Soccer Memories-Part 58, New Italian Serie ‘A’ Foreign Players 1983/84.

 

Series looking at the new Foreign player signings in the Serie A in the 1980s and their impact.

 

In the summer of 1983, the Italian Serie A was the attractive destination of the World’s best.

There were still vivid memories of the 1982 World Cup and two of its best stars would join the growing colony of Brazilians in the Serie A.

Serie A Champions AS Roma offloaded the Austrian Herbert Prohaska to register the Brazilian midfield star Antonio Carlos ‘Toninho Cerezo’ from Atletico Mineiro.

He joined his compatriot Paulo Roberto Falcão, already the main star of Roma.

Former Flamengo star and one of the greatest heroes of the 1982 adventure, Artur Antunes Coimbra ‘Zico’ also joined a Brazilian compatriot (Edinho) at Udinese.

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Artur Antunes Coimbra ‘Zico’)

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Antonio Carlos ‘Toninho Cerezo’)

Both transfers were made amidst much controversy as the Italian Federation initially blocked both moves but were forced to accept after much protests, especially in Udine.

As far as the other transfers, Ascoli signed Yugoslav midfielder Aleksandar Trifunović from Partizan Belgrade.

Brazilian midfielder Pedro Luís Vicençote ‘Pedrinho’, one of the more unfancied and rarely used players in the glorious Brazil Team of 1982, joined newly promoted side Catania from Vaso da Gama.

Catania also signed another Brazilian midfielder, Luvanor Donizete Borges from Goias.

Another Brazilian midfielder Francisco Chagas Eloia, Eloi joined Genoa from Vasco Da Gama.

The sixth Brazilian to join the Serie A that season was João ‘Batista’ da Silva, victim of Maradona’s kick in the 1982 World Cup. He joined newly-promoted side Lazio in Rome (from Palmeiras).

Denmark were starting to make an impression on the continent. One of their brightest prospects Michael Laudrup, joined Batista at Lazio.

He was actually on loan from Juventus, who were well covered with their foreign duo of Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek. Laudrup was programmed to join the Turin side in a number of years and he was at Lazio to gain experience.

Laudrup had nearly joined Liverpool that summer until there was a dispute regarding the terms of the contract.

Two of Belgium’s most experienced players also joined the Serie A on the opposite sides in Milan.

Belgium Captain Eric Gerets left Standard Liege to join newly-promoted AC Milan.

Former Anderlecht midfielder Ludo Coeck joined the Nerazzuri side and joined Internazionale Milano.

AC Milan also signed the English striker Luther Blisset from Watford.

The last new foreign player was the young Ajax and Dutch striker Wim Kieft, who joined Pisa.

(Note: the following information regarding the Brazilin contingent, was mostly copied from my blog article regarding the 1982 Generation of Brazilian players in the Serie A: https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-soccernostalgia-interview-part-65.html)

The 28-year-old João ‘Batista’ da Silva would have three solid years in Italy but was relegated with Lazio at the end of his second season. He then joined Avellino for the following season (1985/86). He made only 14 appearances before joining Portuguese side Belenensses midway through the season.

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(João ‘Batista’ da Silva)

The 25-year-old Pedrinho would suffer relegation with Catania but would nevertheless stay one more season with the club at Serie B before returning home.

The 28-year-old Toninho Cerezo would spend nearly a decade in Italy. Following his spell in Rome, he joined Sampdoria and had six glorious years, as the Vialli-Mancini inspired side captured the Scudetto in 1991 with the 36-year-old Cerezo as one of its driving forces. He also won the Coppa Italia in 1988, 1989 and the Cup Winners Cup in 1990 with the Genoa side.

He left Italy in 1992 following Sampdoria’s defeat in the 1992 Champions Cup Final vs. Barcelona to join Tele Santana’s Sao Paulo side.

For the 30-year-old Zico it was a tale of two seasons, his first season (1983/84) was simply magnificent as he scored 19 goals and finished second in the Capocannoniere race to Michel Platini and his 20 goals. Udinese just missed out on UEFA Cup qualification.

