Ivano Bonetti

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ivano Bonetti


fullname = Ivano Bonetti
nickname =
height = height|ft=5|in=10
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1964|8|1
cityofbirth = Brescia
countryofbirth = Italy
currentclub =
position = Manager (former midfielder)
years = 1981-1984
1984-1985
1985-1988
1987-1988
1988-1990
1990-1993
1993-1994
1994-1995
1994-1995
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
2000-2002
clubs =Brescia
Genoa
Juventus
Atalanta
Bologna
Sampdoria
Bologna
Brescia
Torino
Grimsby Town
Tranmere Rovers
Crystal Palace
Genoa C.F.C.
Sestrese
Dundee
caps(goals) = 70 (3) 0? (?) 18 (2) 26 (2) 62 (3) 61 (0) 18 (2) 16 (0) 05 (0) 19 (3) 13 (1) 02 (0) 0? (?) 19 (0) 18 (2)
youthyears =
youthclubs =
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
manageryears = 1998 -1999 2000-2002
managerclubs = Genoa C F C Dundee

Ivano Bonetti (born in Brescia on 1 August 1964) is an Italian football (soccer) manager and former player. His father Aldo played for Brescia until the Second World War, brother Mario played for Atalanta and brother Dario played over 100 games for A.S. Roma and won two caps for Italy. Ivano is believed to be the first Italian to play for an English league club [cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/articles/2007/02/26/brian_laws_career_profile_page_two.shtml |title=Brian Laws - profile continued|author=BBC Sport |accessdate=2007-09-07 |date=2007-03-06 |publisher=BBC]

Grimsby Town

Initial impact

When Bonetti signed for Grimsby Town in 1995, it brought massive national attention to the club and he became an instant fans' favourite. The loyalty of the fans was tested when it was announced that £100,000 was needed to hire Bonetti from the American management company that held the rights to his "services and image"; this was raised by £50,000 from the fans and £50,000 from Bonetti himself, further increasing his appeal. Grimsby, under FIFA regulations, were not allowed to deal with the company and probably could not have afforded the money anyway. [cite web |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19951202/ai_n14021224 |title=Bonetti discovers paradise after Juventus |accessdate=2007-09-07 |last=Moore |first=Glenn |date=1995-12-02 |publisher=Independent, The (London)]

The love affair was completed when he scored the winning goal against West Brom, then managed by former Grimsby boss Alan Buckley and featuring several former Grimsby players.

The "Chicken" Incident

On 10 February 1996, an incident after a 3-2 defeat away to Luton Town led to the departure of Bonetti from Blundell Park. Just a month before Grimsby had beaten them 7-1 in the FA Cup third round. Apparently Brian Laws, angry after the defeat, threw a plate of chicken wings at Bonetti, who he felt did not try hard enough, leaving him with a fractured cheekbone. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2770901.stm |title=When managers attack|author=BBC Sport |accessdate=2007-09-07 |date= 2003-02-17|publisher=BBC] At the end of the season Bonetti left for Tranmere on a free transfer, Laws lasted until November of the next season. At the start of season 1997 - 98 Bonetti turned up at Crystal Palace shortly before returning to Italy to manage Genoa (football).

Continuing Affection

The fact that Bonetti came third in the BBCs "Cult heroes" poll in 2004, [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/football_focus/3581200.stm |title=Grimsby's cult heroes |author=BBC Sport |accessdate=2007-09-07 |date=2004-08-21 |publisher=BBC] after playing only a handful of games for the club, behind Clive Mendonca (61 league goals) and John McDermott (Over 600 league appearances) shows that affection for the Italian is still high amongst Grimsby supporters.

In 1998, a consortium looking to take over Grimsby Town were planning to install Bonetti as manager, though this later fell through. [cite web |url=http://tranmererovers.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=930&p=2&stid=8375811 |title=Where are they now? - Ivano Bonetti |accessdate=2007-09-07 |last=Ault |first=Richard |date=2005-03-16 |publisher=roversrearguard.com]

Dundee FC

Ivano, along with brother Dario, enjoyed a stint as manager of Dundee F.C. in Scotland, replacing Jocky Scott. During his first season at Dundee, he signed in several foreign players such as Fabián Caballero, Giorgi Nemsadze and, most notably, Argentine superstar Claudio Caniggia, the latter being signed by Rangers only one year later following an impressive season with the club. Despite this, he made only a sixth place in his first season, but was however publicly backed by the club. Further top signings such as Temuri Ketsbaia, Zurab Khizanishvili and Fan Zhiyi failed to make an improvement to the team results, and Dundee ended the 2001-02 season in a disappointing ninth place. He was sacked on July 2, 2002 by the club management. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/2085203.stm|title=The Bonetti years|author=BBC Sport|date=2002-07-02|accessdate=2007-06-22] A few months later he claimed back £800,000 from Dundee, declaring he had loaned the money to his former club in order to perform the signing of Fabián Caballero. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee/3038161.stm|title=Bonetti to sue Dundee|author=BBC Sport|date=2003-05-18|accessdate=2007-06-22]

References

External links

* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19951202/ai_n14021224 Bonetti discovers paradise after Juventus] - Ivano signing for Grimsby, Independent, The (London), Dec 2, 1995
* [http://grimsbytown.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=909&stid=8157956&p=2 Played for the Town: Ivano Bonetti] - Electronic Fishcake player profile
* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20000514/ai_n13949353 Bonetti knows wheeling and dealing won't save his neck at Dens] Sunday Herald, The, May 14, 2000 Bonetti becomes Dundee manager
* [http://digilander.libero.it/mirkodeli/Giocatori/Tabellini/BonettiI.html Italian Playing Stats]
* [http://www.codalmighty.com/site/ca.php?page=t-shirts4 Bonetti T-shirts]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/2085203.stm The Bonetti years] Review of Dundee Management, BBC website
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