Genoa‘s status as one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Italian football is undisputed. Founded, coached, and shaped by Englishmen, I Rossoblù claimed nine titles between 1898 and 1924. It would be easy to pick a team of greats solely from that era.
However, it would also rule out a host of top class players from the last few decades. Ultimately, I decided to choose a mixture of legends from the past and those from the modern day. Some players are not in their favoured position – Domenico Criscito for one – to accommodate others. Apologies to Goran Pandev fans, he did not make the list.
It was a close call with many others including Fosco Becattini, Roberto Pruzzo, Carlos Aguilera, Vincenzo Torrente, and Juan Carlos Verdeal. Here is my selection, please feel free to disagree.
Goalkeeper: Giovanni De Prà (1921-1933)
The Godfather of Italian goalkeepers, the Genoa native won two Scudetti with his home-town club.
In the early years of calcio he established himself as an individual of great courage, integrity, and innovation. He refused to join Juventus despite persistent advances from the Old Lady and as an amateur was part of Genoa’s great unbeaten 1922-23 championship team.
The shot-stopper supposedly dangled from the cross-bar to strengthen his physique and won 19 caps for Italy. When the Azzurri played Spain in Milan in 1924, he broke his arm after just 20 minutes. In a period when substitutes were not permitted, he was patched up and even kept a clean sheet in the goalless draw.
De Prà won a bronze medal for Italy at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam but refused to salute Benito Mussolini when the team returned to Italy. His medal was taken away as punishment and only reinstated years later. The legendary goalkeeper insisted the medal was placed under the Gradinata Nord – the famous Genoa curva at Marassi – after his death in 1979. A street beside the Luigi Ferraris Stadium is named in his honour.
Honours: Serie A 1922-23, 1923-24.
Right-back Ottavio Barbieri (1919-1932)
The first ‘mister’ of Italian football had an eye for a player.
Revolutionary English coach William Garbutt watched the teenage Barbieri play for the Genoa Primavera, then put the full-back straight into the first-team. The energetic right-sided defender thrived as Genoa dominated Italian football and picked up two championships.
Along with midfielders Luigi Burlando and Ettore Leale he formed an effective trio which flourished under the guidance of tactical innovator Garbutt. Barbieri remained with Il Grifone throughout an illustrious career and represented Italy 21 times.
Honours: Serie A 1922-23, 1923-24.
Defender: Renzo De Vecchi (1913-1929)
Il filgio di Dio – the son of God. There are few grander nicknames in calcio.
One of the most revered players in the origins of Italian football, the versatile defender was given the mythical title while at Milan. Identified as a unique talent from an early age, he was only 15 when he made his debut for the Rossoneri. Although mostly a full-back he could play in numerous positions despite only being 5ft 4in tall.
A penalty specialist with exceptional stamina, timing, and technique, he went on to capture a trio of Serie A titles with Genoa. He cemented his legacy while representing Italy. The youngest ever to be capped by the Azzurri at the age of just 16 years, three months, and 23 days in 1910, he was captain for 26 of his 43 national team appearances.
Honours: Serie A 1914-15, 1922-1923, 1923-24.
Defender: Gianluca Signorini (1988-1995)
Il Capitano. A fiercely competitive libero and emotional leader beloved by Genoa tifosi. A fearsome physical presence with good technical skills, Signorini was an integral part of the great side which claimed fourth in the top flight in 1990-1991.
The defender marshalled and motivated from the back as Genoa became the first Italian side to defeat Liverpool at Anfield on the way to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1991-1992. Signorini tragically passed away at the age of just 42 in 2002 after suffering from motor neuron disease. His number six shirt was retired by the club in tribute.
Left-back: Branco (1990-1993)
When a goal inspires a Christmas card to taunt rivals then it must be good.
Branco’s derby winning free-kick to break a winless streak of 12 years against Sampdoria was a cracker. It’s November 1990 and 1-1 in the Derby della Lanterna with 16 minutes remaining. The Brazilian unleashed an unforgettable swerving piledriver into the top corner to give I Rossoblù a historic victory.
The image of his first and arguably best Serie A goal was immortalized on festive cards which Genoa tifosi gleefully sent to their Samp supporting friends.
Despite spending only three campaigns at Genoa the 1994 World Cup winner remains a firm fan favourite. In addition to the glorious derby winner, the left-back with extraordinary set-piece expertise netted a brilliant strike from long range as Genoa defeated Liverpool at home in the first leg of the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in March 1992.
