The Most Notable Italian Goalkeepers Abroad in European Competitions

 

Only a few Italian goalies have managed to shine abroad and play crucial roles in their club’s European campaign.

Italy has been known as one of the best to produce world-class goalkeepers. Yet, most of them reach their stardom while playing for their native sides. They normally ply their trade abroad at the latter stage of their careers.

This season, however, is different. Two Italian goalkeepers have become the key figures in their team’s progress to the last four in the continental campaign.

The first one is surely Gli Azzurri’s current first choice, Gianluigi Donnarumma. The former AC Milan star has established himself as the number one at PSG. He has helped Le Parisien advance to the semifinal three times so far. He could be bringing them further after making at least two clinical saves in the first leg of the UCL semifinal as they thumped Arsenal 1-0 on the road.

Another one is his understudy in the national team, Gugliemo Vicario. He has been instrumental in Tottenham’s positive run in the Europa League. He put on a great display when Spurs knocked out the 2022 champions, Eintracht Frankfurt, in the quarterfinal. Spurs have made their way to the last four in Europe, which is their first since Pochettino’s side in UCL 2019. They could even progress to the summit after dismantling Bodoe/Glimt 3-1 in the semifinal this week.

Are they the best Italian shot stoppers abroad so far? Well, only among the best. There were a few others who had done the same. Surprisingly, neither was capped or barely featured regularly on the international stage. Here are those underrated names. Their contribution in helping their club to advance further in the European competition is the key factor rather than the titles they won abroad.

Carlo Cudicini (Chelsea)

Cudicini was part of the Chelsea squad from 1999 to 2009. Initially, he was only Ed De Goey’s understudy. The former Lazio goalkeeper started to play regularly in the 2001/02 season and became the first choice under Claudio Ranieri until 2004/05.

It was the time when Petr Čech arrived that he saw fewer minutes on the pitch. He remained in Stamford Bridge till 2008/09. Overall, he featured in 216 games and made 101 clean sheets.

Cudicini is regarded as one of the best Italian goalkeepers abroad, as he helped the Blues reach their first semi-final in UCL 2003/04. It was an important milestone for the club despite the fact that it was not a convincing campaign in the eyes of their owner at that time, Roman Abramovich.

Cudicini was actually sidelined at the quarterfinals when they beat Arsenal and the first leg of the semifinal as Monaco thumped the Blues 3-1. He was back in the lineup in the second leg at home. The Blues did lead 2-0 first before Hugo Ibarra and Fernando Morientes struck the equaliser.

He remained playing abroad following his exit by signing for Tottenham and LA Galaxy. Yet, he was not the first choice in either of them.

Flavio Roma (Monaco)

He was probably the underrated Italian goalkeeper who did not have an opportunity to make his mark on his own home soil. Roma was only the third one in the pecking order while playing for Lazio in his early years. He had to be loaned out five times before switching sides to Piacenza. Unfortunately, they were relegated once he played regularly during their time in Serie A.

It was Monaco which provided his way out. In 2001, the principality side signed him, and he soon did not disappoint his employer. Under Didier Deschamps, he was the undisputed first choice and helped them win the French League Cup 2003 and reached the final in UCL 2003/04.

Roma put on a great display between the sticks in the second leg of the quarter final against Real Madrid. His couple of saves contributed to their 3-1 win, which was enough to get them through the semifinal. In the last four, the former AC Milan man made at least four clinical saves in the decisive match versus Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. His saves helped Monaco to avoid the defeat, and they managed to snatch a 2-2 draw after a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture.

Unfortunately, he could not replicate his top form in the final. Jose Mourinho’s Porto trashed his team 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen. During his spells in Monaco, Roma was only able to bring them to finish third three times in 2003,2004 and 2005, plus sit second during his second stint in 2013/14. Overall, the goalkeeper who was only capped three times with Gli Azzurri made 204 appearances for Monaco with 75 clean sheets.