A packed Stadio Ennio Tardini welcomed Parma’s return to Serie A against Udinese on Sunday night with scenes that would not have been out of place during their nineties heyday.
Feared across Europe as they captured two UEFA Cups and a European Cup Winners’ Cup, the team was once awash with a plethora of stars from Gianfranco Zola to Juan Sebastian Veron.
However, amongst the legendary names that past through Emilia-Romagna, one man, who turns 50 today, was there throughout. An often unsung hero during such a transformational period for the club – Antonio Benarrivo.
As the Gialloblu climbed the Italian football pyramid under the likes of Arrigo Sacchi and Nevio Scala, and investment began pouring in from Parmalat, the young full-back was taking his first professional steps with hometown-club Brindisi and then Padova.
The defender flourished in the peninsula’s lower reaches, rather than disappearing into the ranks of a wealthier clubs academy as is often now the case, showcasing offensive tendencies and energetic style.
One year after a historic promotion to Serie A in 1990, the Ducali secured Benarrivo’s signature and immediately became a fixture in coach Scala’s first-team – playing a vital role in a Coppa Italia victory of Juventus.
That defeat of the Bianconeri would ultimately have a more significant impact on the club, helping announce them on the European stage as they clinched the 1993 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Once again, the Italian was crucial in a 3-1 win over Royal Antwerp. Despite being famed for its energy-sapping powers, at Wembley Stadium Benarrivo was a constant threat from right-back, covering what seemed like every blade of grass.
With pinpoint delivery from either foot, Benarrivo was quickly but quietly becoming one of the most accomplished full-backs in Europe and forced himself into an AC Milan-concentrated Azzurri back-line.
Despite the 1993-94 campaign ended with Arsenal wrestling the Cup Winners’ Cup from Parma in Copenhagen, Benarrivo refocused and played a vital role in Italy reaching the World Cup final.
Winning the vital penalty that Roberto Baggio converted to overcome Nigeria, he then showcased his versatility by starting the final against Brazil at left-back, as suspension and injury took its toll on the squad.
It was that adaptability that helped ensure his longevity with the Gialloblu, despite big-spending owners signing the likes of Nestor Sensini, Lilian Thuram and Ze Maria to shore up the defence.
Able to excel at right or left full-back or wing-back, as well as within a back three, Benarrivo remained an important figure, though, as the Ducali secured another European trophy in 1995 – defeating fellow Italians Juventus over two legs in the UEFA Cup final.
With Benarrivo driving Parma on from the flanks, they finished the 1996-97 two points behind champions Juventus and claimed a Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup double in 1999 before his on-the-pitch influence began to wane.
The Italian watched the Coppa Italia final loss to Fiorentina from the bench, but his return to the starting line-up 12 months later in the same competition, to deny the Old Lady a trophy one last time, before the end of his own career coincided with the clubs spectacular decline – Benarrivo retiring in 2004 as the club went bankrupt.
Benarrivo still retains the record for the most Serie A and European games in a Gialloblu shirt, which, given his ability and contribution, make his 23 national caps a confusingly low figure.
Admittedly it was a decade when Italy, with Mauro Tassotti, Christian Panucci, were well stocked with defensive quality and the likes of Javier Zanetti and Cafu also shone in Serie A, however, Benarrivo more than earns his place amongst those names.
