Fabrizio Ravanelli: «Coaching Perugia? Not with this club»

Interview with the former footballer from Perugia, a true idol for many fans in the 90s. Perugia and Juventus are his favorite teams.

I had been trying to interview Fabrizio Ravanelli for several years, and finally I succeeded. Few but very direct questions, to which he answered frankly.
The former footballer, in Perugia (the city where he was born and lives), in Umbria, in Italy and also in Europe needs no introduction; his career – which began in the early 80s with Grifo and continued with Juve, Lazio, Middlesbrough and Olympique Marseille, to name a few – speaks for itself. A list of victories that includes league titles, Super Cups, a Champions League and a UEFA Cup, but above all he was an idol for many football fans in the 90s, when shirts were looser and celebrations did not have copyright.
Today we often find him on television as a commentator or out and about with his beloved bike. “Currently cycling is my great passion, I dedicate a lot of my free time to it: it makes me feel like a twenty-year-old and makes me feel good physically”. Who knows if one day we will also see him on the Perugia bench? But let’s go in order…

Fabrizio, what is your relationship with Umbria?

For me, Umbria is a special place: I was born there, my roots are here and Perugia – which is beautiful – is my city. Umbria is the green heart of Italy, and I don’t think there is a more beautiful place to live.

The Juventus, the National team or Perugia jersey: which of these did you feel most like yours?

There is no ranking. All three were important, fundamental for my career and represented it fully. Perugia is the team of my city, the team that launched me, the one where I started (in the youth sector) and where I ended my career. Juventus, on the other hand, is the team of my heart, I have always supported Juventus since I was little and getting to be a protagonist and win everything with their jersey was something extraordinary. Juve launched me into big time football, gave me the opportunity to show off and I won a lot with them: from the Champions League to the Europa League (at the time UEFA Cup) from the scudetti to the Italian Super Cup, up to the UEFA Super Cup. Finally, wearing the blue jersey was an honor, because representing your country in the world, I think it is the dream of any athlete.

As you said, you ended your career with Perugia, it is a bit of a circle that has closed…

Exactly. Ending my football career with Perugia was the closing of the circle. It was my poor dad’s dream that came true. It was beautiful to start and finish in Perugia, because in any case the Grifo is – and will always be – an important part of me.

Ravanelli con la maglia del Perugia. Foto da Instagram

Have you ever been offered to coach him? Would you do it?

There was a time when I came close, but never in a concrete way. Today it is certainly a utopia for me, it is impossible. If it were to happen in the future, it will certainly happen with another club, not with this current one.

Kylian Mbappé has copyrighted his celebration. When you scored, you covered your face with your shirt, an iconic image from the 90s: have you not copyrighted it?

My celebration is absolutely not copyrighted (laughs). It was born after a goal against Napoli, it was an instinctive gesture.

You carry out solidarity projects together with former teammates: Juventus Legends and Azzurri Stars. What are they about?

With Juventus Legends and Azzurri Stars we carry out charity projects: when we are called we always answer. With our presence and our projects we can help those who are truly in need.

You are a great cycling enthusiast, do you have other hobbies?

Currently cycling is my great passion, I dedicate a lot of my free time to it: it makes me feel like I’m still twenty years old and makes me feel good physically. Work often takes me far away, but when I’m at home I spend time with my children – they also play football – and with my wife: they are the most important part of my life.

I can’t help but ask you this question. It was “your Juventus” in 1996 – with one of his goals – that lifted the last Champions League Cup… then this feat never happened again. Does this make you proud?

Lifting the Champions League is something unique, it’s the dream of all footballers. It is the most important competition in Europe and it gives you the chance to make yourself known in the world. Winning it with Juve in 1996 (on May 22nd) with a goal of mine was beautiful and unforgettable: this still fills me with pride today and I think all Juventus fans remember that great team. Then of course, if Juve lost the following finals it was really bad luck; I am very sorry and I would like to see them win the Champions League again as soon as possible.

Last question: the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Umbria…

I definitely think of the countryside, the quality of life and all those things that I experienced in my youth in a carefree way such as Lake Trasimeno, Perugia and the laps I did in Corso Vannucci. I repeat: I think that Umbria is one of the most beautiful places in Italy.