Ten years without Bulgarelli

Ten years ago on 12 February 2009, Bologna legend Giacomo Bulgarelli left us. He spent his entire career between 1958 and 1975 with the Rossoblu, becoming the record appearance-maker for the club. He made 486 appearances overall, including 391 in Serie A, 1 in the Scudetto playoff against Inter, 54 in the Coppa Italia,  3 in the European Cup, 2 in the Cup Winners’ Cup, 20 in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, 4 in the Mitropa Cup and 2 in the Anglo-Italian Cup. Such numbers say a lot but they can’t capture his status as a charismatic leader who directed a team that played heavenly football. He was the heart, brain and engine of the Bologna midfielder, helping the likes of Nielsen, Haller and Pascutti to score before Muiesan and Savoldi to get goals but the ‘Honourable Giacomino’ also scored 58 goals himself. With him on the pitch, Bologna picked up their last great trophy wins with the 1963-64 Scudetto and two Coppa Italia wins in the 1970s. He also won the Mitropa Cup and Anglo-Italian Cup. His performances for Bologna also earned him a place in the Italy team for whom he won 29 caps, winning the 1968 European Championship and he also finished fourth at the Olympics in Rome. In the 1990s, he was also a well-loved television commentator.

Today, all of Bologna remembers our great legend Giacomo.