{{short description|Italian footballer and manager (born 1949)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Antonello Cuccureddu | image = 1975–76 Juventus FC - Antonello Cuccureddu.jpg | caption = Cuccureddu with Juventus in 1975 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|10|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = Alghero, Italy | height = 1.80 m | currentclub = Grosseto (manager) | clubnumber = | position = Defender, midfielder | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Alghero | years1 = 1966–1967 | years2 = 1967–1969 | years3 = 1969–1981 | years4 = 1981–1984 | years5 = 1984–1985 | clubs1 = Torres | clubs2 = Brescia | clubs3 = Juventus | clubs4 = Fiorentina | clubs5 = Novara | caps1 = 34 | caps2 = 22 | caps3 = 303 | caps4 = 34 | caps5 = 22 | goals1 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | goals3 = 26 | goals4 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | totalcaps = 415 | totalgoals = 26 | nationalyears1 = 1975–1978 | nationalteam1 = Italy | nationalcaps1 = 13 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 1989–1995 | manageryears2 = 1997–1998 | manageryears3 = 1998 | manageryears4 = 1999–2001 | manageryears5 = 2002–2003 | manageryears6 = 2004–2005 | manageryears7 = 2005–2006 | manageryears8 = 2006–2007 | manageryears9 = 2007–2008 | manageryears10 = 2009–2010 | manageryears11 = 2013–2014 | managerclubs1 = Juventus (''youth team'') | managerclubs2 = Acireale | managerclubs3 = Ternana | managerclubs4 = Crotone | managerclubs5 = Al-Ittihad | managerclubs6 = Avellino | managerclubs7 = Torres | managerclubs8 = Grosseto | managerclubs9 = Perugia | managerclubs10 = Pescara | managerclubs11 = Grosseto | pcupdate = 27 January 2014 | ntupdate = }}
'''Antonello Cuccureddu''' ({{IPA|it|antoˈnɛllo kukkuˈrɛddu}}, {{IPA|sc|kukuˈɾeɖːu|lang}}; 4 October 1949) is an Italian association football coach and former player who played as a defender. He last managed Lega Pro Prima Divisione club Grosseto in 2014.
==Club career== thumb|left|Cuccureddu with ''Bianconeri'' in 1969
A central defender, Cuccureddu spent his club playing career with Brescia (1968–69), Juventus (1969–81, winning six Serie A titles), and Fiorentina (1981–83).<ref name="Tutto Juve">{{cite web | url = https://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-antonello-cuccureddu-64915 | title = Gli eroi in bianconero: Antonello Cuccureddu |publisher = Tutto Juve | author1 = Stefano Bedeschi | language = it | date = 4 October 2013 | access-date = 19 October 2015}}</ref>
Rather prolific for being a defender (he had a very strong long distance shot), in one league season he managed to score 12 goals (during the 1973–74 Italian Serie A season), although in that season he played as a midfielder. His most famous goal in the league was scored at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, facing A.S. Roma in the last match of the 1972–73 Serie A season while the game was less than three minutes shy from being over.<ref name="Scudetto 1973">{{Cite news | language = it | url = http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,10/articleid,0149_02_1973_0117_0010_4920406/ | title = Giorno di gloria per Cuccureddu | trans-title = Day of glory for Cuccureddu | date = 21 May 1973 | access-date = 21 December 2025 | work = Stampa Sera | location = Turin | page = 10 | author1 = Bruno Bernardi }}</ref> With that goal Juventus beat Roma 2–1 and won their 15th domestic title by 1 point over A.C. Milan<ref name="Scudetto 1973" />, who were leading the league until the final match of the season, and finished 2 points over S.S. Lazio.<ref name="Tutto Juve"/>
==International career== {{right|[[File:Italia-Turchia 1-0, Firenze, 23 settembre 1978 .jpg|thumb|left|Cuccureddu (standing, first from the left) with the Italy national team at Florence in 1978]]}}
