Giacomo Bulgarelli

Giacomo Bulgarelli was born in Portonovo di Medicina (Bologna), on October 24, 1940.

Source Wikipedia

In 1955 he joined the Bologna academy and four years later moved up to the first team squad. He would basically never leave.

He played for Bologna for the following 17 seasons. He played a total of 490 games (392 in A) and scored 56 goals (43 in A). The Rossoblu finished 10th, 5th, 9th, 4th, 4th, 1st, 6th, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 10th, 5th, 11th, 7th, 8th and 7th. He therefore won the Scudetto in 1963-64 under Fulvio Bernardini (in a playoff against Inter 2-0) and the Coppa Italia twice, in 1969-70 under Edmondo Fabbri and in 1973-74 under Bruno Pesaola. Bologna also won the Mitropa Cup in 1961. His other managers include Alfredo Foni, Federico Allasio, Manlio Scopigno briefly, Luis Carniglia and Cesarino Cervellati.

When he finally finished at Bologna in 1975 he then played a final couple of games in the States with the Hartford Bicentennials.

He then retired at 35.

At international level he earned 29 caps for Italy with 7 goals (Switzerland x2, Brazil, Finland, Denmark, Mexico x2) and was captain twice. He took part in two World Cups (1962 and 1966 with 4 appearances and 2 goals) and won the European Championships in 1968 although he made no appearances. He also took part in the 1960 Rome Olympics where Italy finished 4th.

After retiring he became a sporting director with Modena, Pistoiese, Bologna, Catania and Palermo. In the early 1990s he became a football pundit, working for TMC, Stream, Mediaset and RAI. He also collaborated with the sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Bulgarelli was an attacking midfielder. He was an extremely versatile player who could attack and defend and had a good balance between technique, skill and athleticism. In the last years of his career due to injuries he dropped back and played as 'libero".

Bulgarelli is a legend at Bologna. He refused offers from A.C Milan to stay with Bologna. Every home game he was greeted by the main fan leader who through the megaphone shouted, "Onorevole Giacomino, salute"!  He still holds several records; most appearances (490), most Serie A appearances (391) and most capped Bologna player for Italy (29).

Bulgarelli died in Bologna, on February 12, 2009.

Sources

Wikipedia