Giovanni Roccotelli

Giovanni Roccotelli (born 14 May 1952) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a winger.

Giovanni Roccotelli
Personal information
Date of birth (1952-05-14) 14 May 1952
Place of birth Bari, Italy
Playing position(s) Winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1971–1973 Barletta
1973–1974 Avellino
1974–1976 Torino
1976–1977 Cagliari 28 (2)
1977–1979 Ascoli 46 (5)
1979–1980 Taranto
1980–1981 Cesena
1981–1982 Pescara
1982–1984 Foggia
1984–1986 Nocerina
1986–1987 Casertana
1987–1988 Torres
1988–1990 Selargius
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Early and personal life

Born in Bari,[1] Roccotelli was nicknamed "Cocò".[2]

Club career

Roccotelli played for Barletta, Avellino, Torino, Cagliari, Ascoli, Taranto, Cesena, Pescara, Foggia, Nocerina, Casertana, Torres and Selargius. After making his debut with Barletta and spending a season in Serie B with Avellino, he made his debut in Serie A with Torino in 1975, at the age of 22. In 1977, he moved to Ascoli for two seasons, scoring 5 goals in 46 appearances, and helping the club to win promotion during the 1977–78 season; after playing for Taranto, he also won promotion to Serie A with Cesena during the 1980–81 season. In total he made 19 in appearances in Serie A with Torino, Ascoli, and Cesena, and 202 appearances in Serie B with Avellino, Cagliari, Ascoli, Taranto, Cesena, and Foggia, scoring 19 goals.[1]

International career

Roccotelli was called up to the Italy national football team by Enzo Bearzot but was ultimately not capped at that level.[3]

Style of play and association with the rabona

Although he was usually deployed as a winger on the right flank, often wearing the number 7 shirt, Roccotelli was also deployed as a left-back or as a forward on occasion. A talented, creative and skilful right-footed player, he was a powerful striker and passer of the ball, who possessed good technique. Known for his flair, dribbling ability, and his use of feints and tricks on the ball, Roccotelli is credited with popularising the rabona in Italy during the 1970s; at that time, the move was simply called a "crossed-kick", as he placed his right foot behind his left in order to strike the ball. He often used the move on crosses, penalties, long balls, free-kicks, and shots on goal from outside the area.[1][2][4][5][6][7]

References
  1. Sebastiano Vernazza. "GIOVANNI ROCCOTELLI: IL PIONIERE DELLA RABONA" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  2. Sebastiano Vernazza (2 February 2007). "Cocò Roccotelli, il mago della rabona" [Cocò Roccotelli, the rabona wizard] (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. "The Joy of Six: rabonas". Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. "Giovanni Roccotelli" Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine (in Italian)
  5. "Cocò, l'acrobata del numero 7" Archived 19 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Italian)
  6. Paul Doyle (18 November 2009). "Which teams have played in their top five domestic tiers in this decade?". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
  7. "Roccotelli: "A Caserta anno bellissimo ma col Foggia Calcio è sempre il mio derby"" (in Italian). FoggiaSport24.com. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2017.


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