On January 6, after a 3-1 loss to Hellas Verona, Udinese captain – and Serie A demi-god – Antonio “Totò” Di Natale, announced his retirement, effective as of end of season.
The striker told Sky Sports Italia “I have already decided, in June I’ll stop playing football. It’s already established.”
The Friulani faithful were flabbergasted, the non-Friulani ficcanassi were flummoxed: an Udinese without Di Natale is barely a soccer team at all.
How would – nay, how will the Northern Italian team fare without the leader who brought them from a mid-level, little, provincial motley crew to Champions League qualifying, top tier, talked about in the North American markets, competitor?
This leads to the genuine question: will there ever be a player as influential and as significant as Antonio Di Natale? And not just for Udinese, but for any Italian team.
Born in Naples on October 13 1977, Totò began his career with Empoli’s youth squad before joining the senior side in 1996. Di Natale remained at Empoli—with the exception of various loans—until 2004, when he was traded to Udinese permanently.
In Udine, Di Natale rose into a leadership role reflective of Oliver Bierfhoff and Zico, becoming a phylactery for the club that, in a way, has been unprecedented in contemporary Italian soccer.
For a team like Udinese, who has seen so many greats come and go, it is unsurprising that a player like Di Natale would be regarded in such a high manner, an elevated status that most professional players can only dream of.
Di Natale is not just a star striker, a cunning captain, or the team talisman; the man means more to the club—and its fans—that just mere celebrity.
You see, Di Natale is a god among the Furlan, a god among them because he stayed when everyone else has left. He stayed, when there was no reason to and a better offers to not. He stayed, and did something—almost single footedly—with this team that others could not begin to conceptualize, or conceive.
But now he is leaving and the Little Zebras will, once again, become a lost herd.
Now, do not misinterpret: other players have assisted both Di Natale, and Udinese overall, in success, however none have been as solely and purely instrumental as he. And now that he is gone, the club will have to start again from scratch.
However, this article should not be read as an obituary. Di Natale is not fading away, nor is he fading into obscurity (or worse, MLS). Rather, he is finishing a fantastic career in a city that he now calls his home.
Di Natale will be fine in retirement; he has several charitable works and side projects (discussed here) that he can fall back into.
Rumours have already begun to swirl around him re-joining Empoli in an executive role and smart money would have Udinese owner Giampaolo Pozzo already printing business cards stating whatever title Totò saw fit.
But, what will the remaining, heartbroken Zebrette do; both the club and fans, alike? They are losing more than just a player; they are losing their piè di braùre.
Fortunately, there is not time for anyone to dwell on that now. In the match immediately following the announcement of Di Natale’s retirement, the Zebrette beat Inter 1 – 0 to advance in the Coppa Italia; the team does not seem to be slowing down or wallowing in self pity, so why should the fans?
There’s still half a season left, so let us enjoy it until we officially have to say grasie e mandi mandi Totò.
