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Tribute to a Mad Genius: Bobo Vieri

It’s official: Bobo Vieri has retired.

Vieri was a great striker, perhaps even the best in the world when he was at Inter from 1999-2005. He bagged an amazing 103 goals in 144 appearances during that time. He’s been to many clubs since, including stints and Fior and Atalanta, but in due time I’ll think he’ll be remembered for his Inter days.

His time with the Azzurri was nothing to gloss over, either. He scored 23 goals in 49 matches for us. He had 5 goals at the 98 WC and 4 at WC 2002. Injuries were a big problem for him, as they caused him to miss Euro 2000 and Germany 2006, where he likely would have been a World Cup winner had he gone.

I don’t have too much time today (class in an hour) but I did want to get this post up to commemorate him. On the top of his game, he was a truly great striker. Maybe crazy, maybe a bit odd, but there’s no doubting his abilities. I didn’t get to see him play too much, so please leave a tribute in the comments so that we can serve his memory properly.

He hasn’t played since April but only today did he confirm that he no longer has the spark to play.

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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 42 comments.

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By darylisablackbaaaasturdddddddddddddddddd | October 23rd, 2009 at 3:18 pm
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Deleted – Daryl

By Marco | October 23rd, 2009 at 6:50 pm
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jackson should that matter? Cassano should be there regardless.

Alessio, I do agree with you for now, but let’s wait and see paloski is still a bambino.

I reckon that although balotelli has a nack for scoring, if all goes according to plan in his career he will be much more than just a bomber, he’ll probably another baggio if anything – maybe maybe even more skilled, but he seriously needs to get on it if that is going to happen.

By gaetano | October 23rd, 2009 at 10:37 pm
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Vieri was the man. When living in london during the world cup 2002 my only glimpse of hope was this player. Everyone looked shit then including totti. Not a fan of inter as well but man this guy was incredible¡

By gaetano | October 23rd, 2009 at 10:39 pm
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we need a striker at juventus who can use their head to score like him¡¡¡

By Marco | October 24th, 2009 at 11:47 am
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Nevermind yesteryear’s news of Vieri.

I hope some of you are having an opportunity to watch the dynamic duo at work in Cassano – Pazzini and Sampdoria. This team is completely schooling Bolognia right now. It’s completely beautiful to see some of these cassano passes turn into goals. For those who doubt this duo please watch today’s game, it may make you a believer.

By italia2006 | October 24th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
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Marco = it doesn’t matter what Cassano and Pazzini do. Apparently rumor out there is Zarate may play for Italy

By Francesco | October 24th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
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Vieri was quite simply a monster in his prime (hence his ‘il mostro’ nickname). Whenever he was on the pitch for the Azzurri whether it be a qualifier or friendly or World Cup game, you had a feeling he would be on the scoresheet. His record of 23 goals in 49 games for Italy is pretty damn good. His finishing with his left foot was just sublime, he could score any kind of goal. And despite being extremely shy and rarely giving interviews, he loved the night life a little too much and I think that could’ve added to his decline after Euro 2004. Also despite being such a great goalscorer, you could never really associate him with one team, because of his frequent transfers and never really being loved by any fan base he played for (at Inter there was a point where he felt so under appreciated that he stopped celebrating goals). And finally, it’s too bad he was injured in 2006, because Lippi said he would’ve brought him to the World Cup, and if any recent Italian player deserved a World Cup victory it was him, who scored 9 goals between 98 and 2002. Overall, a great player. One of my favorites to watch back in the day.

By Tito | October 24th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
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And seriously, how can you not love any player nicknamed Bobo? That’s on a level with Kaka.

Posted from United States United States

By alessio | October 24th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
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Side note- http://www.offthepost.info/2009/10/el-hadji-diouf-escapes-parking-fine-in-his-ridiculous-car/

El Hadji Diouf in this video is wearing Italia gear from head to toe. Too bad he’s a douche.

