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{{short description|Italian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
 | name             = Ruggiero Rizzitelli
 | image            =
 | caption          = Rizzitelli with [[A.C. Cesena|Cesena]] at the end of the eighties
 | height           = 1.77 m
 | birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1967|9|2|df=y}}
 | birth_place      = [[Margherita di Savoia, Apulia|Margherita di Savoia]], Italy
 | position         = [[Striker (association football)|Striker]]
 | years1 = 1984–1988 | clubs1 = [[A.C. Cesena|Cesena]] | caps1 = 62 | goals1 = 7
 | years2 = 1988–1994 | clubs2 = [[A.S. Roma|Roma]] | caps2 = 154 | goals2 = 29
 | years3 = 1994–1996 | clubs3 = [[Torino F.C.|Torino]] | caps3 = 60 | goals3 = 30
 | years4 = 1996–1998 | clubs4 = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] | caps4 = 45 | goals4 = 11
 | years5 = 1998–2000 | clubs5 = [[Piacenza Calcio|Piacenza]] | caps5 = 33 | goals5 = 1
 | years6 = 2000–2001 | clubs6 = [[A.C. Cesena|Cesena]] | caps6 = 14 | goals6 = 6
| totalcaps = 369 | totalgoals = 84
 | nationalyears1 = 1987–1989 | nationalteam1 = [[Italy national under-21 football team|Italy U21]] | nationalcaps1 = 16 | nationalgoals1 = 4
 | nationalyears2 = 1988–1991 | nationalteam2 = [[Italy national football team|Italy]] | nationalcaps2 = 9 | nationalgoals2 = 2
 | nationalyears3 = 1989      | nationalteam3 = [[Italy national football B team|Italy B]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eng-b-intres-det.html |title=England - International Results B-Team - Details |first=Barrie |last=Courtney |date=22 May 2014 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=21 April 2017}}</ref> |nationalcaps3 = 1 |nationalgoals3 = 0
}}

'''Ruggiero Rizzitelli''' ({{IPA|it|rudˈdʒɛːro rittsiˈtɛlli}}; born 2 September 1967) is an Italian former [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]].

Due to his goalscoring ability, he was given the nickname "Rizzi-gol" by the fans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rizzitelli "Un onore lasciargli il posto"|url=http://www.forzaroma.info/2013/03/27/rizzitelli-un-onore-lasciargli-il-posto/205962|access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Racconti di sport. Juventus-Torino. Rizzi-gol, 19 anni fa|url=http://www.attualita.it/cronacaroma/4897-racconti-di-sport-juve-toro-rizzi-gol-19-anni-fa.html|access-date=23 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224020713/http://www.attualita.it/cronacaroma/4897-racconti-di-sport-juve-toro-rizzi-gol-19-anni-fa.html|archive-date=24 December 2014}}</ref>

==Club career==
Rizzitelli started his professional career for [[Serie B]] team [[A.C. Cesena|Cesena]] during the [[1984–85 Serie B|1984–85 season]], making his [[Serie A]] debut in the [[1987–88 Serie A|1987–88 season]]. He played four seasons with the small side from [[Emilia-Romagna]] before joining [[A.S. Roma]] in 1988, where he scored a total of 29 goals in six seasons with the ''giallorossi'', winning a [[Coppa Italia]] in 1991. In the same year reached the [[1991 UEFA Cup Final|UEFA Cup Final]], but his goal was unable to prevent them from losing to [[Inter Milan]]. Roma were also subsequently defeated in the [[1991 Supercoppa Italiana]].

From 1994 to 1996 he then played for [[Torino F.C.|Torino]], scoring a very impressive 30 goals in 60 appearances with the ''granata''. Despite his good performances, Torino were relegated to [[Serie B]] in 1996, and Rizzitelli agreed for a move to German team [[FC Bayern Munich]], then coached by fellow Italian [[Giovanni Trapattoni]]. In his second season with Bayern, he seldom appeared as a regular starter due to injury and the emergence of [[Carsten Jancker]],<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Corriere della Serra|title=Rizzitelli, subito un gol per il Piacenza italiano|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/luglio/20/Rizzitelli_subito_gol_per_Piacenza_co_0_980720070.shtml|language=it|date=20 July 1998}}</ref> but proved to be a more than useful player on the bench, thanks to his quickness that made him skillful and dangerous on the counter-attack. He scored a total of 11 goals in 45 appearances with the Bavarian team, winning a [[Bundesliga]] title in 1997 and a [[DFB-Pokal]] (German Cup) in 1998. He returned to Italy in 1998 to join [[Piacenza Calcio|Piacenza]] where he however failed to impress. Rizzitelli retired in 2001 after a season with Cesena.

