Francesco Baiano
Italian footballer (born 1968)
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Francesco Baiano (Italian pronunciation: [franˈtʃesko baˈjaːno]; born 24 February 1968) is an Italian football coach and former player, currently in charge of Serie D club Poggibonsi. He played as a striker for several Italian clubs throughout his playing career, and he also played for Derby County in the Premier League, between 1997 and 1999.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 February 1968 | ||
| Place of birth | Naples, Italy | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Poggibonsi (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Napoli | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1990 | Napoli | 5 | (0) |
| 1986–1987 | → Empoli | 26 | (2) |
| 1987–1988 | → Parma | 25 | (4) |
| 1988–1989 | → Empoli | 38 | (14) |
| 1989–1990 | → Avellino | 32 | (6) |
| 1990–1992 | Foggia | 69 | (38) |
| 1992–1997 | Fiorentina | 118 | (29) |
| 1997–1999 | Derby County | 64 | (16) |
| 2000 | Ternana | 15 | (1) |
| 2000–2002 | Pistoiese | 58 | (22) |
| 2002–2008 | Sangiovannese | 96 | (33) |
| 2008–2009 | Sansovino | 0 | (0) |
| Total | 546 | (165) | |
| International career | |||
| 1991 | Italy | 2 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2007–2008 | Sangiovannese (technique coach) | ||
| 2008–2009 | Sansovino (player-manager) | ||
| 2010–2011[1] | Varese (assistant) | ||
| 2011–2012[2] | Siena (assistant) | ||
| 2012 | Palermo (assistant) | ||
| 2013 | Palermo (assistant) | ||
| 2013[3] | ChievoVerona (assistant) | ||
| 2014–2015[4] | Scandicci | ||
| 2016–2017[5] | Varese | ||
| 2022–2023 | Aglianese | ||
| 2023–2024 | Aglianese | ||
| 2025– | Poggibonsi | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Baiano was born in Naples. During his career, he played for several clubs. He first made his name with Foggia under Zdeněk Zeman, earning promotion to Serie A after winning the 1990–91 Serie B title, also winning the top-scorer award, with 22 goals, and forming a notable attacking trio alongside Giuseppe Signori and Roberto Rambaudi. He also played for Fiorentina, where he was a part of the so-called Ba-Ba strikers duo together with Gabriel Batistuta (he scored 29 goals in 118 games for Fiorentina), winning the 1995–96 Coppa Italia and the 1996 Supercoppa Italiana.[6] During the 1992–93 Serie A season, he was the joint top assist provider in the league, with 12 assists, alongside Gianfranco Zola.[7]
Baiano later joined Derby County in 1997, along with compatriot Stefano Eranio; together, they were among the first group of Italian footballers to play in the Premier League. He hit 16 goals in 64 games in a resurgent Derby team and was named as one of their best ever imports by the fans.[8][9]
Baiano went on to play for Sangiovannese of Serie C1, a team he joined in 2002 to leave only in 2008 after a string of successful seasons with the small Tuscan side.
International career
Baiano won two international caps for Italy, both in late 1991, under Arrigo Sacchi, although he failed to score a goal at international level. He made his debut on 13 November 1991 in Genoa, in a 1–1 draw against Norway.[10]
Style of play
A well-known, diminutive forward famous for his shooting technique and eye for goal, Baiano was also a quick, energetic, and dynamic player, with good technical ability and close control in tight spaces. Due to his pace, mobility, and agility, he was also often used as an outside forward; during his later career, he often played in a more creative role, as a supporting striker, or as an attacking midfielder, due to his creativity, as well as his ability to play off of teammates and provide them with assists.[11]
Coaching career
In 2008, Baiano was appointed player/manager of Serie D club Sansovino with little success, leaving the club at the end of the season. In 2010, he re-joined his former boss Giuseppe Sannino, becoming his main assistant at Serie B club Varese. In 2011, he followed Sannino at Serie A club Siena, and then at Palermo in 2012. He was removed as Palermo assistant together with head coach Sannino on 16 September 2012.[12]
