Charlie Villani

 

NSL Career: Adelaide City 253 (58) / 1979 - 1992/93

Socceroos Career: 1 (0 A International / 4 (0) B Internationals

One of Adelaide City's most important players and one of the best South Australian-born players in the NSL during the 1980s, Carlo 'Charlie' Villani was a highly skilled and physical attacking player with an eye for goal who devasted opposition defences when required.

Villani began his junior career with school side Unley before joining the junior ranks of Adelaide Juventus. Villani progressed through the ranks as the club became known as Adelaide City in 1977 upon becoming a foundation club of the Phillips Soccer League and made his first team debut in the 1979 PSL season just a few weeks after turning 16.

The City junior scored a brace in his first start against Brisbane Lions and finished his debut season with six goals in 13 league games as he served as an understudy to former Celtic goal machine John "Dixie" Deans and experienced South Australia international John Nyskohus.

Villani capped off an impressive debut season by playing in City's NSL Cup Final win over St George but failed to make a first team appearance the following season as the club signed English forwards Colin Barnes and Justin Fashanu and Villani's Unley schoolmate Luciano Signore, who made his league debut.

Under new coach Bob D'Ottavi, Villani became a regular during the 1981 season and helped the side reach the semi-finals of the NSL Cup as he became an attacking threat from midfield. Villani remained a regular over the next four seasons as he built an understanding with local players Peter Rankin, Steve Maxwell and Joe Mullen.

After topping the club's goal scoring charts in 1984 and 1985, Villani took his game to another level under new City coach Zoran Matić in the 1986 season. Villani scored a combined 25 regular season goals with Maxwell and Mullen before making a huge impact in the finals series. Villani scored in both the qualifying and major semi-finals for City before setting up team mate Aurelio Vidmar for the equaliser in the Southern Conference Grand Final against Footscray in which City won two-one and progressed to their first NSL Grand Final.

City met Sydney Olympic in a two-legged grand final in which they lost the first leg at home one-nil before travelling to Sydney where Villani, playing on the left, put national team selectors on notice. In a man of the match performance, Villani cut the Olympic defence open to set up team mate Maxwell for a two-nil lead before scoring his side's third goal as City won the grand final three-two on aggregate.

Villani started the 1987 season in top form, scoring four goals in nine league games before earning a call-up to the national team - playing in B internationals against Everton, Chile B, Shamrock Rovers and Fortuna Sittard - and making his full international debut against Morocco.

City narrowly missed out on a spot in the finals series in the 1988 season before Villani moved to Italy to trial with Serie B club Avellino. Villani failed to acquire a work permit and returned to City for the 1989 season where he played in a deeper midfield role and missed out on selection in the side's NSL Cup Final victory over Sydney Olympic.

Villani started the 1989/90 season under an injury cloud and made just five starts in 13 league appearances throughout the season. Villani started seven of the first nine games of the 1990/91 season before a hamstring injury against St George saw him miss the remainder of the season. The former Socceroo returned from a long playing absence, in which time he became a South Australian Soccer Federation Development Officer and City assistant coach, when he started in City's round 14 match against Heidelberg in the 1992/93 season. 

Villani made just eight league appearances during the season before hanging up his boots at the age of 30 and began a successful coaching career in the SASF State League. Villani became the fifth City player in the NSL to coach the club, leading the side for the first half of the 2002/03 NSL season before resigning.