==International career==
Rizzitelli received a total of nine caps with the [[Italy national football team|Italian team]] between 1988 and 1991, making his debut on 20 February 1988 in a friendly match against [[USSR national football team|USSR]], played at [[Stadio San Nicola]], [[Bari]] and won 4–1 by the ''azzurri''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italia1910.com/partita.asp?d=2/20/1988|author=Italia1910.com|language=it|access-date=30 June 2007|title=Italia – URSS: 4–1, 20/02/1988}}</ref> He scored a total of two goals with the Italian team and was selected for the [[UEFA Euro 88|Euro 88]] squad,<ref>{{cite web|title=Italy » Squad EURO 1988 Germany|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/teams/italien-team/em-1988-in-deutschland/2/|access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref> but played no part in the tournament, as Italy reached the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Europei 1988: Il cammino dell'Italia|url=http://www.datasport.it/calcio/2011-2012/nazionali/italia/europei-italia-1988-urss-germania-ovest.htm|access-date=23 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224012957/http://www.datasport.it/calcio/2011-2012/nazionali/italia/europei-italia-1988-urss-germania-ovest.htm|archive-date=24 December 2014}}</ref> He was also part of the Italian Olympic squad that finished fourth in the [[1988 Olympics in Seoul]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Il calcio italiano alle Olimpiadi. L'edizione del 1988|url=http://www.sullanotizia.com/rubriche/olimpiadi/il_calcio_italiano_alle_olimpiadi_l_edizione_del_1988.asp|access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=44&squadra=1|title=Nazionale in cifre: Rizzitelli, Ruggiero|website=figc.it|publisher=FIGC|language=it|access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Rizzitelli was a versatile forward, capable of playing in several offensive positions; he was deployed as a main [[Forward (association football)#Striker|striker]] as well as in a supporting role, in particular as a [[Forward (association football)#Second striker|second striker]] off another centre forward, or even as a [[Forward (association football)#Winger|winger]] or outside forward, where he could deliver assists to team mates. His versatility was demonstrated during his time at [[A.S. Roma|Roma]], where he formed an effective partnership with a more offensive [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|centre forward]], [[Rudi Völler]]. He was a quick, agile, and tenacious player, with good technique, who excelled in the air, despite his small stature.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.socialfootballtv.com/index.php?mod=articles&func=article_description&article_id=5996 | title = Buon compleanno, Ruggiero Rizzitelli | language = it | publisher = socialfootballtv.com | date = 2 September 2014 | access-date = 12 November 2014 | first = Gianluca | last = Guarnieri}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilnapolionline.com/esclusiva-rizzitelli-la-mazzata-di-bergamo-puo-pesare-sul-napoli-ma-il-bonus-errori-e-terminato-allolimpico-sara-derby-del-sud-ecco-chi-la-spuntera-la-squadra-di-benitez-ha-un-problema-di-f/|title=ESCLUSIVA – Rizzitelli: "La mazzata di Bergamo può pesare sul Napoli, ma il bonus errori è terminato. All'Olimpico sarà derby del Sud, ecco chi la spunterà. La squadra di Benitez ha un problema di fondo. Insigne? Va aiutato e su Trapattoni…"|website=ilnapolionline.com|language=it|access-date=29 April 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150429185001/http://www.ilnapolionline.com/esclusiva-rizzitelli-la-mazzata-di-bergamo-puo-pesare-sul-napoli-ma-il-bonus-errori-e-terminato-allolimpico-sara-derby-del-sud-ecco-chi-la-spuntera-la-squadra-di-benitez-ha-un-problema-di-f/|archive-date=29 April 2015}}</ref>

==Honours==

===Club===
'''Roma'''
* [[Coppa Italia]]: [[1990–91 Coppa Italia|1990–91]]

'''Bayern Munich'''
* [[Bundesliga]]: [[1996–97 Bundesliga|1996–97]]
* [[DFB-Pokal]]: [[1997–98 DFB-Pokal|1997–98]]
* [[DFB-Ligapokal]]: 1997

'''Italy '''
* [[Scania 100 Tournament]]: 1991<ref>[https://soccernostalgia.blogspot.com/2016/09/tournaments-part-6-scania-100-1991.html?m=1 Tournaments-Part 6 – Scania 100 (1991)] Soccer Nostalgia. Tuesday, September 20, 2016</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{WorldFootball.net|ruggiero-rizzitelli}}

{{Coppa Italia top scorers}}
{{Italy squad UEFA Euro 1988}}
{{Italy football squad 1988 Summer Olympics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rizzitelli, Ruggiero}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Italian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Italy men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Italy men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Italy]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1988 players]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich footballers]]
[[Category:Torino FC players]]
[[Category:AS Roma players]]
[[Category:AC Cesena players]]
[[Category:Piacenza Calcio 1919 players]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Serie B players]]
[[Category:Serie C players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Germany]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Italy men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen]]