 Lombardo withGalatasaray in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Attilio Lombardo[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1966-01-06)6 January 1966 (age 59)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Santa Maria la Fossa, Italy[2] | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Right winger,right wing-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sampdoria (technical collaborator) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –1983 | Pergocrema | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1985 | Pergocrema | 38 | (9) |
| 1985–1989 | Cremonese | 141 | (17) |
| 1989–1995 | Sampdoria | 201 | (34) |
| 1995–1997 | Juventus | 35 | (2) |
| 1997–1998 | Crystal Palace | 43 | (8) |
| 1999–2000 | Lazio | 33 | (2) |
| 2001–2002 | Sampdoria | 34 | (1) |
| Total | 525 | (73) | |
| International career | |||
| 1990–1997 | Italy | 18 | (3) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1998 | Crystal Palace (caretaker) | ||
| 2006–2007 | Chiasso | ||
| 2008 | Castelnuovo | ||
| 2008–2009 | Legnano | ||
| 2009 | Spezia | ||
| 2023 | Italy U20 | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Attilio Lombardo (Italian pronunciation:[atˈtiːljolomˈbardo]; born 6 January 1966) is an Italian professionalfootball manager and formerplayer, currently working withSampdoria as a technical collaborator.
Throughout his career he was usually deployed as awide midfielder, or as an offensive rightwinger, although he also played as afullback orwingback on occasion later in his career.
Lombardo played for several Italian clubs throughout his career, and is best known for his two spells withSampdoria. He is one of the six players to have won theSerie A title with three different teams: Sampdoria,Juventus, andLazio; the other five players to have managed the same feat areGiovanni Ferrari, Filippo Cavalli,Pietro Fanna,Sergio Gori, andAldo Serena.[3][4][5] Lombardo also had a spell in thePremier League with English sideCrystal Palace. At international level, Lombardo represented theItaly national football team on 19 occasions, although he was never called up for a major tournament.
During his career, he was given the nicknames "Popeye", as he was thought to resemble the cartoon character's appearance due to his own bald head and strong physique, as well as "the Ostrich" (or "Struzzo", in Italian), because of his pace, stamina, and running style. He was also given the nickname "The Bald Eagle" during his time at Crystal Palace.[6][7][8]
Lombardo started his career atPergocrema, having been promoted from the youth squad, inItaly'sSerie C2, in 1983, only 16 years old, before moving up to theSerie B sideCremonese, in 1985, where he made a name for himself, as a more-than-capable right sidedwinger under the guidance of managerTarcisio Burgnich.[6][9]
He was then sent toSerie A sideU.C. Sampdoria for a total fee of 4 billion lira. Playing alongside talented players such asGianluca Vialli,Roberto Mancini,Pietro Vierchowod,Gianluca Pagliuca, andRuud Gullit, under managerVujadin Boškov, Lombardo won several domestic and continental trophies with Sampdoria, such asSerie A, theCoppa Italia, theItalian Super Cup, and theCup Winners' Cup. In the1988–89 season, he picked up medals for theCoppa Italia in1989, facing a rejuvenatedNapoli side with legendaryArgentineattacking midfielderDiego Maradona, only to defeat thePartenopei 4–0. In1990, he lifted his side to victory in theCup Winners' Cup, retaining impressive wins againstBorussia Dortmund,AS Monaco, andR.S.C. Anderlecht in thefinal.[6][9]
The following season, Lombardo won theSupercoppa Italiana in 1991 against previous Serie A championsAS Roma, as well as theSerie A title. In fact, Lombardo also played in the Sampdoria side under Boškov that reached but narrowly lost the1992 European Cup final in extra time toCruyff'sBarcelona. He also enjoyed a successful season in1993–94, where he scored 8 times in Serie A, and 5 in the Coppa Italia, enough to lead his team to a secondCoppa Italia win in1994, where he scored twice in the final.[6][9]
In 1995, Lombardo moved todefending Serie A championsJuventus under coachMarcello Lippi, joining former Sampdoria teammateGianluca Vialli at theTurin- based club. Unfortunately, Lombardo suffered injuries during his two-year spell, but still picked up medals forSerie A,UEFA Champions League, theIntercontinental Cup, and theEuropean Super Cup. In his first season with theBianconeri, Lombardo only scored two goals in the league, starring sporadically in the first team, competing with players such asAntonio Conte andDidier Deschamps for a place in the lineup. Juventus, however, won theUEFA Champions League during the1995–1996 season, regardless of having placed second in the domestic league, followed by theIntercontinental Cup. In Lombardo's second season with Juventus, he also won his secondSerie A title and his firstEuropean Super Cup title, scoring a goal in the first leg againstParis Saint Germain, at theParc des Princes.[6][9] He also reached a second consecutiveUEFA Champions League final with Juventus that season, only to lose out toBorussia Dortmund.