Right-midfield: Stefano Eranio (1984-1992)
One of the symbols of the Genoa resurgence in the early 1990s.
The home-town hero from the district of Molassana was perhaps the key player as the Rossoblù challenged at the top of Serie A for the first time in decades. Eranio joined the club’s youth ranks at the age of nine and progressed all the way to the first-team.
A skilful, strong runner who led by example from the right-side of midfield he played a vital role as Genoa emerged from the darkness of Serie B to compete alongside the best in Italian football again. Eranio was capped 20 times for Italy and scored three goals.
Centre-midfield: Gennaro Ruotolo (1988-2002)
Longevity and commitment, two words which sum up Genoa’s record appearance holder. An indefatigable ironman who could probably survive a brutal game of Calcio Storico in Florence, the midfielder made a staggering 502 appearances, scoring 38 times for I Rossoblù. The epitome of a club stalwart, he partnered with Eranio and Mario Bortolazzi in a formidable Genoa midfield unit as the club regained its identity in the top flight.
A tireless worker with a deceptive touch, the midfielder was not known for his goals, yet struck an impressive hat-trick as Genoa thrashed Port Vale 5-2 in 1996 at Wembley in the last Anglo-Italian Cup.
Left-midfield: Domenico Criscito (2002-2003, 2007-2011 & 2018-2022)
Predominantly a left-sided defender, he also played in midfield on the same flank in three different spells with Il Grifone.
Criscito moved from his native Campania to Genoa as a teenager and kept returning. An offensive-minded player who netted 30 goals in 274 games for the Rossoblù, he was a trusted penalty taker.
Showed just how much he cared about the club in a typically intense 1-0 derby defeat in April 2022. He burst into tears and was inconsolable after missing from the spot six minutes into added-on time as Samp claimed the bragging rights. Criscito redeemed himself a week later when he held his nerve to score a late penalty as Genoa stunned Juventus in front of an ecstatic Marassi.
Forward: Diego Milito (2003-2005 & 2008-2009)
Il Principe only played three seasons at Genoa but made more of an impact than some strikers do in their entire careers. An accomplished goalscorer adept with both feet and capable of converting all manner of chances, he registered 34 goals in 62 matches in two Serie B seasons.
Forced to leave when Genoa were demoted to Serie C following a match fixing scandal in the 2004-2005 term the Argentinian made an emotional return three years later. Milito led I Rossoblù to fifth in Serie A – their highest placing since the 1990-1991 season – and netted 24 league goals just one behind capocannoniere Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Inter.
Netted a rare Derby della Lanterna hat-trick as Genoa defeated Samp 3-1 in May 2009 to forever endear himself to the Gradinata Nord.
Forward: Tomáš Skuhravý (1990-1995)
The giant Czech with the phenomenal aerial ability and big personality was a thrilling, all-action attacker who captivated Genoa supporters for just more than five seasons. Skuhravý moved to Liguria after a brilliant Italia 90 in which he scored five times and finished second behind World Cup leading scorer Salvatore Schillaci.
The 6ft 4in forward partnered with Carlos Aguilera to deadly effect as the pair netted 15 goals each as Genoa placed fourth in his first Serie A campaign and advanced to the last four of the UEFA Cup the next season.
The long-haired attacker was always an eye-catching presence, although he did seem to risk causing himself a serious injury every time he performed his trademark somersault goal celebration.
Forward: Virgilio Felice Levratto (1925-1932)
The man with the iron boot was gloriously christened Lo Sfondareti – the net tearer. Born in the Ligurian town of Carcare, the left-footer rejected Juventus to stay closer to home and became an idol at Genoa. Levratto resembled a real life Hot-Shot Hamish.
Felice netted 85 goals in seven seasons at Genoa and smashed through seven nets in a career spent terrorizing defences with his ferocious shot. One of the best players never to have won the Scudetto – he joined Genoa the season after their last title success – the iconic attacker gained wider recognition for Italy (28 caps, 11 goals).
Legend has it that Levratto knocked out the Luxembourg goalkeeper Étienne Bausch after catching him full in the face with a thunderbolt during a game at the 1924 Olympics in Paris.
The shot-stopper recovered but fled his goal rather than face another fearsome screamer from the Genoa striker. Levratto took pity and sportingly refused to put the ball into the open net. He claimed an Olympic bronze medal four years later in Amsterdam.