{{Short description|Italian footballer (born 1966)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Luca Marchegiani | image = Luca Marchegiani, 2003.jpg | caption = Marchegiani in 2003 | full_name = Luca Marchegiani | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|2|22|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Ancona]], Italy | height = 1.88 m | position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]] | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Jesi | years1 = 1984–1987 | years2 = 1985–1986 | years3 = 1987–1988 | years4 = 1988–1993 | years5 = 1993–2003 | years6 = 2003–2005 | clubs1 = [[Jesina Calcio|Jesi]] | clubs2 = → Aurora Latini (loan) | clubs3 = [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]] | clubs4 = [[Torino FC|Torino]] | clubs5 = [[SS Lazio|Lazio]] | clubs6 = [[AC ChievoVerona|Chievo]] | caps1 = 33 | caps2 = 0 | caps3 = 1 | caps4 = 146 | caps5 = 243 | caps6 = 66 | totalcaps = 489 | goals1 = 0 | goals2 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | goals4 = 0 | goals5 = 0 | goals6 = 0 | totalgoals = 0 | nationalyears1 = 1992–1996 | nationalteam1 = [[Italy national football team|Italy]] | nationalcaps1 = 9 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{fb|ITA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}} {{Medal|RU|[[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]|}} }} '''Luca Marchegiani''' ({{IPA|it|ˈluːka markeˈdʒaːni}}; born 22 February 1966) is an Italian former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]].
He represented several Italian clubs throughout his career, in particular [[Torino FC|Torino]] and [[SS Lazio|Lazio]], where he won various titles. At international level, he played for the [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]] in the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]], where they reached the [[1994 FIFA World Cup Final|final]].
He holds the longest unbeaten streak in Lazio's history, as well as the joint [[Football records in Italy#Goalkeeping|eighth-highest unbeaten streak in Serie A]], alongside [[Gianluigi Buffon]], having gone 745 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal in the Italian top division.<ref>{{cite web|language=Italian|url=https://www.repubblica.it/sport/2016/03/10/foto/buffon_e_gli_altri_i_record_di_imbattibilita_della_serie_a-135170251/1/#8|title=Buffon e gli altri: i record di imbattibilità. Il n.1 della Juventus sul trono con 974'|website=repubblica.it|date=20 March 2016|accessdate=2 July 2020}}</ref>
==Club career== After beginning his professional career with [[Jesina Calcio|Jesi]] in 1986, for one season in the lower divisions, and subsequently [[Brescia Calcio|Brescia]] for a [[1987–88 Serie B|season]], in [[Serie B]], Marchegiani spent the majority of his career at [[Torino FC]] and [[SS Lazio]]. With Torino (1988–1993), he won the [[1992–93 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] in 1993, and a [[1990–91 Serie B|Serie B title]] and a [[Mitropa Cup]] in 1991, earning promotion to [[Serie A]]; he also finished runner-up in the [[1993 Supercoppa Italiana]] and the [[1991–92 UEFA Cup]], and managed a third-place finish in [[Serie A]] during the [[1991–92 Serie A|1991–92 season]], whilst playing for the club.<ref name="Treccani">{{cite book|language=Italian|author=Enrico Maida|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/luca-marchegiani_(Enciclopedia-dello-Sport)|chapter=MARCHEGIANI, Luca|title=Enciclopedia dello Sport|year=2002|pages=754–755}}</ref>
At one point in his career, Marchegiani was the most expensive goalkeeper in the world, when he joined Lazio from Torino in 1993 for £6m;<ref name=refindependant>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080530122355/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/pound9m-custodian-who-breaks-footballs-no-1-rule-460631.html £9m custodian who breaks football's No 1 rule]</ref> during this period he was regarded as one of the best and most reliable goalkeepers in Italy and in world football. During his time with Lazio he won the [[1999–2000 Serie A|Serie A]], two [[Coppa Italia|Italian Cups]], two [[Supercoppa Italiana|Italian Supercups]], an [[1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]], and an [[1999 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], also reaching another [[1998 UEFA Cup Final|UEFA Cup Final in 1998]]. In 2003, he moved to and ended his playing career at [[AC ChievoVerona|ChievoVerona]], where he remained until retiring in 2005.<ref name="Treccani"/>