Nevertheless, he failed to score once in his second season; with only two goals in 35 appearances, and due to a string of poor performances, injuries, and inconsistency in Turin, he was released by the club, having been unable to return to the form he had experienced at Sampdoria during his time at Juventus.[6][9] In total, he managed 51 appearances and four goals in all competitions during his time with Juventus.[10]
In 1997, Lombardo was on the move again, joiningPremiership new-boysCrystal Palace. He instantly became the star player and scored on his debut at Everton. In early 1998,Mark Goldberg assumed control of the club, and managerSteve Coppell moved to the Director of Football post. Lombardo, along with Swedish internationalTomas Brolin as aninterpreter, was appointed as caretaker player-manager for the rest of the season.[9]
Lombardo's season was curtailed by injury whilst with the Italy national squad in November (a recall came his way due to sparkling form with the Londoners). At the time of the injury, Palace were 10th in the table, but by the time he returned to the first team in April, they were bottom of the league. Palace were subsequently relegated to the First Division (nowThe Championship), even though Lombardo's return led them to their only two home league wins of the season.[9]
Lombardo decided to stay after Palace's relegation, as the Club started poorly under the new managerTerry Venables. A severe financial crisis and a need to cut Palace's wage bill led Lombardo to leave in January 1999 to joinS.S. Lazio under the management ofSven-Göran Eriksson. In 2005, Lombardo was voted into Palace'sCentenary XI, despite having only made 49 appearances for the Eagles (far fewer than any of the other ten players, showing how highly Palace fans heldThe Bald Eagle).[9]
AtLazio, he resumed his streak of domestic and European cup competition victories, gaining second medals for theCup Winners Cup (1999),Serie A (2000), theSupercoppa Italiana (2000), theCoppa Italia (2000), and theEuropean Super Cup (1999).[9]
In January 2001, Lombardo left Lazio, to re-joinSampdoria, where he would finish his career and go into coaching at the youth level.[9] Throughout his career, Lombardo was known for his resistance to injury, which enabled him to make 144 consecutive Serie A appearances.[8]
During his career, Lombardo gained 18 caps for theItaly national side, between 1990 and 1997, scoring three goals, but injury and competition from other wide players, such asDonadoni,Di Livio,Pessotto, andMoriero, meant he was rarely a regular member of the national side, and Italy never called him up for a major tournament.[9][11]
Regarded during his career as one of Sampdoria's best ever wingers, Lombardo's most recognisable characteristics as a footballer were his physical traits, as well as his exceptional pace, strength, stamina, and work-rate at both ends of the pitch, which allowed him to cover the right flank effectively; he also stood out for his professionalism, friendly personality, and dedication, which enabled him to avoid serious injuries for most of his career, and saw him make a name for himself as a consistent and decisive player for his teams, who was also a key figure in the dressing room.[6][7][8][12]
Although he was not gifted with particularly outstanding talent or technical ability, he nevertheless possessed gooddribbling skills and control when running with the ball at speed, and he frequently utilized his acceleration, power and agility to beat opponents effectively in one-on-one situations. A tactically versatile and hard-working team player, he was also highly regarded for his creativity and accuratecrossing ability as a winger, as well as his ability to start attacking plays and quick counter-attacks after his team won back the ball; furthermore, he was also known for his offensive contribution, composure, and eye for goal, although he also drew criticism at times for being wasteful in front of goal.[6][7][13][14]
Following his retirement from active football, he remained at Sampdoria until June 2006 as the youth team manager. In the next two years, however, the Primavera squad would achieve reasonable success in theCampionato Nazionale Primavera. In 2006, he was appointed manager ofSwiss sideFC Chiasso in theSwiss Challenge League. He resigned in May 2007, citing a lack of motivation.[15] The team was relegated to the third tier of Swiss Football the following season.
In April 2008, he was appointed at the helm ofTuscanSerie C2 clubU.S. Castelnuovo.[16] He stayed at the club for the remainder of the season, leading the small Tuscan club to escape relegation through the playoffs. Lombardo then moved toLega Pro Prima Divisione clubA.C. Legnano for the entire 2008–09 season,[17] and was unable to save his side from relegation toLega Pro Seconda Divisione, the fourth level of Italian Football.
Lombardo was appointed in July 2009 as the new head coach ofSpezia Calcio in theLega Pro Seconda Divisione, but unexpectedly resigned in October, despite his team having attained third place in the league table.[18] Eventually, at the end of the season, Spezia would automatically garner promotion to Serie C1 as runners-up to the title.
