Giuseppe Savoldi

Giuseppe Savoldi (; 21 January 1947 – 26 March 2026) was an Italian professional football player and coach who played during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s as a forward. A versatile attacker, he played club football in Italy for Atalanta, Bologna and Napoli, and represented the Italy national side at international level.

Savoldi was the world's first million-pound player in football signed by Napoli in 1975 for a world-record fee.

Club career

Born in Gorlago, Bergamo, Savoldi made his debut in Serie A in 1965 with Atalanta. From 1968 to 1975 he played in the red and blue kit of Bologna, making 201 appearances, scoring 85 goals. He gained popularity and notoriety as a goalscoring striker with the Emilian club, achieving notable success, winning two Coppa Italia titles in 1970 and 1974, finishing both editions as top scorer with ten goals. He also win the Anglo-Italian League Cup in 1970, as well as winning the Serie A top scorer award during the 1972–73 Serie A season, with 17 goals.

In 1975, he was signed by Napoli for a then world record two billion Lira (£1.2 million), becoming football's first million pound player.

Style of play A versatile and prolific forward, Savoldi was capable of playing anywhere along the front line; throughout his career he was deployed as a centre-forward, as a striker, as a left winger, or as an attacking midfielder. He was primarily known for his pace, strength, and in particular, his ability in the air as a goalscoring centre-forward, as well as his accuracy from penalties; with 45 goals from the spot, he is the fourth-most prolific penalty kick taker in Serie A history.

Personal life and death Savoldi was the father of former footballer Gianluca Savoldi, who also briefly played in the Serie A with Reggina and represented Napoli among other clubs in the Serie B.

Giuseppe Savoldi died in Bergamo on 26 March 2026, aged 79.

Honours Bologna Serie A top scorer: 1972–73