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THE LATE BLOOMER: DARIO HUBNER, TOPPED THE SCORING CHARTS AT 35



Thierry Henry (aged 24), Arsenal, 24 Goals, English Premier League Champions

Raul (aged 24) Real Madrid, 24 Goals, La Liga Champions

Marcio Amoruso (aged 27) Borussia Dortmund, 18 Goals, Bundesliga Champions

Above are the top goal scorers from three of Europe’s top four leagues back in the season of 2001/02. The aforementioned strikers amassed these tallies while reaching the peak of their careers and furthermore playing for the best teams in their respective leagues. There is no doubting their impressive goal scoring but nonetheless it was all a bit predictable. That is until one takes a look at the goal scoring charts in Italy during the same season. Italy’s topflight was arguably the best league in Europe during the early 2000’s and despite the trite thrown at Serie A for being ‘boring’, Italy certainly doesn’t do predictable.

Dario Hubner (aged 35), Piacenza, 24 Goals, 12th place.

Yes, 35-year-old Dario Hubner scored 24 goals for little Piacenza, a team who finished the season just three points off 15th, the last relegation spot which went to Hellas Verona. Hubner had to share the Capocannoniere that year with Juventus’s, David Trezeguet, who also hit 24 goals. But the French international was playing alongside greats such as Alessandro Del Piero and Marcelo Salas while being supplied by the Czech genius that was Pavel Nedved.

Not only did Hubner have around 10 years on guys like Trezeguet, Henry and Raul, defenders were dealing with a different type of beast altogether. He didn’t have the pace or the flicks and tricks of his younger counterparts but he was a fighter and a clinical finisher. He was a forward who bullied some of the world’s best defenders week in week out in Serie A.

Hubner, was known as Il Bisone (The Bison) in Italy, a nickname given to him for his large build and direct style of play. He wasn’t even a finely tuned athlete like todays stars; indeed he was once famously seen smoking a cigarette while sitting on the bench during his time at Brescia. Today, such behaviour would be viewed as scandalous but that was Hubner, a laid back and controversial character who didn’t care about what anyone thought of him. Yet when he crossed those four white lines he meant business and those who played against Il Bisone knew they would be in for a tough game.

It was no fluke that Hubners name was at the top of the Serie A goal scoring charts. The Trieste born man proved he was capable of scoring goals at every level. In fact, along with Igor Protti, he is the only player to have been crowned top scorer in all three of Italy’s top divisions (Serie A, B and C during those times).

Hubner was a late bloomer and in 1997, at the age of 30, he made his Serie A debut while playing for Brescia. Despite the veteran striker’s efforts, theBiancoazzurri were relegated that season however he would play an integral part in their revival, scoring 21 goals during the 1999/2000 season, guiding the club back to Serie A. The Rondinelle’s was the same age as Hubner and the two veterans went onto to terrorize Serie A, scoring 27 goals between them and helping Brescia to an impressive seventh place finish.

The following season would be Il Bisone’s best. However, at the age of 34, Hubner was surplus to requirements at Brescia following the arrival of Albanian forward, Igli Tare. He was eventually snapped up by newly promoted Piacenza for £1.5m and it would prove an absolute bargain. Not only did Hubner score 24 goals but he also outscored the likes of Lazio’s Hernan Crespo (who cost a mere £35.5m), AC Milan’s, Andriy Shevchenko, Roma’s Vincenzo Montella and Inter’s Christian Vieri. His shear power and ability in the air made him a nightmare to play against and he was more like an old fashioned British centre forward than one of Serie A’s graceful best.

Hubner eventually retired in 2005 at the age of 43 while playing for Mantova. Despite being one Italy’s deadliest forwards at the turn of the century; he never played for his country and never played for one of Italy’s ‘big clubs’. But this did not bother the humble man from Muggia, he just simply loved the game:

“I’m not complaining: as a young man I was a blacksmith and worked with aluminum, who would have guessed I could get to do a career like that? I’m very happy with that.”

There is more than this to his story but I'm too lazy to dig...

JANCKER wrote:CHRISTIAN PANUCCI



The hand of fate

It’s Wednesday July 17, 1996 in New York City and AC Milan defender Christian Panucci is pacing the departure lounge at John F. Kennedy airport. He is waiting for the first of two connecting flights that will take him back to his home land. It is late afternoon, he is getting tired and to make matters even worse, he has just been informed that his luggage has mysteriously vanished.

His mind flashes back to a few days earlier: He had been in Atlanta, Georgia, preparing for the 1996 Summer Olympics having been named captain of Italy by Coach Cesare Maldini. Then, during a routine warm-up match, he picked up an injury and was forced to leave the Italian camp. He curses his luck and continues pacing.

With the clock ticking towards the departure time of his TWA flight to Paris, and his suitcases still nowhere to be seen, Panucci approaches a member of Alitalia airways staff and explains his situation. The sympathetic worker checks the schedule and explains that there are seats available on a later flight heading direct to Milan. Unfortunately, it is departing from Newark airport which is an hour’s cab-ride, traffic permitting.

After ordering another strong coffee and weighing up his options, Panucci decides that taking the later Alitalia flight would make more sense. Not only will it increase his chances of being reunited with his luggage, but it also means that he can avoid a stop-off in Paris and a domestic flight from Rome to Milan. He walks back to the Alitalia desk to make the necessary arrangements, unaware that he has just made a decision that will ultimately save his life.

Shortly before 8:00pm, while the two-time Serie A champion is preparing to make the journey west to Newark, the last boarding call is made for the TWA flight 800 from New York to Paris. Several minutes later, with the gate finally closed, the plane taxis towards the runway and is given the all-clear for take-off.

Flight 800 never made it to Paris. Just 46 minutes into its journey, the Boeing 747 crashed into the sea off Long Island, killing all 230 passengers on board.

Great story, and btw JFK and Newark airports are like 5 miles from each other...a little more but they're seriously close to each other. Not a hr drive lol

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The Panucci story makes you shiver. I know someone who had the same experience (although it was arriving too late to catch the flight rather than a luggage problem). I've also read similar stories about 9/11


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UMMMM, You must not live in america.

JFK is not close to newark. JFK is on the opposite side of Queens while Newark is in jersey. It is about an hour drive from each other.....

GJ JAncker liking his comment btw.

Thiagoalcantara wrote:UMMMM, You must not live in america.

JFK is not close to newark. JFK is on the opposite side of Queens while Newark is in jersey. It is about an hour drive from each other.....

GJ JAncker liking his comment btw.

I was about to correct him, sir... I was in a rush but thanks for doing it instead of me. I was in LaGuardia and Newark last year... it makes a good reason for you to vote Trump...

I think it was only 1-0.

ramsej84 wrote:friendly right ?

No it was a final of some sort. I saw the video elsewhere on my phone this morning and it had details but I can't find it.

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