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Vieri, interviewed on the sidelines of the event with Serie A, has made statements about his career and the present. Read Vieri’s words with us.

Present at the Iliad event in Milan, Bobo Vieri recalled the stages of his career, reflecting on some moments. In particular, the former striker of the National Team paid tribute to three coaches and gave his opinion on some players in our league.

Vieri’s Words

The partnership with Serie A.

“Me and other legends travel around the world to promote our league, in my opinion, our football is recovering greatly. Not just in words: we’ve seen Inter in the Champions League final, Atalanta winning the Europa League, Roma in the Conference League, and Fiorentina playing two consecutive finals. We look for the strongest young players in Europe: beyond the victories, all these finals show that teams are improving year after year.”

The solidarity around Bove.
“The group has always been fundamental, let’s leave out the journalists who always create chaos. When you work as a team, the individual emerges if the team is strong, that’s the first thing. The same goes for Fiorentina, showing love and support among teammates is crucial. Fortunately, Bove has recovered, I hope he returns to play.”

Your relationship with your grandfather?
“My grandfather was the only person who believed in me. He used to be a goalkeeper and coached the kids at Santa Lucia: Diamanti’s grandfather was the president and they offered me to play there. I’ve known Alino since he was five years old. My grandfather promised me 5,000 lire for every goal, and I scored four in the first game. He was convinced I would become one of the best strikers in the world.”

Dreams and sacrifices.
“Not only in football, but in sports in general and in life. If you want to achieve goals, you have to give your all, otherwise, it’s hard. It’s not about a single sacrifice: it’s normal that you struggle on weekends because others go out and you don’t. But if you have a goal, you think about doing everything to achieve it.”

Early Career

Your first memory on a football field?
“It was this, I was a child and I was against it. Just being able to say that I played in Italy and scored four goals at fourteen was a big deal. I wanted to test myself, I wanted to play football: kids often ask me if dreams really come true. Here I am, I had two dreams and I realized them. You always have to follow your own path, without listening to anyone. I played in Serie A and for the National Team.”

Starting your career.
“I was in Australia, I started as a left-back. Then after six months, I scored more goals than the forwards, and I told my coach to put me up front. I was like a bigger Roberto Carlos. He moved me upfront, I scored 15-20 goals, and I continued like that. My dream was to play in Serie A and for the national team, I told my father who advised me to move in with my grandfather in Prato. And I never came back. My father had played football, and they were good to let me choose freely.”

First official assignment?
“I never saw it as a job. My first official contract was in Pisa. I was happy, but that comes as a result of what you do, the first thing is wanting to play for a team.”

When did things turn around for you?
“Three coaches made a difference for me: Rampanti in Torino’s Primavera, he always believed in me, even in the first year when I was younger than the others. Then Mondonico who made me debut in Torino and brought me to Atalanta: he pushed me, saying that what I did during the week I took to the field on Sundays. And Cesare Maldini, I had him for 6-7 years between the U-21 and senior National Team. They put me on the right track.”

How important is the coach?
“They are like a second father, in the youth sector, you don’t have to win but they have to prepare you for real championships. It’s important that they tell you the right things, from 14 to 18 years old, they are central figures.”

What did you do with your first earnings?
“I don’t remember, maybe I bought a car for my father, I think a Peugeot.”

Were you happy?
“Anyone who knows me knows how I am: I tease everyone, I like to make people laugh and have fun. Even now at 50, we play paddle. Di Biagio says I’ve been making the same jokes for thirty years.”

Your nickname?
“In Torino’s Primavera, there was Brunetti who played up front with me, he said my father’s name was Bob and they would call me Bobo. It’s been 37 years.”

And the term ‘bomber’?
“If you score, otherwise they’ll call you an idiot. The term ‘bomber’ comes from what you do on the field, it’s someone who carries the team on their shoulders and tries to make them win.”

Would you have been a bomber anyway?
“I would have played cricket, I would have been a bomber there too. My brother and I are tennis fanatics, he teases me because I always said that if I played tennis, I would have been the world number one. I have this tough character, if I want to do something, I do it. Everyone told me I was poor, slow, heavy, rough, technically weak, and yet I continued on my path.”

Disappointments?
“Yes, when you lose games. Personal? No. When I didn’t go to the World Cup because I injured my knee. The Champions League final with Juve, and the May 5th game with Inter. They are part of sports, but it’s great to be there: I started from Australia, when I arrived in Italy, I used to watch Baggio from the stands, and after seven-eight years, I played in the National Team and at Inter with him.”

Players who resemble Vieri?
“Three or four: Vlahovic, Lukaku, Haaland, Dovbyk. In terms of characteristics, we are similar. Dovbyk is really strong.”

The characteristic that set you apart from others.
“You have to ask the coaches. I knew that the harder I worked during the week, the better I performed. The more I trained, the stronger I was on Sundays: I always trained a lot. I had to improve in everything.”

The Vieri of Today

Do you miss the field?
“Like crazy, but we all do.”

Even Totti?
“I wrote to him the other day, I told him if he wants to play again, he should, regardless of what others say. He shouldn’t have retired in the first place, now if he wants to come back, he should. If it makes him happy, he should do it: Miura is playing at 57… They might say he’s slow, but who cares.”

One piece of advice for a young person?
“To train.”

What do you want for the future?
“It may sound cliché, but to be well.”

What don’t people know about you yet?
“Many things, but they should remain that way. I always say what I think: sometimes it’s okay, other times less. But I’m easing up with age. I don’t talk nonsense, but I say what I think. What’s the point of changing now: I’m moving forward now.”

How do you define yourself as a sportsman?
“Overweight today. I’m a former athlete, who did what he wanted to do and is happy, after sports, I moved on and have two daughters: they are the most important goals I’ve achieved. The happiness they brought me is something I never expected, they are the most important joys of my life.”