Gianluca Pagliuca is synonymous with Italian football, with the former Sampdoria and Inter goalkeeper most famous for his exploits with Italy during the 1994 World Cup.
But despite spending his whole career playing in his homeland, there is a special place in the Bologna-born stopper’s heart for one English club.
During his career, Pagliuca came close to joining Aston Villa and more than four decades on, the Villans hold a special place in his heart.
Pagliuca on his love for Aston Villa
The 59-year-old first fell for the West Midlanders as a youngster, long before the club were in for him and long before the English top flight became the all-conquering global success now known as the Premier League.
“I fell in love with Aston Villa watching clips of English football on TV in the early ’80s,” Pagliuca tells FourFourTwo.
“I remember those claret-and-blue colours and their title race with Ipswich in 1981.”
It would be 18 years later in 1999 that Villa, then under the stewardship of manager John Gregory, came calling.
“After my time at Inter, before I agreed to join Bologna, I got a call from Villa,” he recalls. “Back then, the Premier League wasn’t what it is today – Serie A was the world’s top league.”
What seemed like a logical decision at the time, given the respective strength of each league at the time, is now a source of regret for the 39-time Italy international.
“If I were playing now, or could go back in time, I’d seize that kind of opportunity immediately – especially in England, which has always fascinated me, but also abroad in general.”
Although that move to Villa Park never materialised, Pagliuca’s affection for the club has only grown stronger over the years, culminating in a permanent reminder of what they mean to him.
“In 2019, before Villa won the play-off final against Derby, I promised my son that, if they got promoted to the Premier League, I’d tattoo their crest on my right arm,” he admits.
“And I did! Even today, I still check their results automatically – it’s a habit I care about.”
