Roberto Vieri

NSL Career: Marconi 87 (17) / 1977 - 1982

In an era when Italian footballers had little reason to play abroad, Sydney club Marconi were able to sign attacking midfielder Roberto 'Bob' Vieri from Serie A club Bologna in the biggest coup in Australian club football history at the time. Vieri had represented Italy at U-23 level earlier in his career and despite lacking the athleticism that the game was becoming more in favour, the quality of the playmaker, through his sublime technique and creativity helped raise the profile of the national league and Marconi to become a premier football club.

Vieri came up through the ranks of Fiorentina's youth system before becoming a first team squad member. Looking to get his senior career underway, Vieri was loaned to his home town club Prato in Serie C where he made his first team debut at the age of 18. After making an impression at Prato, Vieri returned to Fiorentina where he failed to make a league appearance during the 1965/66 season as the club won the Coppa Italia, but played in the club's Mitropa Cup Final victory over Czechoslovakian side Jednota Trenčín.

Eager for game time, Vieri moved to Sampdoria for the 1966/67 Serie B season and became a regular as the club won promotion back to Serie A. After two seasons with club, during which time he represented Italy's U-23 side, Vieri secured a dream move to Juventus. The Italian giants paid a massive fee for the promising playmaker who became a regular in the side that finished third in the league before moving to Roma.

Vieri spent two seasons at Roma before moving to Bologna where he played in the club's 1973/74 Coppa Italia Final victory over Palermo. Vieri made just two Serie A appearances for the club during the 1974/75 season before being loaned to North American Soccer League side Toronto Metros-Croatia for the 1975 season. 

The playmaker failed to get to back in to the Bologna first team during the 1975/76 season and made just four appearances during the 1976/77 season. With his career seemingly over, Vieri received an offer to join Phillips Soccer League club Marconi, who signed the eccentric midfielder on a short-term contract.

Following the 1977 season, Vieri decided to stay in Australia and became one of the standout players in the league, pulling the strings in midfield and finishing the 1978 season as Marconi's top scorer. Vieri helped Marconi reach the grand final of the Play-Off Series, scoring in Marconi's four-two loss to Sydney City.

Marconi stars Jimmy Rooney and Ray Richards moved to APIA at the end of the season, however, Vieri and Socceroo Gary Byrne where joined in the midfield by Canberra City star Tony Henderson. With Vieri pulling the strings in midfield, Marconi forwards Mark Jankovics, Peter Sharne and Eddie Krncevic flourished during the 1979 season - scoring a combined 41 league goals as Marconi won their first NSL Championship.

The free scoring Marconi outfit remained a top four side in the 1980 season, however, the 34 year old Vieri missed the final of the NSL Cup through injury as Marconi went on to beat Heidelberg three-nil in the cup final replay. Vieri returned to former club Prato for the 1981/82 Serie C season, making a handful of appearances before returning to Marconi for one last season as a top flight player as the losses of Krncevic and Sharne to overseas clubs saw Marconi struggle to compete during the 1982 season.

Vieri became player/coach of NSW Division One side Inter Monaro in 1983 and helped the club gain promotion to the NSL the following season when they reached the Division One Grand Final, losing three-two to Rockdale Ilinden, before hanging up his boots at the age of 37. 

Following his playing career, Vieri continued his coaching career where he was Marconi head coach in the 1987 NSL season. Vieri raised his sons Christian (born in Italy) and Max (born in Australia) in Sydney for the majority of their youth before they went on to represent Italy and Australia respectively. Vieri was selected alongside midfielders Ray Richards and Paul Okon in Marconi's Greatest XI.