Bruno Giorgi

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Lore & Background

Bruno Giorgi's time at Fiorentina was a mix of struggle and European success. After an unremarkable playing career with teams such as Palermo and Reggiana, he became a football coach. Following several experiences in minor league football — including a stint at Vicenza during which he had the opportunity to launch a young Roberto Baggio into his early footsteps into first team football — and immediately after narrowly missing top flight promotion with Serie B outsiders Cosenza, he took the head coaching job at Fiorentina in 1989. This was his first Serie A job. At domestic league level he performed badly, but he also led the club to the 1989–90 UEFA Cup final. However, he was removed from his position before the two-legged final itself was actually played.

In Their Own Story

Giorgi arrived at Fiorentina in 1989 after nearly taking Cosenza to Serie A promotion. The club was in transition, and his domestic results were poor. Yet in Europe, something clicked. He guided the Viola through the rounds of the UEFA Cup, building a run that would end in the final. But the board lost patience with the league form. Before the two-legged final was played, Giorgi was removed from his position. He never got to lead the team in the matches that defined that European campaign.

Reader's Guide

Bruno Giorgi's tenure at Fiorentina lasted only the 1989–90 season. He took over after several minor league experiences, including a stint at Vicenza where he launched a young Roberto Baggio into first team football. He had also narrowly missed top flight promotion with Serie B outsiders Cosenza. At Fiorentina, his first Serie A job, he performed badly at domestic league level. However, he led the club to the 1989–90 UEFA Cup final. He was removed from his position before the two-legged final was actually played. After Fiorentina, he was appointed head coach of Cagliari in 1993, an experience that ended after only one season with a remarkable 1993–94 UEFA Cup semi-final. He returned briefly at Cagliari in 1996 to replace Giovanni Trapattoni, and successively retired from football altogether.

Did You Know?

• Bruno Giorgi was born on 20 November 1940 and died on 22 September 2010.
• He played as a defender for teams such as Palermo and Reggiana.
• At Vicenza, he had the opportunity to launch a young Roberto Baggio into his early footsteps into first team football.
• He led Fiorentina to the 1989–90 UEFA Cup final but was removed before the final was played.
• He later led Cagliari to a remarkable 1993–94 UEFA Cup semi-final.