Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on September 29, 2016, 02:54:07 PM
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Gianluca Pagliuca enjoyed bittersweet emotions on this day in 1994 when Aston Villa defeated Inter Milan.
Goalkeeping legend Pagliuca saw Phil King smash home the winning penalty against him as the Serie A superclub were defeated by Ron Atkinson’s men.
But the Italian legend admits it was a strange evening because he was – and still remains – an avid Villa fan.
On playing against Villa in 1994, he said: "I was happy when I saw the draw because it meant I was able to play at Villa Park, something I had always dreamed of doing.
"But it was also very strange to face the team that I supported.
"The second leg in that beautiful stadium was emotional.
"I remember that we were ahead in the penalty shoot-out - and I saved from Guy Whittingham.
"But we missed our last two penalties before Phil King scored the decisive goal."
Pagliuca, one of Italy's finest goalkeepers, has followed Villa's fortunes since our title-winning campaign of 1980/81, when he was just 14.
He was captivated by the team that swept to glory under Ron Saunders and to a European Cup triumph under Tony Barton 12 months later - and his love for the club has never diminished.
Pagliuca played for Sampdoria, Inter Milan, Bologna and Ascoli during a glittering career which spanned 20 years and more than 600 league games.
He also played 39 times for his country and was the first goalkeeper to make a save in a World Cup final penalty shoot-out when Italy lost to Brazil in the USA in 1994.
Discussing his early recollections of following Villa, he said: "I remember that the first private TV channels started to broadcast English football in Italy - and I became keen on the big challenge for the title with Ipswich Town.
"It was a truly memorable season, even if the results did not arrive to me in real time like they do now!
"I also fell in love with the shirt, which is both beautiful and unique. But the big history of the club also fascinated me."
Recalling the night in Rotterdam, he added: "I remember the moment Jimmy Rimmer got injured very well. I held him in high esteem. He was obviously first-choice keeper.
"When I saw him injured I was very frightened because I was a young fan and had never seen Nigel Spink play - but he was brilliant."
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I love you PWS
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*Whistles innocently*
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Why you!
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I think Archie of this parish has met Gianluca. Maybe we got the wrong Italian all along and a Villa-suppporting duo of Prandelli and Pagliuca is what we need.
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A few of us have met him. He was in the Bartons after a couple of games last season (or may have been the season before).
Nice chap. We couldn't work out if the woman he was with was his wife or his daughter though!
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A few of us have met him. He was in the Bartons after a couple of games last season (or may have been the season before).
Nice chap. We couldn't work out if the woman he was with was his wife or his daughter though!
Girlfriend, Francesca. When I next met him, in Bologna with the Latin Lions, I asked him how she was and got a cold stare. I don't think that relationship lasted very long!
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He is a good lad is Gianluca. If I could be arsed to work out how to post photos I would share one of us in The Bartons.
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Ask him what he think about fellow Italians the manager and goalkeeper.
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A few of us have met him. He was in the Bartons after a couple of games last season (or may have been the season before).
Nice chap. We couldn't work out if the woman he was with was his wife or his daughter though!
Girlfriend, Francesca. When I next met him, in Bologna with the Latin Lions, I asked him how she was and got a cold stare. I don't think that relationship lasted very long!
It was probably those two Villa games that did it.
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Like Randy clearly a fan even if the tatt's not the best quality. https://twitter.com/AvfcArchive/status/1430586380304912385
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Like Randy clearly a fan even if the tatt's not the best quality. https://twitter.com/AvfcArchive/status/1430586380304912385
Bless him! Looks it was drawn by my 6 year old using a permanent marker and an old lipstick!
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Like Randy clearly a fan even if the tatt's not the best quality. https://twitter.com/AvfcArchive/status/1430586380304912385
Bless him! Looks it was drawn by my 6 year old using a permanent marker and an old lipstick!
No, Randy was a lot older then 6.