Gianluca Pagliuca is an Italian football coach and former professional goalkeeper.
15 Facts About Gianluca Pagliuca
2.
Gianluca Pagliuca is regarded by pundits as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, and one of Italy's best keepers ever.
3.
Gianluca Pagliuca is the player with the fifth most appearances, and the second best penalty-stopper in Serie A behind Samir Handanovic, although other specialists such as Julio Cesar and Handanovic have a higher success rate.
4.
On 17 September 2006, Gianluca Pagliuca set the record for most Serie A appearances for a goalkeeper, overtaking Dino Zoff, as he started against Messina.
5.
Gianluca Pagliuca received the dubious honour of being the first goalkeeper to be sent off in a World Cup match, when he was dismissed for handling outside his area against Norway.
6.
Under Cesare Maldini, Gianluca Pagliuca would have taken part to the 1998 World Cup only as a back-up, but he earned the starting spot because of a last-minute injury to Peruzzi.
7.
Gianluca Pagliuca made one of the saves of the tournament, again against Norway, when he shot out a hand to prevent Tore Andre Flo's point-blank header from netting.
8.
However, Italy lost against host country France in the quarter-final after the penalty shootout, even though Gianluca Pagliuca blocked Bixente Lizarazu's shot.
9.
Gianluca Pagliuca re-joined his hometown club Bologna as a youth coach in 2014, and was appointed goalkeeping coach of the club's primavera team in 2016, a role he continues to occupy.
10.
Gianluca Pagliuca provides regular interviews and commentary to the Italian and international sporting media.
11.
An agile, consistent and athletic goalkeeper, Gianluca Pagliuca was renowned for his excellent reactions, diving saves, and penalty-stopping abilities, as well as his control of the ball, accurate distribution, and deep goal kicks with his left foot.
12.
Under coaches Sven-Goran Eriksson and Arrigo Sacchi, who relied on high defensive lines, Gianluca Pagliuca used to play as a sweeper-keeper.
13.
Gianluca Pagliuca was born in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna and supports local side Bologna FC 1909, to which he made 248 appearances at between 1999 and 2006.
14.
Furthermore, Gianluca Pagliuca has spoken of his support for Premier League club Aston Villa FC.
15.
Gianluca Pagliuca made his Serie A debut in December 2020 for Bologna FC 1909 as a winger.