Enrico Annoni (born 10 July 1966) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a defender.
He played for several years in Serie A with Como, Torino and Roma. He then moved to Scotland to play for Celtic for two years, before returning home to Italy to care for his ill father. Annoni had a brief spell as assistant coach at Padova and then at Serie B side Catania in the same role.
Club career
Annoni began his career in the early 1980s as a defender with Serie D side, Seregno.[1] In season 1983-84 he moved to Serie B side, Como and played 2 games in their successful campaign for promotion that year to Serie A.[1] Annoni was then loaned out to Sambenedettese for two seasons before returning to Como for season 1987–88. He became a regular in the team, making 95 league appearances in 3 seasons.[2] Annoni was now an established defender, able to play at either centre-back or full-back positions.[1]
In 1990 Annoni joined Torino.[2] He quickly became popular with the fans who nicknamed him 'Tarzan'.[3][4] He picked up his first silverware in June 1991 when Torino beat Pisa in the final of the Mitropa Cup.[5] He was then part of the Torino side that reached the UEFA Cup Final in 1992, playing in all the games leading up to the final[6] and scoring in the first round against Knattspyrnufélag Reykjavíkur[7] and second round against Boavista.[8] Annoni played in the first leg of the final against Ajax, a 2–2 draw at home,[9] but missed the second leg through suspension. That match finished 0–0, with Ajax winning the UEFA Cup on the away goals rule.[10]
In June 1993 Annoni picked up his first major silverware when Torino defeated Roma on away goals in the final of the Coppa Italia.[11]
Annoni joined Roma in 1994.[12] He was a regular in the team in his first two seasons there, but only made 12 league appearances in his third season, 1996–97.[2]
Annoni made a guest appearance for Celtic in May 2008 in the benefit game for former Celtic team-mate Phil O'Donnell, who died in December 2007 whilst playing for Motherwell.[17][18]
Annoni is the subject of an anecdote whereby, in a match in the late 1990s where Celtic were performing poorly and Annoni had just been brought on as a substitute, a fan is reported to have exclaimed in his native Scots; "Aw naw, no Annoni oan an aw noo!" (Oh no, not Annoni on as well now!).[19]
Managerial career
In July 2013, Annoni joined Dario Marcolin's coaching staff, becoming assistant coach at Serie B side Padova.[20] He lasted just two months in this role, and was sacked in September along with Marcolin himself and goalkeeping coach Gaetano Petrelli.[21]
On 3 January 2015, he followed Marcolin at Catania, becoming an assistant coach at the club.[22]
