Piero Gardoni

Piero Gardoni (12 February 1934 In 1953, Gardoni joined local Serie D club Caravaggio on loan for one season to gain playing experience. He then spent three seasons on loan at Palazzolo, also in Serie D, and one year on loan at Reggiana in Serie C, where he helped the club earn promotion to Serie B in 1958.

Gardoni then returned to Atalanta, where he would spend the next nine seasons. In his first season with the Atalanta senior team, Gardoni won the 1958–59 Serie B and promotion to Serie A. In total, he recorded 213 appearances with Atalanta (209 in national league competitions and 4 in cup competitions) and played in various defensive roles: he began his career as a full-back and evolved into a libero.

In 1967, Gardoni left Atalanta for Serie B club Reggina, where he spent one season. He retired as a player after a short spell with Serie D club Pergolettese in 1969. Following a cancer diagnosis, Gardoni disappeared on 12 December 1994 and committed suicide three days later; his body was found in the Oglio river.

Gardoni is remembered for his grit and aerial strength as a defender and for his honest and humble demeanor as a person, as well as for his dedication to Atalanta. As the captain of the team that won the Coppa Italia in 1963, Gardoni is considered an icon by Atalanta ultras and is commemorated in their choreographic displays. Gardoni is also the subject of the fan song Ol Piero, written by .

Honors Palazzolo IV Serie: 1955

Reggiana Serie C: 1958

Atalanta Serie B: 1959 Coppa Italia: 1963