At international level, Cuccureddu earned 13 caps for the Italy national football team, and played in the 1978 FIFA World Cup (where he featured in 5 fixtures, including the match against Argentina, which Italy won 1–0, and the 3rd place final against Brazil, which Italy lost 1–2).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=360&squadra=1|title=CUCCUREDDU ANTONELLO|publisher=FIGC|language=it|access-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054928/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=360&squadra=1|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Style of play== Cuccureddu was a hard-working and tactically versatile footballer, who was capable of aiding his team both offensively and defensively, and of playing anywhere in defence or midfield. Throughout his career, he was primarily deployed as a defender, and was capable of playing as an offensive wing-back, as a full-back, or as a centre-back, which was his usual position. He also played in midfield on occasion, which was his initial position at the beginning of his career, and was deployed as a mezzala, as a central, box-to-box, defensive midfielder, or attacking midfielder on occasion.<ref name="Tutto Juve"/><ref name="Treccani">{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/antonello-cuccureddu_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/|title=CUCCUREDDU, Antonello|publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002)|author1=Alberto Polverosi|language=it|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="La Stampa">{{cite news|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,14/articleid,0129_01_1970_0019_0014_6309545/|title=Un Cuccureddu da maglia azzurra|trans-title=A Cuccureddu worthy of an azzurri shirt|publisher=La Stampa|page=14|author1=Paolo Bertoldi|language=it|date=27 January 1970|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://it.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0242-0e9cae43dedd-903cb06868bc-1000--dalla-fiorentina-alla-juve-e-viceversa/ |title=Dalla Fiorentina alla Juve (e viceversa) |trans-title=From Fiorentina to Juve (and vice versa) |publisher=UEFA |language=it |last1=Balaudo |first1=Fabio |date=8 February 2018 |access-date=26 February 2020 }}</ref> [[File:1973–74 Serie A - Juventus FC v AS Roma - Cuccureddu's goal.jpg|thumb|left|Cuccureddu (second from right) scoring a goal from a free kick for Juventus in 1974]]
As a footballer, he was known in particular for his dynamism, stamina, his ability to read the game, vision, and tactical intelligence. Although he was primarily a defensive-minded player, he was quite prolific in front of goal throughout his career, as he possessed an accurate and powerful shot with his right foot from outside the area, which also made him a dangerous goal threat; due to his striking ability, he was an accurate set-piece and penalty kick taker.<ref name="Tutto Juve"/><ref name="Treccani"/><ref name="La Stampa"/>
==Managerial career== As a coach, he won both the Torneo di Viareggio and the Campionato Nazionale Primavera in 1994 with the Juventus Primavera side.<ref name=tuttojuve.com>{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttojuve.com/altre-notizie/cuccureddu-a-come-eravamo-su-juventus-channel-18598|title=Cuccureddu a "Come Eravamo", su Juventus Channel|publisher=Tutto Juve|language=it|date=31 March 2010|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> During the 1999–2000 Serie C1 season, he led Crotone to the Girone B title, helping the club to Serie B promotion.<ref name=ilcrotonese.it>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilcrotonese.it/amaro-esordio-del-crotone-cuccureddu-dimenticare-la-c/|title=Amaro esordio del Crotone Cuccureddu: dimenticare la C|publisher=Il Crotonese|language=it|date=4 September 2000|access-date=19 October 2015|archive-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422142311/http://www.ilcrotonese.it/amaro-esordio-del-crotone-cuccureddu-dimenticare-la-c/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In the 2006–07 season he led Grosseto to become Serie C1/A winners and gain a historical first-ever promotion to Serie B.<ref name=diariosportivo.it>{{cite web|url=https://sardegna.diariosportivo.it/ultimora/antonello-cuccureddu-torna-pista-lex-dt-dellalghero-il-nuovo-tecnico-del-grosseto-prima-div|title=Antonello Cuccureddu torna in pista, l'ex dt dell'Alghero è il nuovo tecnico del Grosseto in Prima Divisione|publisher=Sardegna - Diario Sportivo|language=it|date=27 November 2013|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> Cuccureddu left Grosseto soon after the end of the season to join Serie C1 club Perugia, where he did not manage to repeat his successes at Grosseto. From March 2009 he was the new head coach of Lega Pro Prima Divisione side Pescara;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pescaracalcio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2314&Itemid=2 |publisher=Pescara Calcio |title=REVOCATO L'INCARICO A GALDERISI |access-date=2009-03-23 |date=2009-03-23 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pescaracalcio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2315&Itemid=2 |publisher=Pescara Calcio |title=CAMBIO IN PANCHINA: ARRIVA CUCCUREDDU |access-date=2009-03-23 |date=2009-03-23 |language=it}}</ref> this adventure ended in January 2010, when he was replaced by Eusebio Di Francesco, former coach of Lanciano. In 2013, he returned to Grosseto in Lega Pro Prima Divisione, where he remained until January 2014, after being sacked, due to the club's negative results.