per l'ispirazione Fabrizio.
Ravanelli returned to winning ways in his native Italy, this time with Lazio.
The painting I so proudly created for my dear friend.
The White Feather was instrumental to Juve’s double winning success.
Fabrizio’s swansong at Juventus was to score in the 1996 final and to conquer Europe.
Ravanelli representing his country at the 1996 European Championships in England.
Sheer strength. Multiple Chelsea players do their best to contain the Italian
Little and large. A dream partnership that tore defenses apart.
Ravanelli always delivered on the big occasion. Here is scoring in the 1997 Coca Cola Cup final. The game went to a replay which Leicester City eventually won.
Fabrizio Ravanelli has always truly appreciated his fans. A feeling that is rightfully reciprocated.
Following Boro’s relegation, Ravanelli signed for Marseille, followed by a transfer to Lazio where he enjoyed great success.
Jim Smith convinced Rav to sign for Derby, while his trademark celebration was somewhat appropriate for what happened at Dundee.
Coming full circle. Starting and finishing his pro career with hometown club Perugia.
Few played with the same raw passion as Ravanelli.
Ravanelli has tasted management since his retirement and has gone on record saying he would love to manage Middlesbrough one day.
A closer look at my work for Fabrizio.
Me with my treasured collection of signed shirts, all of which bear a personal message from the great man himself.
Prized possessions. All personally signed by a man I always admired. A man I can now proudly call my friend.