Paolo Orlandoni: From Bolzano to the Bernabèu

Around three decades have passed since Paolo Orlandoni took his first steps onto the football field. It soon became clear that the now 37-year-old would be destined for a career in the goalkeeper position. While his friends distinguished themselves the day after a game at school with dribbling, tricks and goals and described the previous day's game to their classmates, Paolo Orlandoni disappeared somewhere in the background. He wasn't the kind of person who hogged the limelight.

His job was limited to keeping the box clean. To achieve this, he worked meticulously on his ability to react as a teenager and spent hour after hour on the training field. He left the show in the game to others, the talented dribblers and the goal scorers, who fought for the applause of their parents and friends. However, the goalkeeper's patience and tireless commitment were soon to pay off, because after just a few years in the youth sectors of local clubs, he was drawn to further afield.

Inter Milan scouts became aware of Orlandoni and guided him to the traditional Primavera club. But for the first time in his young career, he suffered setbacks and failed to make a breakthrough in Inter's junior team. So the man from Bolzano decided to move to Mantua in the 1991/92 season, where he had the opportunity to gain experience in what was then the C2 series.

It was to be the first of numerous club changes in Paolo Orlandoni's career. Due to strong performances, he then made the jump to Serie B via Leffe, Casarano and Pro Sesto. But after a season at Ancona and Foggia in the second highest division, he was drawn back to Serie C1 to Acireale.

After just one season with the Sicilians, Reggina lured him back to Serie B in the 1998/99 season. His signing turned out to be a real stroke of luck, because in that season the team from Calabria dominated the action in the second division and celebrated at the end Orlandoni's aid promoted promotion to the upper house of football. The goalkeeper soon lived up to his reputation as a wandering bird and left Reggina for Bologna, then stood between the posts for Lazio and Piacenza.

At the age of 32, the longed-for call finally came from “his” club. Inter had come across Paolo Orlandoni in their search for a replacement goalkeeper for Francesco Toldo. For the native of Bolzano, a long-cherished dream came true when he moved to Milan.

Now, five years later, the likeable family man has won almost everything a footballer can win in terms of titles. The highlight of his career was winning the Champions League at the Bernabeu Stadium. Even if he now slipped to the position of third goalkeeper and only watched the final against Bayern Munich from the stands, he was part of this triumph. “Even weeks after winning the title, you can still feel the euphoria in the city,” says the native of Milan Luck doesn't seem to be possible yet: "Beating Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern in one season and thus being named the best team in Europe is the absolute highlight of every player's career."

Even Orlandoni can hardly explain why, in addition to the Champions League, it was enough to win the “Scudetto” and the Italian Cup: “We have a great team that was able to eliminate any misstep. There were repeated setbacks in all three competitions, but in the end we achieved all our goals. Yes, even surpassed.” First and foremost among these successes is the name of the coach, Josè Mourinho, whose authentic demeanor causes a lot of conversation.

“I always had a good relationship with him because he gave every player an important role, regardless of their playing time. “He is a gifted strategist who has consciously taken the pressure off the team in recent months - even if this was not always well received by the media,” Orlandoni pays tribute to the successful coach.

Even without the departure of Mourinho, the goalkeeper would like to celebrate further success with Inter. The end of your career can wait another year. Actually, after the past season, he would have been reserved a position as goalie coach at the “Nerazzurri”. But now the tall man from Bolzano would like to continue for another season.

In addition to the prospect of further titles, the continuation of his career will be sweetened with an annual salary of around one million euros. “Regardless of the money, I just want to keep playing football. “I still feel a lot of energy within me and am always finding new ways to motivate myself to throw myself from one corner of the goal to the other on the training pitch day after day,” says Orlandoni.

His already glorious career continues. “I have invested a lot of time and effort into football, but in return I can look forward to a very successful career,” said the 37-year-old, adding: “I have fond memories of each of my stations, but when I have a season should highlight, then the one in which I was promoted to Serie A with Reggina. As a starting goalkeeper, I contributed to a historic success for Reggio Calabria.”

Orlandoni's commitment now extends far beyond the boundaries of football. One activity that further strengthens his role model function is that of the “Pianeta Down” foundation, which supports mentally and physically disabled people. “I am also trying to raise awareness among other footballers in order to advance the projects of this foundation and support the people affected,” says Orlandoni, whose character traits have also received great recognition off the pitch.

Despite his numerous activities, the professional footballer still occasionally finds time to visit his hometown of Bolzano: “Even though I left South Tyrol early on and have now settled in Milan, I maintain good contacts in Bolzano. Mainly to my sister, who I visit regularly. My hometown offers me a great opportunity to switch off from the stress and hustle and bustle of Milan.

And who knows, maybe I'll return to Bolzano at some point." The South Tyroleans would be fine if the country would gain a resident with a great (sports) personality.

NB: The article is im South Tyrolean SportMagazine Number 19 published on June 17, 2010.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Paolo Orlandoni: From Bolzano to the Bernabèu

Suggestions

Comments (0)