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lanazione.it/grosseto/sport/calcio/2014/01/27/1016740-grosseto-esonero-cuccureddu.shtml|title=Grosseto, Cuccureddu esonerato. La panchina affidata a Leonardo Acori|publisher=La Nazione|language=it|date=27 January 2014|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref>
==Coaching tactics== As a coach, Cuccureddu built his teams on tactically traditional formations, based on defensive stability, favouring a four-man defensive line in either a 4–4–2,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.affaritaliani.it/sport/cuccureddu1405.html|title=Il personaggio/ Cuccureddu, bandiera della Juve, porta il Grosseto nella storia: promozione in B dopo 95 anni|trans-title=The person/ Cuccureddu, symbol of June, makes Grosseto history: Serie B promotion after 95 years|publisher=Affari Italiani|language=it|date=14 May 2007|access-date=19 October 2015|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917195303/http://www.affaritaliani.it/sport/cuccureddu1405.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> or a 4–3–1–2 formation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ricerca.gelocal.it/ilcentro/archivio/ilcentro/2009/03/26/CS4PO_CS401.html|title=Pescara, nuovo corso con tante novità tattiche|trans-title=Pescara, new course with many tactical novelties|publisher=La Repubblica|author1=Luigi Di Marzio|language=it|date=26 March 2009|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ricerca.gelocal.it/ilcentro/archivio/ilcentro/2009/11/26/CS3PO_CS301.html|title=Pescara, rivoluzione tattica|trans-title=Pescara, tactical revolution|publisher=La Repubblica|author1=Luigi Di Marzio|language=it|date=26 November 2009|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref>
==Honours== ===Player=== ;Juventus<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myjuve.it/giocatori-juventus/antonello-cuccureddu-palmares-9.aspx|title=Antonello Cuccureddu: Palmarés|publisher=My Juve|language=it|access-date=19 October 2015|archive-date=5 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705154848/http://www.myjuve.it/giocatori-juventus/antonello-cuccureddu-palmares-9.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Serie A (6): 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81 * Coppa Italia: 1978–79 * UEFA Cup: 1976–77
'''Individual''' *Juventus FC Hall of Fame: 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 September 2025 |title=Juventus creates its Hall of Fame - Juventus |url=https://www.juventus.com/en/news/articles/juventus-creates-its-hall-of-fame |access-date=10 September 2025 |website=Juventus.com |language=en}}</ref>
===Manager=== ;Juventus Primavera<ref name=tuttojuve.com/> *Torneo di Viareggio: 1994 *Campionato Nazionale Primavera: 1993–94
;Crotone<ref name=ilcrotonese.it/> *Serie C1 (Girone B): 1999–2000
;Grosseto<ref name=diariosportivo.it/> *Serie C1 (Girone A): 2006–07
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Juventus FC Hall of Fame}} {{Italy Squad 1978 World Cup}} {{S.E.F. Torres 1903}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cuccureddu, Antonello}} Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Italian men's footballers Category:Italian football managers Category:Italy men's international footballers Category:Italy men's under-21 international footballers Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players Category:Serie A players Category:Serie B players Category:Serie C players Category:Brescia Calcio players Category:Juventus FC players Category:ACF Fiorentina players Category:Novara FC players Category:People from Alghero Category:Footballers from the Province of Sassari Category:US Avellino 1912 managers Category:FC Crotone managers Category:US Grosseto 1912 managers Category:Ternana Calcio managers Category:AC Perugia Calcio managers Category:Delfino Pescara 1936 managers Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players Category:SEF Torres 1903 players Category:Polisportiva Alghero players Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen