The Gentleman Ultra is back with a new Series. This time its the nostalgic Serie A teams of Calcio. Mark Gordon takes the decison to start off with an impossible choice. Parma.
“Rather than delving into the history books, I have decided to stick with players that I’ve seen play for my Parma five-a-side. I could easily have gone defensive as I reluctantly left out Roberto Sensini, Lillian Thuram, Luigi Apolloni and Antonio Benarrivo. Similarly, I could have gone for all-out attack but left out Faustino Asprilla, Thomas Brolin, Enrico Chiesa and Alberto Gilardino. Special mentions must go to a few of my favourite ever Parma players. Goalkeepers Sebastien Frey and Claudio Taffarel along with midfield players Juan Sebastian Veron and Diego Fuser were all players that I loved to watch.”
Gianluigi BUFFON
There could be only one man to play in goal despite my affection for the aforementioned Frey and Taffarel. As far as I’m concerned, Gianluigi Buffon is the best goalkeeper of all-time. He made 168 of his 1100-plus career appearances for Parma between 1995 and 2001. He returned to add an extra 43 to that tally between 2021 and 2023 but it will be his first spell at Stadio Ennio Tardini that will be most fondly remembered.
He debuted for the Parma first team under Nevio Scala as a 17-year-old and in that game he set the tone for his career. A shut-out against a Milan side that would go on to become champions that season was as impressive a debut as a teenager could have. His honours in the game are too many to mention but he did pick up three major trophies whilst in Scala’s late-90s side. The UEFA Cup, Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana were the first in a log list of team and individual accolades that Buffon would collect in his career. The word legend gets thrown around a little easily in football. In the case of Buffon, there is no more deserving of the title in his position.
Fabio CANNAVARO
Another of Italy’s 2006 World Cup winning squad makes up a one-man defence in my five-a-side team. Fabio Cannavaro is more than capable of holding things together at the back in front of his long-time club and international team-mate Buffon.
Standing at 5-foot 9-inches, I could have selected bigger defenders. I don’t think I could have picked a better one from Parma’s history though. Cannavaro played more times for Parma than any of his other clubs. The former Napoli, Inter, Juventus and Real Madrid stopper played over 200 times for Parma.
He picked up four trophies there, adding a second Coppa Italia to the same three honours as Buffon picked up. He led Italy to the 2006 World Cup victory as captain and later picked up the Balon d’Or as he was named the best player on the planet. Cannavaro’s height never prevented him from being good in the air whilst he was lightening quick across the ground when defending his penalty area. It almost defies explanation that the Parma side including both Cannavaro and Buffon didn’t win Serie A. They may well be the best centre-back and goalkeeper combination in the game’s history.
Dino BAGGIO
My midfield consists of a player that I don’t think ever really gets the respect and credit that he deserves. Dino Baggio maybe suffered for having the same surname as one of the most talent players his country ever produced. Dino never had the same mercurial talent as Roberto, but he was more than just a good player.
As with Cannavaro, Baggio made more appearances for Parma than any of his other clubs. The midfielder was brought to the club from Juventus by Nevio Scala following a good showing at the USA World Cup that summer. At the end of his first season, he lifted the UEFA Cup with his new club. It was still in the era of a two-leg final and Baggio scored in both matches against his former club as Parma defeated Juventus.
There was not much that Dino Baggio could not do. A versatile midfield player who was just as influential defensively as he was causing problems for opponents at the other end of the pitch. Tall and athletic, Baggio could cover a lot of ground whilst bringing both intensity and calmness at the same time. He played over 300-times for the club as well as earning 60 caps for Italy.
Gianfranco ZOLA
My team has a solid base in place so it is time to add some flair in the attacking half. Gianfranco Zola made less than half the Parma appearances that Dino Baggio clocked up. He more than qualifies for my team with just under-100 games. A player that was trusted to replace Diego Maradona in the Napoli number 10 shirt, Zola was bursting with talent.
Zola arrived at the Ennio Tardini in 1993 after his departure from Napoli where he won the Serie A title in 1990. If he burst on the scene in Naples then his time at Parma could be described as the period where he came of age. He picked up a UEFA Super Cup and the UEFA Cup in his first year as he earned a call-up to Arrigo Sacchi’s USA ’94 Italy squad.
The diminutive forward was one of the most exciting players in the league on his day. His low centre of gravity allowing him the ability to twist and turn between defenders. He could play out wide but it was as a striker or second striker in the number ten position that Zola excelled.
Hernan CRESPO
The only non-Italian in my team is my front man. Hernan Crespo left Parma with a goal record of almost one in every two games. His 98 goals in 200 appearances helped Parma to three trophies within 100 days as the lifted the UEFA Cup, Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia.
Life at Parma did not start well for the Argentina international. He had to wait six months for his first goal for the club, making that 98 goals in 200 games even more impressive. Crespo was brought to the Stadio Ennio Tardini by Carlo Ancelotti from the striker’s homeland where he played for River Plate.
The striker was at the club from 1996 to 2000 when he joined Lazio. Despite playing for several other Italian clubs, Crespo clearly made his mark on the Parma tifosi. He was voted their Player of the Century in 2013 having returned to the club for a brief spell before retiring. The Argentinian forward was tournament top scorer in the 1998-99 UEFA Cup as Parma went all the way and lifted the trophy. They defeated Fiorentina via the away goals, rule whilst Crespo scored in both legs of the final.
Words Mark Gordon