Marino Perani

Marino Perani (born 27 October 1939 in Ponte Nossa) is a retired Italian footballer who played as a forward, usually as a winger.

Club career

Born in Ponte Nossa, in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Perani developed in the Atalanta youth system before joining the senior side. During his club career, he played for several other Italian teams, such as Bologna and Padova. He joined Bologna in 1958, where he spent most of the career, 15 seasons in total, remaining with the team until the 1973–74 season, aside from a brief stint away during the 1959–60 season. Although Perani initially struggled to break into the starting line-up with the Bolognese side, due to competition from other players, he later won a starting shirt over several other wingers in the side, such as Bruno Pace, Antonio Renna, and Giovanni Vastola, inheriting Cesarino Cervellati's role on the right flank. Perani formed a formidable partnership with fellow winger Ezio Pascutti; together, they helped Bologna win the Serie A title during the 1963–64 season, and Perani even set up Harald Nielsen's goal in a decisive 2–0 win over Inter in the Serie A playoff match at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, on 7 June 1964, which allowed Bologna to claim the league title. In total, he made 322 appearances for Bologna, scoring 70 goals, also winning two Coppa Italia titles with the club. Perani closed his career with NASL side Toronto Metros-Croatia in 1975. In total he scored over 80 goals throughout his career.

International career

At international level, Perani earned 4 caps and scored 1 goal for the Italy national football team, and participated in the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, where Italy suffered a first round elimination following an infamous defeat to North Korea.

Style of play

A diminutive, creative, hard-working, and skilful right winger, with an eye for goal, Perani was mainly known for his vision, crossing accuracy, and his ability to cover the flank; he also possessed an accurate shot from distance. Although his performances often proved decisive, he was also known to be inconsistent at times.

Coaching career

Following his retirement, Perani worked for his former club Bologna as a coach for the team's youth side, and even coached the senior side during the late 70s.

Personal life

In 2014, Perani got married at the age of 75 with the Bolognese business woman Anna Ciano at the Palazzo D'Accursio.

Honours

Player

Bologna

• Mitropa Cup: 1961
• Serie A: 1963–64
• Coppa Italia: 1969–70, 1973–74
• Anglo-Italian League Cup: 1970

Coach

Parma

• Serie C1 (Girone A): 1983–84