3. Roberto Mancini.
Very few Premier League fans will have witnessed Mancini’s full exploits as a player, which is a shame because in his day he was quite the footballer.
Perhaps more of a forward than a classical number 10, his ’90s career is virtually bookended by winning Serie A; with his creative, graceful style in direct conflict with his fiery, explosive temperament – ‘Mancio’ was a spectacle to behold for the entire decade.
It began with a bang, gaining a bronze medal as part of Italy’s 1990 World Cup squad, followed by firing his beloved Sampdoria to their only Serie A Championship in 1991 (where he had formed a fearsome attacking partnership with long-time friend Gianluca Vialli). The ‘terrible twins’ as they were known, ran riot home and abroad, reaching the European Cup final at Wembley in 1992 – only to succumb to Barcelona.
Vialli moved on but Mancini stayed and seemed to grow as a player, becoming a symbol and captain. His fiery attitude on the pitch would often see him arguing with match officials as the matches duly continued, but those moments were regularly overshadowed by his genius. Not as prolific as some players in his role, it was the quality of his strikes which really stood out above the others. From flicks to volleys, his goals were often works of art. Probably overlooked outside of Italy, his international career was always hindered by the plethora of quality number 10s Italy produced at the time.
Mancini moved to Lazio in 1997, nearing the twilight of his career; ending the decade with a League and Cup double and winning the league’s Player of the Year award.
’90s clubs: Sampdoria, Lazio
‘90s apps/goals: 296/95
‘90s honours: FIFA World Cup bronze medal, Serie A title x 2, UEFA Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Supercup, Coppa Italia x 3, Serie A Player of the Year