==International career== Marchegiani played for [[Italy national football team]] on 9 occasions between 1991 and 1996. He was initially selected by [[Arrigo Sacchi]] as the successor of the former first-choice keeper [[Walter Zenga]],<ref>{{cite news|language=Italian|title=Sacchi ha deciso: fuori Zenga|newspaper=Corriere della Sera|author=Fabio Monti|page=34|date=5 September 1992}}</ref> but lost his place after a mediocre performance in a 2–2 draw against [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] during the [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification]]:<ref name=garanzini>{{cite news|title=Le pagelle di un anno|newspaper=[[Corriere della Sera]]|author=Gigi Garanzini|language=Italian|page=29|date=28 June 1993}}</ref> he conceded the first goal, scored by [[Christophe Ohrel]], after failing to catch a cross, an unusual mistake for him, and then poorly controlled a [[Back-pass rule|back-pass]] with his feet, enabling the opposing striker [[Stéphane Chapuisat]] to score for the second time.<ref>{{cite news|language=Italian|title=Il cuore è grande, ma l'Italia no|author=Giancarlo Padovan|newspaper=Corriere della Sera|page=42|date=15 October 1992}}</ref>
At the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] he was selected as Italy's second-choice keeper behind [[Gianluca Pagliuca]], who was more skilled with the ball at his feet,<ref>{{cite web|language=Italian|author=Matteo Botti|url=https://www.lalaziosiamonoi.it/non-solo-lazio/marchegiani-ricorda-orgoglioso-la-sua-parata-piu-bella-in-supercoppa-europea-con-la-lazio-un-intervento-impossibile-40283|title=Marchegiani ricorda orgoglioso la sua parata più bella: "In Supercoppa Europea con la Lazio, un intervento impossibile"|website=lalaziosiamonoi.it|date=2 January 2014}}</ref> but still managed to play three matches:<ref name=reffifa>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080701162440/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=77250/index.html FIFA Player Statistics: Luca Marchegiani]</ref> his first appearance was as a substitute against [[Norway national football team|Norway]], following the sending off of Pagliuca, coming on for [[Roberto Baggio]], and helping the 10-man Italian squad to keep a clean sheet and win the match 1–0; he also appeared in the final group match against [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] (a 1–1 draw), and in the 2–1 extra-time victory over [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] in the round of 16.<ref name=fifa2>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=84/results/matches/match=3064/report.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014125714/http://fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=84/results/matches/match=3064/report.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 October 2007|title=1994 FIFA World Cup USA|publisher=FIFA.com|accessdate=16 December 2015}}</ref> Despite Marchegiani's excellent performances, which led some pundits to advocate his confirmation, Pagliuca recovered the starting spot after his two-game suspension,<ref>{{cite news|language=Italian|author=Fabrizio Bocca|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/09/pagliuca-il-posto-mio-marchegiani.html|title=Pagliuca: "Il posto è mio". Marchegiani in silenzio|newspaper=la Repubblica|date=9 July 1994}}</ref> and played the remaining games. Italy reached the [[1994 FIFA World Cup Final|final]], where they lost to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] on [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalties]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato|title=Nazionale in cifre: Marchegiani, Luca|website=www.figc.it|language=Italian|accessdate=22 April 2015}}</ref>
