by bogdan on Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:40 pm
30 years, 1.90 metres, 94 kilograms, 11 million euros, 177 Serie A matches, 91 goals.
111 shots
These are the basic facts all Bayern fans have grown used to, and some of them can already recite them faster than the Munich mayor can inaugurate the Munich Beer Festival by saying "O'zapft is!"
But there's a lot more to tell about Luca Toni. The Italian international attempted 111 shots on goal last season. For comparison, in the Bundesliga only Stuttgart's Cacau (117) tried his luck more often.
Committed and fair
For a striker the Fiorentina hitman committed relatively many fouls (90), but he hasn't got a reputation of being unfair, as just four bookings underline.
But he always tries to make his outstanding physical strength count, and that sometimes results in a whistle or two against him.
Caught offside 68 times
Additionally Toni isn't too shy to help out defensively, and the Fiorentina striker upended no less than 17 opposing attacks all by himself last season.
Of course he prefers to be up front, to have the edge over the back four. 68 times he was caught offside last season - that would have been second place in the Bundesliga behind Bochum striker Theofanis Gekas (86).
76 dribblings
And when the service is rather modest, Toni is also one to try his luck on his own, as 76 dribblings in 2006/07 prove, and 40 percent of those were successful.
Luca Toni has all the makings for being the perfect addition to the Bayern attack. An appropriate reference, reputation, ball-winning ability, skill and the number 9 on his back.