Giorgio Bonaventura: Fiorentina's Golden Age of Champions

Giorgio Bonaventura was born in Florence, Italy on June 18, 1924. He is considered one of the greatest football managers in history and his career spanned over four decades. Bonaventura began his managerial career at the age of 27, taking over from Cesare Maldini at the helm of AC Milan.

In his time at Milan, Bonaventura led the club to two consecutive Serie A titles in 1956-57 and 1957-58. This success earned him the nickname "the Black Prince" for his fiery temperament on the pitch. After leaving Milan, Bonaventura went on to manage several other clubs including Atalanta, Inter Milan, and Roma.

One of Bonaventura's most successful periods came during his time at Fiorentina. He took over as manager in 1970 and immediately turned the club around. Under Bonaventura's leadership,Football Radar Fiorentina won three Serie A championships between 1971 and 1974, the last of which came in the memorable 1973-74 season when they defeated Juventus in the final to win their first-ever Italian Cup.

Bonaventura's achievements with Fiorentina were recognized by FIFA, who awarded him the Golden Ball award in 1974 for his outstanding contribution to Italian football. His tenure at Fiorentina was also marked by controversy, as he was accused of match-fixing by some of his players and fans after the club's relegation in 1978.

Despite this, Bonaventura's legacy remains as one of the most successful managers in the history of Italian football. His innovative tactics and ability to turn struggling teams into champions have been emulated by many coaches since his time. Bonaventura passed away on December 15, 2019, but his impact on Italian football will continue to be felt for generations to come.

• Golden
• Giorgio
• Fiorentina
• Bonaventura
• Age