Born in Sardinia, he was a popular Italian footballer who played for Nuorese, Torres, Napoli, alongside Diego Maradona, and Parma before joining London club Chelsea in November 1996. He played 312 games for Chelsea and scored 80 goals.
During his career he played 35 times for Italy between 1991 and 1997. In 2006 he began his coaching career as assistant manager of the Italy Under 21 team which reached the quarter-finals of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In September that year, he became manager of London club West Ham. He developed a team with skill and flair but the results did not come and at the end of the 2009/10 season, he left the club. Also managed Watford, Cagliari, Al-Arabi and Birmingham.
He plays his golf at the London Club. This is the third time he has played in the Alfred Dunhill Links. Says his most ‘forgettable’ moment was driving out of bounds left on the 1st hole of the Old Course.
