Christian Vieri: From Left-Back to Legendary Striker

Christian Vieri, the former Italian football star who played for top Serie A clubs like Inter, Juventus, and Milan, recently shared some intriguing stories about his early career. During the opening of a new Iliad flagship store in Milan, Vieri revealed an amusing anecdote about his beginnings in football.

“I started as a left-back in Australia,” Vieri recounted. “After six months, I had scored more goals than our forwards, so I asked my coach to move me up front. I was like a bigger version of Roberto Carlos. Once they put me in attack, I scored 15-20 goals and never looked back.”

Vieri also spoke about his childhood dreams: “My goal was always to play in Serie A and for the national team. I told my father, and he suggested I move to live with my grandfather in Prato. From then on, I never returned. My father had played football, and they were wise to give me freedom.”

The striker fondly remembered his grandfather’s influence: “He was the only person who believed in me. He had been a goalkeeper and coached kids at Santa Lucia. He promised me 5,000 lire for every goal I scored, and in my first game, I scored four. He was convinced I would become one of the world’s best strikers.”

Reflecting on his first memories on a football field, Vieri said, “I was just a kid, but I was happy. Being able to say I played in Italy and scored four goals at fourteen was a big deal. I wanted to test myself. I often tell children who ask about success that I’m living proof. I had two dreams, and I achieved them both. You must always follow your path, without listening to anyone else. I played in Serie A and for the national team.”