Gianluca Pagliuca: history in his hands

By Paolo Villani, Bolognamania February 2001

His hands have always challenged opposing forwards and… other goalkeepers.

It's official: he is Saint Pagliuca at Bologna also. During the time at Inter his work in goal made the fortunes of a less than impeccable defense. Many times he was hailed by the press as Inter's guardian saint. At Bologna, throughout 2000, his game remained even and he did not let in too many goals. But the confirmation of his "supernatural" gift arrived in 2001, witnessed to by Locatelli who rechristened him San Gianluca the day after the game against Brescia. As always with canonization, it is necessary to revisit the history of the person (in this case, football history), to establish whether it should be held up to the future generations as a model to follow. A history "in his hands", as a goalkeeper, the hands that denied an infinity of shots; how many, exactly?

Pagliuca, over 400 games in Serie A, how many saves?
"Lots; I have let in a lot of goals but also made lots of saves. I don't know the exact number."

First game in Serie A was with Sampdoria, and the next Sunday there was the first leg of the final of the Italian Cup, where you played against Torino without letting in any goals. How much of an influence did this performance have in making you the starting goalkeeper of the best Samp of all times?
"It had a lot of influence. Sampdoria, starting with President Mantovani and Boskov, put a lot of trust in me. But I was young, those were my first games - if I had failed at that point, they might have given me away on loan, but I played well and so became the starting goalkeeper for many years."

Six seasons at Sampdoria: one championship, two Italian Cups, one Italian Supercup and one Cupwinners Cup. Those were Sampdoria's first successes ever. How did you all manage that?
"We made it because we were a great group, a great team made up of great players, starting with those two up front, Vialli and Mancini in their prime, then we had Vierchowod behind at 100%, Mannini, and then there I was, just starting out: it was the ideal mix."

One regret: the final of Champions Cup lost to Barcelona: R. Koeman in extra time. What do you remember about that evening at Wembley?
"I still remember everything, I even have a tape at home. Unfortunately that goal came when there were 5 minutes left to penalty kicks: we would have gone to penalty kicks with Barcelona…"

In 1994 you move to Inter. Inter gives up Zenga to Sampdoria. Whose was the more difficult task, yours, trying to make the fans forget Zenga or his, coming into the inheritance you left?
"I came to Inter, whose fans were very much in love with Walter. It wasn't that they received me badly, but there was dissatisfaction with Zenga's leaving. But as he himself has told me, even Walter had to make the Sampdoria fans forget the goalkeeper who made Sampdoria's history. Both were difficult tasks."

In the meanwhile, you played in the World Cup in the United States. Tough going for you: after the loss to Ireland came the expulsion against Norway, which freed up the spot for Marchegiani for two games. He had previously fouled up in the qualifying games, letting in two easy ones from Switzerland. How did you deal with this competition between the two of you?
"Very calmly. We had a great relationship, even sharing a room. Obviously, we both wanted to play, but only one goalkeeper comes out on the field. I got to do it more often, and I was quite happy."

In the final at Pasadena you were back in your place. What was Italy missing? Signori, who was on the bench?
"So many things were missing. Signori ended up on the bench because Baggio was scoring so much at the time. There was no decision until the last moment whether to play Baggio, injured, or Signori at 100%. Sacchi's choice was difficult and it fell on Baggio."

The next five years at Inter brought only one UEFA Cup. Did you ever expect to win less in Milan than in Genoa?
"I came to Inter when it was in the stage of restructuring, with many new players. It was difficult to win right away. I was very upset about the missed championship, in the year when we deserved to win it. We all know how we lost it."

Another burning disappointment, the poisoned scudetto that went to Juventus; only rage was left to Inter. What was the worse sting: the defeat in Champions Cup, the World Cup, or Inter's lost championship?
"All of them, even though obviously the World Cup final lost on a missed penalty kick is the greatest regret."

Surprisingly, you also started in the World Cup in France in '98, due to Peruzzi's injury. He's a great keeper who thus have never played in a World Cup. How much did this weigh on him, do you think?
"It certainly weighed on him, because a great goalkeeper like him deserved to play in a competition like the World Cup. I have had a chance to be in three of them, counting Italy '90, when I was the third keeper. I was very content to play in France as well and to be considered one of the best keepers of that World Cup."

Last year you returned to Bologna, as you had said you wanted to do. Antonioli had done well here. Another competition between goalkeepers: it seems to be your specialty.
"Yes, that's true, but I like it that way. The important thing is to be there and to do well in your team. Then, I dreamed of playing the final years of my career at home: I made it, I'm happy, and I hope to go on playing."

A so-so season last year for Bologna, but that was not your fault. You had the longest unbeaten run of all goalkeepers during the championship. After such an exciting career, where do you find the motivation in the provincial game?
"First of all, Bologna is not a province, because it is my home, my city, the team that I have loved since childhood. Every time I come out on the field I feel incredible emotion. Maybe if I had been born in another city, I would not have the motivation that I have here."

Your best years, however, were the ones in Genoa and Milan. What are you more sad about: Sampdoria's descent to Serie B or Inter's lackluster performance in A?
"Inter's performance in A: I didn't expect it."

A saint is a model for those that come after him. What does Saint Pagliuca want to teach the goalkeepers of the future?
"To be in love with your work, to think more about practice than about salary and contracts. Those are only the consequences: if you are good, professional, if you train well, the contracts will come. Never think about money first and work later."

With this, the examination is passed with excellent marks. Same as he earns each week between the posts.