Filippo Galli is arguably the most decorated player to have pulled on the yellow shirt of Watford FC.
By the time he arrived in Hertfordshire in the summer of 2001, the Italian had won five Serie A titles, three European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, three European Super Cups and four Italian Super Cups.
Joining Watford in England’s second tier might not have seemed a natural follow-on from 13 seasons with Milan, two at Reggiana and three at Brescia, but with the move Filippo fulfilled one of his great career ambitions: to play football in England.
The transfer came about in unusual circumstances, as Gianluca Vialli was initially looking to sign a forward. A member of the manager’s staff called up Filippo to enquire about his Brescia teammate Igle Tare, but at the end of the call they also asked for a defensive recommendation. The centre-half joked that he was available and, within weeks, he was signing a contract at Vicarage Road.
Some may have questioned the recruitment of a 38-year-old, but this wasn’t just any veteran defender. Filippo was part of one of the greatest back-lines of all-time; having featured alongside Franco Baresi, Mauro Tassotti, and Paolo Maldini for the Rossoneri. During the 1987/88 title win, AC Milan conceded only 14 goals in their 30 league games, losing just twice.
His finest hour was arguably the European Cup success of 1994, as Milan won 4-0 in the final of what by this stage was known as the Champions League. Barcelona were big favourites for the trophy and Filippo was tasked with marking Romário, Barça’s 32-goal Brazilian forward. In the final in Athens, Filippo simply pocketed the No.10.
Filippo deservedly holds a place in Milan’s Hall of Fame, having made 325 appearances by the time he left the club in 1996. A product of the club’s youth system, he had made his debut at the San Siro on September 18, 1983, coincidentally just four days after Watford first ventured into Europe with a UEFA Cup tie at Kaiserslautern. Few at this point would have guessed he’d be walking out to Z Cars 18 years later.
But that he was, cheered on by just shy of 14,000 as the Hornets hosted Rotherham United on August 18, 2001. A Tommy Smith brace, one from Allan Nielsen and a late Mark Robins penalty miss all contributed to a 3-2 win and a home debut to remember. Filippo had turned out the week prior at Manchester City…but that was one to forget for the whole team.
The 2001/02 campaign really was a rollercoaster affair for the Hornets. The promise and subsequent demise of ITV Digital left a cloud of uncertainty over the club and results on the pitch were as unreliable as affairs off it. Yet one of the few solid foundations was the seemingly ageless rock at the back.
Filippo was made captain by his compatriot Vialli and repaid this faith, putting in calm and cultured performances and leading from the back with all of his continental class. Filippo wasn’t the only overseas acquisition during this period – but he was certainly the success story.
The Monza-born defender was runner-up for Watford’s Player of the Season award at the end of the campaign, missing out only to Alec Chamberlain, before graciously bowing out and returning to his home country. Watford had been unable to realise their promotion ambitions under Vialli and, once the manager departed, his captain was not far behind in following him.
A return to Italy then, and two more years playing with Pro Sesto in the Milan suburbs. Filippo spent a great deal of his playing career in Italy yet was never capped by Italy’s senior team; testament, surely, to the wealth of world-class defenders at the nation’s disposal. He appeared seven times for the Under-21s from 1984-87 though, and also made the squad for the 1984 Olympic Games in the United States, where Italy finished fourth.
Upon retirement, Filippo transitioned into coaching and spent more than ten years back with Milan, as assistant to Carlo Ancelotti and then as a technical assistant and later Academy Manager.
In January 2020 the dignified Italian finally returned to Vicarage Road, as a guest of honour for the 2-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. His time here may have been brief, and it may have come in the twilight of a prestigious career, but the outpouring of emotion shown from Filippo and the supporters on this day demonstrated just how much the spell still means to both parties.
Appearances (goals):
Football League: 27+1 (1)
Football League Cup: 1
Total: 28+1 (1)
Profile written February 2021.
'Join date' refers to first-team debut for former players.