His second season was a disappointing one. He missed much of it through injury and then had to defend himself as he was accused of tax fraud by Italian Authorities.

He left to rejoin Flamengo in the summer of 1985.

The 22-year-old Brazilian Luvanor, like Pedrinho, would be relegated with Catania but would remain with the club in the Serie B until 1986. He returned home in 1986 by joining Santos. He spent the remainder of his career with the likes of Flamengo, Goias and Bahia, amongst others, before retiring in 1993.

The 28-year-old Brazilian Eloi, like his compatriots Pedrinho and Luvanor, also suffered relegation with his club Genoa. He remained with Genoa in Serie B for one season and then returned home to Botafogo in 1985.

He returned to Europe and had a spell at Portuguese Football with Porto, Boavista and Louletano before returning home again in 1990.

His last years included short spells for the likes of Fluminense and Fortaleza amongst others before retiring in 1996.

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Luvanor Donizete Borges)

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Pedro Luís Vicençote ‘Pedrinho’)

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Francisco Chagas Eloia, Eloi)

 

The 29-year-old Aleksandar Trifunović remained with Ascoli until 1987. He suffered relegation in 1985 but helped the side to get promoted in 1985/86.

After his spell with Ascoli, he returned home to Obilic before retiring.

 

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Alexander Trifunovic)

The 19-year-old Michael Laudrup would spend two seasons at Lazio. The second one (1984/85) ended in relegation. He joined Juventus club in 1985 and helped them win the Scudetto in 1986. He remained at Juventus until 1989.

After his Italian adventure, he had a renaissance upon joining Johann Cruyff’s Barcelona and would win four League titles as well as the Champions League in 1992.

After Barcelona, he joined their arch-rivals Real Madrid in 1994 and won the League title with them as well (1994/95).

After leaving Madrid in 1996, he joined the Japanese League and joined Vissel Kobe.

He left Kobe in 1997 and have one last season with Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam (1997/98) before retiring.

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Michale Laudrup)

The Belgian duo of the 29-year-old Eric Gerets and 27-year-old Ludo Coeck would have a disastrous time in Italy.

Midway through his season with AC Milan, Eric Gerets’ role in the famous Standard Liege-Waterschei bribery scandal was discovered. Milan sacked him and he was suspended.

He made his return during 1984/85 season with modest Dutch side MVV before joining top Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in 1985 and resurrecting his career in a very successful spell with titles galore and the Champions Cup in 1988.

He retired with PSV in 1992, and has had a relatively successful coaching career since.

Ludo Coeck would have a disappointing season with Inter and was loaned to Ascoli for the following season (1984/85). He made no appearances at Ascoli due to injury.

He was tragically killed on October 9^th, 1985, aged just 30, two days after a traffic accident.

He was in Belgium after signing for RWD Molenbeek.

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Eric Gerets)

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Ludo Coeck)

 

Gerets’ English teammate at AC Milan, the 25-year-old Luther Blisset would also have a disappointing season.

He just scored a handful of goals and was soon offloaded for the following season back home to Watford.

He spent the rest of his career with a number of sides in the Lower Divisions such as Bury and Bournemouth before retiring.

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Luther Blisset)

 

The 20-year-old Dutch striker Wim Kieft was the winner of the European Golden Boot in 1982. His time at Pisa was difficult, he suffered relegation 1984, he remained with the side and helped the side with Promotion in 1985. He was once again relegated with Pisa in 1986.

For his last season in the Serie A, he played for stable side Torino (1986/87). He returned home in 1987 and joined PSV Eindhoven. He would have a successful spell, winning League titles and the Champions Cup in 1988.

He had a brief spell at French side Bordeaux (1990/91) before returning to PSV and retire in 1994.

 

Photo From: 1983-84 Calciatori Panini

(Wim Kieft)

From this group, the most successful due to his longevity was the Brazilian Cerezo. Zico had a remarkable first season (1983/84) and one of the greatest seasons by any foreigner, despite the disappointment of a second season.

Michale Laudrup also had a good spell once he joined Juventus.

 

More foreigners were on the way for the 1984/85 season, including the greatest one of them all, a certain Diego Armando Maradona.