Domenico Marocchino

Domenico Marocchino (Italian pronunciation: [doˈmeːniko marokˈkiːno]; born 5 May 1957) is a retired Italian professional football player and manager, who played as a midfielder.

Domenico Marocchino
Personal information
Date of birth (1957-05-05) 5 May 1957
Place of birth Vercelli, Italy
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1976 Juventus 0 (0)
1976–1977 Juniorcasale 35 (2)
1977–1978 Cremonese 34 (2)
1978–1979 Atalanta 18 (1)
1979–1983 Juventus 99 (9)
1983–1984 Sampdoria 14 (1)
1984–1987 Bologna 70 (4)
1987–1988 Casale 3 (0)
National team
1981 Italy 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

A former Juventus youth product, Marocchino played in the lower divisions for Juniorcasale and Cremonese, making 35 appearances in Serie C and 35 more in Serie B respectively, before making his Serie A debut with Atalanta, on 17 December 1978, in a 0–0 draw against Fiorentina.[1]

In the summer of 1979, he returned to Juventus, and remained at the club for four seasons, winning two consecutive Serie A titles in 1981 and 1982, and a Coppa Italia in 1983. His best season with the club was during the 1981–82 season, when he was given more first team opportunities following an injury to regular starter Roberto Bettega, and helped Juventus to the league title with his consistent and decisive performances. The arrival of Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek the following season, coupled with Marocchino's physical decline, saw him struggle to find space in the team, and he left the club at the end of the season.[1]

Marocchino later played for Sampdoria in Serie A, and Bologna in Serie B, before returning to play for Casale in the lower divisions, where he ended his career in 1988. In total, he made 131 appearances in Serie A throughout his career, scoring 11 goals, and 104 appearances in Serie B, scoring 6 goals.[1]

International career

Marocchino made his only international appearance for the Italy national football team on 5 December 1981, in a 1–0 home win over Luxembourg in a 1982 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match, held in Naples.[1]

Style of play

Regarded as a talented prospect in his youth, Marocchino, however struggled to live up to his potential in his later career, due to his mentality and inconsistency at the top level. He was capable of playing in several midfield positions, and was used as a winger, as an attacking midfielder, or even as a second striker; his Juventus manager Giovanni Trapattoni often struggled to find a suitable position for him, however, as he deemed him to be inconsistent, and felt his defensive work-rate was too low for him to be deployed as a wide midfielder, but that he was too unreliable in front of goal to be used in a more offensive role. In spite of his tall, large build, Marocchino possessed excellent technique, control, and dribbling skills, which along with his physique, enabled him to defend the ball under pressure, and beat opponents, both in one on one situations or during individual runs. He was also a good passer, who was known for his ability to play the ball on the ground.[1]

Honours
Juventus[1]

References
  1. "Gli eroi in bianconero: Domenico MAROCCHINO" (in Italian). Tutto Juve. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
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