Serie A - Vieri quits football

Eurosport - Thu, 22 Oct 17:05:00 2009

Former Italy striker Christian Vieri has announced his retirement from football after an 18-year professional career.

FOOTBALL Serie A Atalanta Christian Vieri - 0

"I don't want to play anymore and I'm not even tempted to play abroad," the much-travelled 36-year-old said at a court case where he is suing former club Internazionale for allegedly spying on him when he played there between 1999 and 2005.

Journeyman Vieri, whose longest spell at any club was with Inter, played for 14 teams since he moved to Torino as a teenager.

He finished with a third spell at Atalanta last season, followed by an unsuccessful trial at Blackburn in the summer.

Vieri scored 142 goals in 264 Serie A matches, with his best season coming in 2002-03 where he scored 24 in 23 games for Inter.

He also won the Spanish 'Pichichi' award for top scorer in 1998, with 24 in 24 for Atletico.

The former Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Lazio, Fiorentina, Monaco and Milan target man grew up in Australia - where he played for Marconi Stallions' youth team - but, unlike younger brother Max, opted to represent Italy as opposed to the Socceroos.

He scored 23 goals in 49 international appearances for the Azzurri between 1997 and 2005, including four goals in four games at the 2002 World Cup.

Vieri, who still speaks English with a slight Australian accent, made no secret that he preferred cricket to football, citing former Australia batsman and captain Allan Border as his sporting hero.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 4 of 4

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  1. abc123,
    You must be confused with someone else.
    Vieri­ was the only player to come up big for the Azzurri,­ minus one game against south korea in the 2002 world­ cup when he missed the goal to crush south korea.
    9­ goals in 2 world cups is hardly not performing. He was­ the best striker Italy ever had. No one can play like­ he did, Luca Toni should be, But cannot perform for the­ Azzurri ever.
    Christian Vieri is still the best­ striker.

    Vieri's # 1

    From mas_savona, on Fri 23 Oct 1:25PM

  2. never liked him....never performed in the big games,­ especially with the azzuri!

    From abc123, on Fri 23 Oct 6:06AM

  3. I always loved this guy, great player, great person!­ Good luck Vieri!

    From chechenr, on Thu 22 Oct 10:40PM

  4. Used to be a top striker, but always remained­ "enfant terrible". Was great with the azzuri­ in tridente with Totti and Del Piero in qualifying for­ euro 2004.

    From student00606, on Thu 22 Oct 7:50PM
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