In July 2010, Lombardo joined the coaching staff atManchester City, linking up again with compatriot Roberto Mancini.[19] In 2012, following the departure of Andy Welsh, he was appointed manager of the club'sreserve squad; however, after the sacking of Roberto Mancini on 13 May 2013, Lombardo resigned from his position at Manchester City on Wednesday 15 May.
On 30 September 2013, he rejoined Roberto Mancini atGalatasaray, working again as assistant coach.[20] On 7 October 2014, Lombardo became the assistant coach ofSchalke 04.[21]
On 21 May 2016, Lombardo became the assistant coach atTorino for head coachSiniša Mihajlović.[22] Mihajlović was sacked on 4 January 2018, along with Lombardo and the rest of his staff.[23]
On 13 March 2019, Lombardo became the assistant coach for theItaly national team, alongside head coach Roberto Mancini.[24]
In 2025, he returned to Sampdoria, joining the coaching staff led byAlberico Evani who guided theBlucerchiati in the final part of the2024–25 Serie B season.
On 2 November 2025, he was rehired by Sampdoria as a technical collaborator under new head coachAngelo Gregucci.[25]
His sonMattia followed in his footsteps, being a product of Sampdoria's youth section.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Pergocrema | 1983–84 | Serie C2 | 7 | 2 | ? | ? | – | – | – | 7 | 2 | |||
| 1984–85 | Serie C2 | 31 | 7 | ? | ? | – | – | – | 31 | 7 | ||||
| Total | 38 | 9 | ? | ? | – | – | – | 38 | 9 | |||||
| Cremonese | 1985–86 | Serie B | 31 | 4 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | 36 | 4 | |||
| 1986–87 | Serie B | 36 | 3 | 10 | 1 | – | – | 2[a] | 0 | 48 | 4 | |||
| 1987–88 | Serie B | 37 | 5 | 5 | 2 | – | – | – | 42 | 7 | ||||
| 1988–89 | Serie B | 37 | 5 | 5 | 1 | – | – | – | 42 | 6 | ||||
| Total | 141 | 17 | 25 | 4 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 168 | 21 | ||||
| Sampdoria | 1989–90 | Serie A | 34 | 7 | 4 | 0 | – | 8[b] | 2 | 1[c] | 0 | 47 | 9 | |
| 1990–91 | Serie A | 32 | 3 | 8 | 1 | – | 6[b] | 1 | 2[d] | 0 | 48 | 5 | ||
| 1991–92 | Serie A | 34 | 4 | 6 | 0 | – | 10[e] | 4 | 1[c] | 0 | 51 | 8 | ||
| 1992–93 | Serie A | 34 | 6 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 36 | 6 | ||||
| 1993–94 | Serie A | 34 | 8 | 10 | 5 | – | – | – | 44 | 13 | ||||
| 1994–95 | Serie A | 33 | 6 | 4 | 2 | – | 8[b] | 2 | 1[c] | 0 | 46 | 10 | ||
| Total | 201 | 34 | 34 | 8 | – | 32 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 272 | 51 | |||
| Juventus | 1995–96 | Serie A | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 4[e] | 0 | – | 17 | 2 | ||
| 1996–97 | Serie A | 22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 6[e] | 1 | 2[d] | 1 | 34 | 2 | ||
| Total | 35 | 2 | 4 | 0 | – | 10 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 4 | |||
| Crystal Palace | 1997–98 | Premier League | 24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 24 | 5 | ||
| 1998–99 | Football League First Division | 19 | 3 | – | 4 | 2 | 1[f] | 0 | – | 24 | 5 | |||
| Total | 43 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 47 | 10 | |||
| Lazio | 1998–99 | Serie A | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 5[b] | 0 | – | 19 | 2 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Serie A | 10 | 1 | 6 | 0 | – | 5[e] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 22 | 1 | ||
| 2000–01 | Serie A | 9 | 0 | 4 | 2 | – | 7[e] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 21 | 2 | ||
| Total | 33 | 2 | 11 | 3 | – | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 63 | 5 | |||
| Sampdoria | 2000–01 | Serie B | 17 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 17 | 1 | ||||
| 2001–02 | Serie B | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 19 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 34 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 36 | 1 | |||||
| Career total | 525 | 73 | 76 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 60 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 676 | 101 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1990 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 3 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 December 1990 | Tsirio Stadium,Limassol, Cyprus |  Cyprus | 3–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying |
| 2 | 21 December 1994 | Stadio Adriatico,Pescara, Italy |  Turkey | 2–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | 29 March 1995 | Republican Stadium,Kyiv, Ukraine |  Ukraine | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying |
Sampdoria
Juventus
Lazio
Individual