By mikederob | October 24th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
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man i just watched the sampdoria-bologna game! that team are awesome at the moment…cassano was incredible, just controlled the whole game, pazzini and mannini were both great too…baffling then that the only player from the team to get a national call up from lippi is palombo.
We’re playing a friendly against sweden early in November. Very interesting to see what Lippi does there. If he pulls out a new squad with some different players, we could have some hope for the world cup with a more dynamic team. If we see the usual line up wih pepe etc, then we can safely expect to struggle like hell! Here’s hoping the stubborn bastard comes to his senses and we get to see Cassano wearing the blue shirt that he deserves to be playing in!!

Posted from Australia Australia

By mikederob | October 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
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zarate has an italian mother and is eligible to play for italia. He’d make a great addition to the team dont you think? I’d rather he play than Amauri who has no italian blood in him

Posted from Australia Australia

By alessio | October 24th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
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I’d rather Amauri, he’s been in Italy for 10 years or so, whereas Zarate has already been called up for Argentina, he just hasn’t played

Ideally, Pazzini/Cassano over both of them though.

By mikederob | October 24th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
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zarate has only been called up for the u-20s and he’s more skillful than amauri.
pazzini and cassano would be ideal though

Posted from Australia Australia

By Michel-Olivier | October 25th, 2009 at 8:37 am
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any player who receive italian passport through jus sanguinis(right of blood) should be able to play for italy. so i think players like t. motta, zarate, santacroce, pastore, dellafiore, forestieri, and taddei should get a call if they are good enough to represent italy.

Posted from United States United States

By matty t | October 25th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
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god i miss vieri! he’s the best italian striker i rememberr and he’s the one i grew up watchin when i was little

-on the diouf wearin all italian stuff, thats jokes lol, is his baseball cap have the italian crest on it too? cause i want one of those thenn

By Leon | October 25th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
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Vieri was indeed a great forward and I always had a soft spot for him even though I don’t support Italy. And did you guys know Vieri’s sporting idol is Australian cricketing legend Alan Border. He developed a love for the game as youngster when his family was living in Australia and after a World Cup even swapped a signed shirt of his for an autographed criket bat from Alan Border.

By ver0n | October 25th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
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When Vieri for the nazionale had the ball, much like Baggio, he gave me pelle d’oca (goosebumps)! hard to say that these days..

By Doc Latin | October 25th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
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No doubt about it: Among the greatest Italian strikers and for a time among the best in the world. At one point he was so “on” it was scary.

Cassano and Pazzini are indeed looking mighty fine.

Posted from Canada Canada

By xyz | October 26th, 2009 at 6:54 am
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Cassano and Pazzini are indeed the best on-form strikers in Italia period.
Current strikers in Italy squad are not performing 50% of Cassano and Pazzini, in exapmle; G. Rossi, Iaquinta, Di Natale, Gilardino, Qualiarella in addition to future candidate Amauri and probable call up Totti.

By xyz | October 26th, 2009 at 6:55 am
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Bobo Vieri was magnificent, a total definition of a striker

By mikederob | October 27th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
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starting to want to see a new blog now. Can we talk about something relevant?

Posted from Australia Australia

By Marco | October 27th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
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Let’s have a blog about the road to the world cup. Who the preferred starting 11 are, and who deserves a spot on this national team. When was the last blog dedicated to Cassano?

on a side note, today I had some time to sit down and test drive fifa 10 with the national team. What a line I fielded. Most of you can guess who was on the field. Anyway, We battered slovakia 4-0 with 75% possession. At least in Fifa 10 land lippi knows what he is doing.

Also, Abete wants cassano on the national team http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/10/26/1586071/cassano-has-improved-and-deserves-to-play-for-italy – that is probably the biggest sign of something magical brewing in the azzurri. If this guy starts opening his mouth, Lippi will at least have to respond to it soon.

By mikederob | October 27th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
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i’d also take mannini and pazzini from sampdoria. that team are a joy to watch right now. Also keep an eye out for rising starlet Poli

Posted from Australia Australia

By mikederob | October 27th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
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interesting article from goal.com. is italian football becoming too english:
http://goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2009/10/27/1586401/calcio-debate-italian-teams-are-becoming-too-english

Posted from Australia Australia

By Vivaldi | October 28th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Top

Palombo, you are not the spoke person for the national team. And you are not national team material either.

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