==Style of play== A consistent, elegant, intelligent, composed and complete goalkeeper, Marchegiani is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation. He was known in particular for his agility, positional sense, reactions, and his speed when [[Goalkeeper (association football)#Sweeper-keeper|rushing off his line]], as well as his efficient technique, reliable handling, movement, and his ability to read the game; in particular, he stood out throughout his career for his outstanding ability to come out and claim crosses and high balls. In addition to his shot-stopping abilities, he was also remembered for his professionalism, as well as his dedication.<ref name="Treccani"/><ref name=ilportiere>{{cite web|url=http://ilportiere.com/interviste/interviste-portieri/luca-marchegiani-storia-di-un-portiere-vero/964-luca-marchegiani-storia-di-un-portiere-vero.html|title=Luca Marchegiani: "storia di un portiere vero".|accessdate=12 November 2014 |last1=Com |first1=Ilportiere }}</ref><ref name="Sarti vota Marchegiani">{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,33/articleid,0696_01_1995_0056_0041_10284763/|title=Sarti vota Marchegiani|publisher=La Stampa|page=41|language=Italian|date=26 February 1995|accessdate=1 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="lalaziosiamonoi">{{cite web|url=http://www.lalaziosiamonoi.it/news/marchegiani-svela-ho-avuto-la-possibilita-di-giocare-nella-roma-ma-poi-su-gascoigne-32329|title=Marchegiani svela: "Ho avuto la possibilità di giocare nella Roma, ma...". Poi su Gascoigne...|publisher=lalaziosiamonoi.it|language=Italian|author1=Alessio Bernardini|date=10 February 2013|accessdate=1 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="In porta si cambia Marchegiani spera">{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,15/articleid,1297_02_1991_0252_0015_19176916/|title=In porta si cambia Marchegiani spera|publisher=La Stampa|page=15|language=Italian|author1=Bruno Bernardi|date=11 November 1991|accessdate=1 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="cinquantamila">{{cite web|url=http://www.cinquantamila.it/storyTellerThread.php?threadId=MARCHEGIANI+Luca|title=Luca Marchegiani|website=cinquantamila.it|publisher=Corriere della Sera|language=Italian|author1=Giorgio Dell’Arti|date=6 May 2014|accessdate=1 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsports.it/2018/09/08/classifica-dieci-portieri-italiani-piu-forti/ |title=La classifica dei 10 portieri italiani più forti di tutti i tempi |publisher=www.foxsports.it |language=Italian |author1=Stefano Fiori |date=8 September 2018 |accessdate=22 September 2018 }}</ref> In spite of his reserved character, he was a resolute goalkeeper, who inspired confidence in his defenders.<ref name="La partita dei portieri è cominciata"/><ref name="diversi">{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,34/articleid,0777_01_1993_0065_0058_10977320/|title=Tacconi: così bravi, così diversi|publisher=La Stampa|accessdate=30 October 2017|page=34|language=Italian|author1=Bruno Bernardi|date=7 March 1993}}</ref><ref name="notti magiche">{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,36/articleid,0874_01_1991_0167_0034_12206064/|title=Le notti magiche di Marchegiani|publisher=La Stampa|page=36|language=Italian|author1=Franco Badolato|date=24 July 1991|accessdate=30 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Marchegiani si tuffa su Van Basten">{{cite web|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,25/articleid,0888_01_1991_0300_0025_12468489/|title=Marchegiani si tuffa su Van Basten|publisher=La Stampa|page=25|language=Italian|author1=Fabio Vergnano|date=7 December 1991|accessdate=30 October 2017}}</ref> Although he was not particularly adept or confident with the ball at his feet following the establishment of the [[back-pass rule]],<ref name=garanzini/> and did not have a particularly powerful or deep goal kick, he possessed excellent vision,<ref name="La partita dei portieri è cominciata">{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1994/07/07/la-partita-dei-portieri-cominciata.html|title=La partita dei portieri è cominciata|newspaper=[[la Repubblica]]|date=7 July 1994|author=Licia Granello|language=Italian|accessdate=5 December 2016}}</ref> and later worked to improve this aspect of his game throughout his career.<ref name="Sarti vota Marchegiani"/><ref name=ilnumero1>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilnumero1.it/intervista-a-luca-marchegiani-giocare-con-i-piedi-che-trauma/|title=Intervista a Luca Marchegiani: "Giocare con i piedi, che trauma!"