Gabriel Batistuta

Gabriel Omar Batistuta was born in Avellaneda (Santa Fe), Argentina, on February 1, 1969.

Source Wikipedia

As a boy he preferred basketball but was won over by football watching the 1978 World Cup in Argentina.

His youth team was Newells Old Boys from Rosario.

In 1988-89 he went up to the first team squad. It was not an easy year but he played 16 league games and scored 4 goals. The squad included future Lazio, Nestor Sensini (1999-2000). Batistuta played his first and only Copa Libertadores final but lost to Nacional Montevideo. In 1989 he was also briefly loaned to Deportivo Italiano (La Matanza, Buenos Aires).

In 1989-90 he signed for River Plate. He played reguarly and scored 4 goals but then fell out with manager Daniel Passarella and moved to bitter rivals Boca Juniors.

He stayed with Los Xeneizes (Genoese) for a season and a half. He played 47 games and scored 19 goals. He won a Clausura title, a Supercoppa and a Recopa. His managers included Carlos Aimar and Óscar Tabárez.

In 1991 he arrived in Europe and signed for Fiorentina in Serie A. He stayed nine seasons becoming a legend in Florence. He played a total of 333 games and scored 208 goals (152 in A). La Viola finished 12th, 15th (relegated), 1st in B, 10th, 4th, 9th, 5th, 3rd and 7th. In 1996, under Ranieri, Fiorentina won the Coppa Italia (Atalanta 3-0 on aggregate with 2 Batistuta goals) and the Supercoppa (Milan 2-1).

His managers included Sebastiăo Lazaroni briefly, Gigi Radice, Aldo Agroppi, Giancarlo Antognoni briefly, Claudio Ranieri (promotion year plus three more), Alberto Malesani and Giovanni Trapattoni (for two years). The various squads included Lazio connections; Valerio Fiori (1986-93), Fabrizio Di Mauro (1993-94), Paul Okon (1996-99), Enrico Chiesa (2002-03) and Stefano Pioli (manager 2014-16).

In 2000 Batistuta made a surprise move to Roma. Their city rivals Lazio had just won the Scudetto and the Giallorossi splashed out 70 billion lire for Batistuta. Despite knee problems in the second part of the season, he scored 20 league goals and Roma won the title under manager Fabio Capello and then the Supercoppa (Fiorentina 3-0). The following year he only scored 6 league goals and Roma finished 2nd. In January of his third season, after 4 more league goals, he left for Inter. He played a total of 87 games for Roma with 33 goals. He was a success the first year but then physical problems limited him.

He stayed with Inter until June playing 12 league games with 2 goals. The Nerazzurri finished 2nd under Héctor Cúper. The squad included several former Lazio players; Gigi Di Biagio (1988-89), Matías Almeyda (1997-2000), Christian Vieri (1998-99), Sergio Conceiçăo (1998-2000), Hernan Crespo (2000-02) plus future Lazio, Bernardo Corradi (2002-04). At this point Batistuta's body could not enable him to play at top level anymore.

In 2003 Batistuta went for the Arabic experience and joined Al-Arabi in Qatar. He stayed just over a season only playing 21 games but scoring 27 goals. He was top scorer in his first year with 25 league goals but then badly injured his ankle at the beginning of the second and had to stop.

At 36 he then retired.

After retiring he looked after his lands in Reconquista, became a polo player and also worked in television punditry.

In 2010 he was in the staff working for Argentina manager Sergio Batista (his teammate at River Plate). From 2012 to 2013 he worked for Colon de Santa Fe as a link between the club, manager and players. In 2018 he obtained his UEFA coaching license which enables him to train up to Serie C and be assistant in A and B.

For Argentina he won 77 caps with 54 goals. He is the second top scorer, behind Lionel Messi. He took part in three World Cups and scored 10 goals. He won the Copa América in 1991 and 1993 and the Confederations Cup in 1992.

Batistuta was a centre-forward. At 1.85 and 73 kilos he was a physically strong player. He was not overly skillful but he could score goals, often spectacular ones (volleys, bicycle or scissor kicks). He had a powerful shot, an excellent header and he had the natural ability to free himself from his marker. With the power of his shot he was also prolific with freekicks but not so much with penalties (he missed 9 for Fiorentina). He was considered a leader and was a fair player rarely booked or involved in theatrics. He was famous for his goal celebrations which included playing the guitar, firing a machine gun, sending love to his wife via the television cameras, silencing the opposing fans, standing and leaning on the corner flag and more. He also once burst out crying when in 2000 he scored for Roma against his beloved Fiorentina.

In Florence he is a legend. Batigol or Re Leone (Lion King) was captain and is their leading all time Serie A goalscorer with 152 goals (out of 208 total). He has a statue dedicated to him outside the Franchi ground.

Batistuta is considered one of the best forwards of his generation. The World Soccer magazine placed him 23rd best player of the 20th century. No small feat for a boy who battled with his weight and preferred other sports to football.

Sources

Wikipedia