Fabio CANNAVARO
Travelling through Cannavaro's mysteries. Mystery number 1: (12 February 1997: England-Italy). How can an experienced Coach place his trust on a 23 years old rookie for the most crucial game of the season? 'Maldini proved to be very brave by lining up a rookie like me. However I won two Europen Titles Under 21 with him, so he knew my talent and he knew I could defend on players like Poborsky, Joao Pinto and Pedros. I think that he didn't risk too much by assigning me Alan Shearer'. There is nothing wrong in being a little bold especially if you are on the wave crest and your job is to guard the best forwards in the world.
Mistery number 2: Cannavaro is now one of the best stoppers in the world even without possessing the typical physical characteristics of this role. He is neither very bulky nor very tall but he doesn't struggle when he happens to face players like Casiraghi and Batistuta. 'I rely on my timing and I can jump pretty high so I have no problems even with headers'. That's true, his short legs and remarkable agility make Cannavaro almost unbeatable inside the goal-mouth. You can't dribble him because of his timing and ability in stealing the ball. He is now one of the best defenders around, a worthy continuator of the great Italian tradition in this role. However Cannavaro is everything but a mystery. His eyes are as blue as Napoli's sea and reveal his substantial transparency. He bitterly left his hometown to move to a northern richer Club, where to harvest the fruits of his talent. Everybody in Italy remembers his caprices during the summer of 1995. He just didn't want to move to Parma. Someone said he wanted more money, but it's not true. 'I never denied that Napoli is for me more than just a football Team. Playing and winning there, maybe bringing them back on the top, like when Maradona was in Italy and I was just a ball-boy, has always been my dream. Then there are the sea and the sun, things that I couldn't find at Parma. Still today, even if I finally got acclimatized in Parma, I have some regrets, because Napoli still remains my land and my favourite football team'.
Cannavaro is transparent like the sea. He looked at Maradona from afar, knowing how traditionally tough is to emerge for Napoli's youngsters. However he made it, and success didn't ruin him. Fabio is still the same, he likes to talk and to open his heart to his 'Solocalcio's' friends. In his house, about 2 km. far from Tardini's stadium, and 4 floors above the traffic. Even if we are not in Napoli, there's an amazing sun shining upon us, and that's enough to be happy. Let's talk a little about your career that started many years ago because of your father Pasquale's love for football. 'My father played as a defender with Campania (serie C1) and followed me very closely since when, being just 10 years old, I began to kick my first footballs inside 'the Italsider establishments' of Bagnoli. At first I used to play as a midfielder, but later I moved back and I found my best position'.
When did you arrive at Napoli?
'I was an ISEF student (Italian School of Physical Education, Undergraduate level), and one of my professors was Luigi Scarpitti, who also worked for Napoli. He gave me the opportunity to have a tryout and I didn't take too much to convince Napoli's coaching staff. I had good time playing with the juvenile teams. I won a National Championship and I played 3 Tournaments of Viareggio'.
Then you moved to the major team.
'Ranieri was the coach and I was 19. It was an Italy Cup game in Modena. I replaced Francini with just 10 minutes left into the game and we won 3-0. Ottavio Bianchi, who replaced Ranieri after 10 weeks, was instead the coach of my debut in Serie A. It was an exciting Juventus-Napoli and I played from the beginning. Later I played the last game of the season against Parma, again as a starter'.
Then Acireale asked for you.
'Yes, that summer this Serie C1 Sicilian Club made some offers but Napoli's roster was kind of slight and Coach Lippi (who now coaches Juventus) stopped the trade. I began the season as a backup but after 3 weeks there was an unusual midweek game in Torino and I had to play because Lippi needed a stopper. I marked Benito Carbone who now plays in England with Sheffild Wednesday, I did pretty well and Lippi pushed the Club to wait before trading me. Four days later we faced Rizzitelli's and Balbo's Roma and we won 3-2. Since then I became a permanent starter'.
It is unusual for a Napoli's young player to emerge in Serie A.
'Yes, it's a peculiar reality. When you begin to play with the juvenile team everybody thinks you have already achieved the top, while it is just the beginning. I saw many young players failing for this reason. Then I was lucky because I had my chance just when I felt ready for it. Who knows what would happen if I was traded to Acireale. Who knows if I would make it all the same. Young players should be given more opportunities to emerge'.