|publisher=Il Numero 1|language=Italian|date=4 January 2014|accessdate=15 October 2015}}</ref> He was also effective at stopping penalties: in his career, he stopped 18 penalties in Serie A from 69 attempts in 422 appearances between 1988 and 2005, with a career save percentage of 26.1%; he has saved the [[Football records in Italy#Most penalties saved|fourth–highest number of penalties in Serie A history]]. During the [[2003–04 Serie A|2003–04 season]], he saved five spot kicks.<ref name="I 7 portieri pararigori della storia della Serie A">{{cite web|url=http://www.today.it/sport/portieri-pararigori-serie-a.html|title=I 7 portieri pararigori della storia della Serie A|publisher=Today.it|language=Italian|author1=Davide Martini|date=27 January 2014|accessdate=1 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="Rigori, riparte la sfida degli Infallibili">{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/ottobre/25/Rigori_riparte_sfida_degli_Infallibili_co_9_081025099.shtml|title=Rigori, riparte la sfida degli infallibili|publisher=Corriere della Sera|language=Italian|author1=Tomaselli Paolo|date=25 October 2008|accessdate=11 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="Handanovic come Pagliuca">{{cite web|url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2020/01/12/handanovic-rigori-parati-serie-a-classifica|title=Handanovic come Pagliuca, la classifica dei migliori pararigori della storia della Serie A|publisher=sport.sky.it|language=Italian|date=12 January 2020}}</ref>
Because of his calm and composure, he was nicknamed ''Il Conte'' ("The Count").<ref>{{cite book|title=Dizionario della grande Lazio|author1=Sandro Bocchio|author2=Giovanni Tosco|publisher=Newton Compton Editori|year=2000|page=112}}</ref> He has cited [[Giovanni Galli]] as one of his major influences as a goalkeeper.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ilportiere.com/dal-sito/interviste/item/964-luca-marchegiani-storia-di-un-portiere-vero.html |title=Luca Marchegiani: "storia di un portiere vero". |publisher=www.ilportiere.com |language=Italian |date=5 June 2007 |access-date=6 June 2021 |last1=Com |first1=Ilportiere }}</ref>
==Retirement== Marchegiani works as a pundit for [[Sky Italia]]. He features in [[Konami]]'s ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer]]'' series as a technical commentator; from the [[Pro Evolution Soccer 2012|2012]] edition to the [[Pro Evolution Soccer 2014|2014]] edition, he featured alongside [[Pierluigi Pardo]], while he was subsequently partnered with [[Fabio Caressa]] from the [[Pro Evolution Soccer 2015|2015]] edition onwards.
==Personal life== His son [[Gabriele Marchegiani]] made his professional debut as a goalkeeper in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Serie-B/02-12-2016/marchegiani-ora-non-dite-che-sono-figlio-papa-1701081040863.shtml|title=Marchegiani: "Ora non dite che sono figlio di papà"|trans-title=Marchegiani: "Now you do not say I am the son of Dad"|publisher=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport]]|language=Italian|date=2 December 2016}}</ref>
==Honours==
===Club=== '''Torino''' * [[Serie B]]: [[1990–91 Serie B|1990–91]] * [[Coppa Italia]]: [[1992–93 Coppa Italia|1992–93]] * [[Mitropa Cup]]: 1991
'''Lazio''' * [[Serie A]]: [[1999–00 Serie A|1999–2000]] * [[Coppa Italia]]: [[1997–98 Coppa Italia|1997–98]], [[1999–2000 Coppa Italia|1999–2000]] * [[Supercoppa Italiana]]: [[1998 Supercoppa Italiana|1998]], [[2000 Supercoppa Italiana|2000]] * [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final|1998–99]] * [[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[1999 UEFA Super Cup|1999]]
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Italy squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marchegiani, Luca}} [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Italian men's footballers]] [[Category:Italy men's international footballers]] [[Category:Brescia Calcio players]] [[Category:Torino FC players]] [[Category:SS Lazio players]] [[Category:AC ChievoVerona players]] [[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]] [[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]] [[Category:Footballers from Ancona]] [[Category:Serie A players]] [[Category:Serie B players]] [[Category:Serie C players]] [[Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen]]