Top 10 Italian players who have played in the Scottish Premiership
Italy and Scotland have had a well-established relationship for many years despite the thousands of miles between the two countries. The shared love and passion for football has ignited a quiet alliance of Italian players playing in the Scottish Premiership. This partnership also goes both ways with many Scottish players leaving for the Italian football league. As shown with top Scottish players such as Scott Mctominay and Billy Gilmour's recent move to Napoli in Serie A. This long-serving relationship between Italian and Scottish football is only getting stronger throughout the generations. Many Italian players have graced the pitches of clubs such as Celtic, Rangers, and even St Mirren, thus providing an everlasting impact of foreign players in the Scottish League.
Let's dive into the top ten Italian players who have graced our league.
10. Fabrizio Ravanelli
The popular Italian striker had a quiet spell at Dundee, where he made an underwhelming amount of appearances. The striker who previously had won the Champions League (even scoring in the final) and the UEFA Cup, at a chaotic time in Dundee, the agile striker was a fish out of water and eventually returned to Perugia. Despite the short time he played in the Scottish league, his best moment was when he netted a hat trick in a mere seven minutes after being substituted on in the second half of the match against Clyde.
Photo credits to FootballScotland.co.uk
9. Marco Negri
The Italian striker who won the hearts of many Rangers fans from his arrival, was on track to become a beloved sensation with 32 goals in his first season before he suffered a serious eye injury. After the eye injury, the striker struggled to make an impact and was troubled with other injuries before he was eventually sold to Bologna. The strikers best moment in the Scottish league was when he scored all of the five goals against Dundee at Ibrox with no celebrations.
Video credits to @RangersFootballClubOfficial via Youtube
8. Massimo Donati
The midfielder who started his career in clubs such as AC Milan and Atalanta made his way into Scottish football by his move to Celtic. The Italian would then eventually go on to play at Hamilton Academical and also had a spell at St Mirren before hanging up his boots. Donati's best moment was for Celtic, when he secured the win in the UEFA Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Photo credits to GentlemanUltra.com
7.Manuel Pascali
The Italian, who played as a midfielder and as a defender, struggled to find his feet in his native Italy, playing for many lower league teams before ultimately leaving for Kilmarnock. While at Kilmarnock, he established himself as club captain and even played a massive part in the club's journey to the League Cup in 2012. Pascali's best moment was scoring in the iconic win against Rangers, a mere ten minutes before the final whistle.
Video credits to @LeagueLeadingDevelopments via Youtube
6.Paolo Vanoli
After establishing himself as a solid left-back with iconic Italian clubs such as Parma and Fiorentina, he moved to Glasgow to play with Rangers. Although his time at Rangers didn't go as planned, having left with still 6 months left on his contract, he still had an impact on the fans. Vanoli's best moment was scoring for Rangers v Dundee in 2003, fans till this day still reminisce the strike of his goal.
Photo Credits to TheScottishSun.com
5. Sergio Porrini
The Italian defender started in the AC Milan youth system, but really made his mark with Juventus where he, more notably, won a Coppa Italia medal, two Serie A medals and a Champions League medal. Continuing his winning streak with Rangers, in his four years he won two league titles, a League Cup and a Scottish Cup. Porrini's best moment was his crucial goal against St Johnstone when Rangers had dropped down to 10 men.
Photo credits to TheSundayPost.com
4.Lorenzo Amoruso
The serial winner with Fiorentina helped Rangers win numerous cups, such as the Scottish Cup and the League Cup, making him well-loved by Rangers fans, who are proud to call him a Legend of the club. The Italian played for Rangers for six years and even once said: "I began to feel like part of me was Scottish." Amoruso's best moment while in Scotland was when he became captain of Rangers in 1998 by Dutch manager Dick Advocaat. Watch his iconic goal from his favourite match fixture he has played in, The Old Firm.
Video credits to @RangersFootballClubOfficial via Youtube
3.Stefano Salvatori
The adorned Milan youth graduate made his mark around Italy playing for Parma and Fiorentina before making his way to Edinburgh to play for Hearts. His hard-working and tenacious football style had fans in love with his passion for the game. The midfielder was a key contributor in helping Hearts secure the iconic Scottish Cup win in 1998. The late legend's best moment was when he was selected to present the League Trophy at Hampden before the match against St Mirren in 2013.
Photo credits to EdinburghNews.com
2.Paolo Di Canio
The Italian made his mark in Serie A playing for clubs such as Juventus and Napoli, before embarking on a season with Celtic. His arrival brought Italian passion and excitement in the air in Scotland at a time when the league was deflated, he had fans excited and was all the hype for the season before he left to go conquer the English league. The centre-forwards best moment was with Celtic when he scored that iconic goal against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, securing the Boxing Day victory for Celtic.
Video credits to FootballFrenzy247 via Youtube
1.Gennaro Gattuso
The iconic midfielder had his start-up on the pitches of Glasgow, moving from Perugia to play for Rangers as a teenager. The World Cup winner and Italian football legend played with Rangers for only a season due to many issues with management and coaching changes, however he left a lasting effect of midfield domination that Rangers fans still fantasise about till this day. The midfielders best moment for Rangers was his stunning goal against Hearts in 1998.
Video credits to @RangersFootballClubOfficial via Youtube