Because of 'Bosman'?
'Many Clubs in Italy find more convenient to buy average players abroad reather than investing money to foster young Italian players by themselves. However they should consider that when you are able to sell one of your young players for 17 thousand millions of Italian Lira, like Napoli did with me, you are going to be widely repaid for all the sacrifices you made to foster him'.
Do you repent having come to Parma?
'Not at all. Surely I had to get acclimatized to the fog, but altogether Parma is a very pleasant city. My wife Daniela didn't have any problem and she immediately made friends with the wives of my teammates. Now, then, results are, finally, coming. It's a good moment'.
And you found the blue shirt of the national team.
'Cesare Maldini is a very experienced coach who knows how to motivate his players, but also how to make things less dramatic. 3 hours before the match in England he arrived at the Hotel's lobby and seeing our worried faces said: ' Come on guys we are not going to a funeral, it's just a football game. He is great in creating the best atmosphere among the players. I'm still friend with my former teammates of the Under 21: Bigica, Pecchia, Fresi, Amoruso. We call each other, sometimes we hang out together, and as a result we also became a better football team. I'm sure that Maldini will be able to do the same with the major national team'.
Let's go back to Parma. Was it really necessary to give up a player like Zola?
'We all felt sad, but it was mainly an his choice. You always want to have talents like him, but our Management decided otherwise, and after all things have gone well. Both for us, who found a better balance, and for him, who now is a real star in England'.
What do you think about all of these Italian talents who go to play abroad?
'I don't like it. I don't like to see a player like Panucci going to play in Spain when he is just 23. However that means that Italian players are still worldwide appreciated'.
Would you play abroad?
'I should think about it. I feel good right now and Parma is a great Club. However playing abroad and competing in a different League still remains an intriguing idea'.
Do you still have fun playing football?
'The first years of my career were fun, but now things are different. There are more rules to follow, there are more strategies to learn, you are expected to be always very focused'.
What about your family? Do they keep on following you?
'They are my greatest fans: my father Pasquale, my mother Gelsomina and my sister Renata who is 3 years older than me and lives in Firenze with her husband. Then I have a brother who plays with the juvenile teams of Napoli and with the Under 16 Italian national team. He is a defender, but we are different. He is taller and sturdy, I'm faster'.
What does success mean to you?
'It's a weird feeling... almost inexistent. I mean, I materialized my dreams and now I can play as a professional in Serie A. However sometimes I still don't realize it. Maybe when I'll be 40, things will be clearer and I'll realize how extraordinary were my achievements'.
Do you want to stay in Football, after quitting as a player?
'I like the 'football schools' for young players. Napoli lacks facilities but children need them'.
No matter how hard you tried, but Napoli is always in your thoughts.
'Sure. Napoli is still my favourite team and it is so sad to see how many problems they have right now. If only I recall Maradona's times...!!!'.
What kind of memories do you have of Maradona?
'Great memories. We trained at 'Centro Paradiso' in Soccavo, and when the major team was there the show was assured. To see Maradona training was just extraordinary. He could do everything with the ball. He was just amazing. There were also many problems, especially during the last times, because of his behaviour. However every time he played we couldn't help of staring him'.
Which has been the best moment of your career so far?
'I can recall 3 moments: 2 European Titles with the Under 21 and the game we won at Wembley against England'.
What about the worst moment?
'December 1993: we won on the road against Scala's Parma, but my knee got injured and I stayed out for one month. As it seems Parma was already in my destiny'.
What do you expect from your future?
'A World Cup... is that too much?".
What does Parma still need to win the Championship?
'We need better starts. Without all the games we lost at the beginning of the season we could be there playing with Juventus for the final win. However Lippi's team still remains the best one. They have 20 starters, whichever of them can play and it doesn't make any difference because they all are at the same level'.
Do you have any weakpoint?
'I think I can still improve. Especially offensively, because today a modern defender is expected to help more his midfielders'.
Do you play any other sport?
"Sometimes in summer I play tennis but I'm everything but a champion. Otherwise I like to spend my free time watching cartoons, surfing the Web and playing videogames'.