Page 29 - RPVFC v Northwood 14.10.23

RAYNES PARK VALE UP THE VALE

THE UNTOLD even more impressive for the and allowing the attacking talents and met a Liverpool side who As he came to the end of a stellar
to showcase their abilities. Such
looked unstoppable. Ian Rush
Cesena man. Instead of lining
career, UEFA finally gave him
up in Serie A in the black and was his role in the team that, after and John Wark were scoring the chance to play international
white stripes of Cesena, Giovanni being caught smoking in the goals for fun, and were joined by football. San Marino played their
Trapatoni came calling and dressing room, Platini reassured the impossibly brilliant Kenny first ever match in 1990, a 4-0
offered him a much more famous people; ‘You shouldn’t be worried Dalgliesh. The promise of goals defeat to Switzerland. That would
striped shirt. Bonini accepted, if I smoke. The important thing is and excitement was high when set the tone for their subsequent
and joined an exciting Juventus that Bonini doesn’t because he they lined up, at Heysel Stadium. existence, but to Bonini, just
GAME MASSIMO BONINI side. also has to run for me.’ Juventus won, but the result lining up for his country was a
was insignificant. They were victory. In 1992, he went back to
In his first season in Turin, Bonini Bonini’s running certainly gave presented the trophy in a sombre Juvenes, and saw out his career
continued his impressive form. Platini a platform. On their way dressing room. playing in, and for, the country of
Starting the season as a rotation to the 1984 Scudetto, Platini his birth.
option, he slowly replaced club was top scorer. He also won the Juventus found more
icon Giuseppe Furino. Juventus Ballon d’Or. Juventus lost just challenging domestic rivals on When asked why he turned down
crashed out of the European Cup four times, and were the top their return, and a resurgent Italy and waited for the possibility
early on, but as his partnership scorers in Serie A. With a final Milan side, alongside a Diego of playing for the worst team in
with Tardelli flourished they hit flourish, they added the Cup Maradona-inspired Napoli, the world, Bonini’s answer was
their stride, and Bonini won the Winners Cup, without losing a provided stiff competition. simple. ‘Simply because I am
first silverware of his career, the match. Juventus and Bonini won the from San Marino, and proud of it.’
Serie A title. Liam Brady scored league once more in 1986, but
the decisive goal. The following season, Bonini the Sammarinese had moved on
finished with a tragic trophy. by the time the club won it again,
Rebuffing attempts to join The Turin side finished 7th in 1990. Martyn Green
the Italy senior squad, Bonini in the league as they turned
watched on as many of his their attention to Europe. The Bonini moved to Bologna in
teammates became world Sammarinese played every 1988, but more important www.theuntoldgame.co.uk
champions. Over the summer, game as they romped to the final, discussions were taking place.
Trapatoni signed two absolute
stars of the tournament,
Zbigniew Boniek, and Michel
Massimo Bonini was considered teammate. The only problem Platini. It took time to balance
the best young player in the was that Bonini didn’t consider
the side, and Roma won the
world in the early 1980s. He had himself Italian. He was from San
title, but Bonini was now an
collected a number of youth Marino. And they didn’t have a
important piece of the puzzle.
caps for Italy and impressed football team.
In the European Cup, Juventus
their selectors, and was integral reached the final. Bonini played
to the 1982 Juventus team that After beginning his career with
every game.
won the Scudetto. He was a Sammarinese club Juvenes,
tireless midfielder, adding bite Bonini made the small step up
Trapatoni took the shackles
to Michel Platini’s beauty, and to the Italian fourth tier in 1977,
off in the following season - at
progression to Marco Tardelli’s where he joined Bellaria. A good the insistence of Platini - and
power. But while his teammate first season saw him make a step
Juventus flew. Boniek, Platini
would - famously - score in that slightly higher up the pyramid, to
and Paulo Rossi formed a potent
summer’s World Cup final, one Forli in Serie C. One more step
attacking trio, with Tardelli given
of the most iconic moments in up to Serie B followed, and in a
license to join from deep. Bonini’s
football, Bonini wouldn’t even season marked by the Totoneri role in stabilising the side grew
be at the tournament. Invited to match fixing scandal, he helped
ever more important. He was
join the squad, and vocal about Cesena to promotion..
technically able and tactically
the importance of playing for his
adept, but it was his work
national team, he was expected Moving up four divisions in five
rate that impressed the most,
to line up alongside his Juventus years is quite a feat, but it got
covering every blade of grass
28 29