Best Serie A foreign players ever

Italy is a great country for all the football lovers. It has had many outstanding footballers throughout the history of this popular sport. The national team of Italy is one of the most successful national teams in the world, having won 4 World Cup titles.

Serie A has many high-class football clubs which have lots of fans in Italy and the whole planet; clubs such as Juventus, Inter, AC Milan, Roma, etc. These teams compete in one of the best leagues, play against professional European teams, and have fans all over the world that make their matches be viewed a lot. Therefore, Serie A is one of the greatest destinations for football players.

Many footballers have chosen Italian clubs to play. In this article, we are going over the

best Serie A foreign players of all time

. Join us in this journey to know about these players.

best Serie A foreign players in history   

Without wasting time anymore, let’s go through the

greatest Serie A foreign players ever

.

Javier Zanetti

Birthday

: 10 August 1973

Birthplace

: Buenos Aires, Argentina

The first footballer on our list for the

best Serie A foreign players ever

is

, who is considered one of the best footballers of his generation. He was a versatile player and played as a full-back and defensive midfielder.

This retired player took his first steps in football at Independiente in 1982 and kicked the ball for them until 1989. In 1991, Zanetti joined Talleres and the next year, his senior career started. He played for Talleres until 1993 and then moved to Banfield. Zanetti played for this club for 2 years and then moved to Italy to play for

.

This former footballer spent most of his career in Milan. He kicked the ball for the Black and Blues from 1995 until 2014, which means 19 years. Zanetti won 5 Serie A titles, 4 Coppa Italia, 4 Supercoppa Italiana, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 UEFA Europa League, and 1 FIFA Club World Cup title, all of which with Inter Milan.

Javier Zanetti is one of the

greatest Serie A foreign players of all time

. His most outstanding individual awards are:

•  Golden Foot in 2011

•  Globe Soccer Player Career Award in 2016

•   Inter Milan Hall of Fame in 2018

•   Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2018

Gabriel Batistuta

•   Birthday

  : 1 February 1969

Birthplace

: Avellaneda, Santa Fe, Argentina

The next name among the best Serie A foreign players ever is

. This former player started playing football at Newell’s Old Boys in 1987. In the next year, his senior career started. He played for Newell’s Old Boys until 1989 and then joined River Plate, however, after only 1 season, Batistuta moved to Boca Juniors.

In 1991, this outstanding striker went to Italy to sign with

, where he kicked the ball for 9 seasons. Then he joined

. Batistuta played for the Wolves until 2003, however, he was loaned to Inter Milan for a short time. In 2003, this brilliant footballer moved to Qatar to join Al Arabi, where he finished his career in 2005.

Gabriel Batistuta, who is one of the best Serie A foreign players of all time, won 2 Torneo Clausura titles with River Plate and Boca Juniors, 1 Serie B, 1 Coppa Italia, and 1 Supercoppa Italiana with Fiorentina, and 1 Serie A title and 1 Supercoppa Italiana with Roma during his career. His most significant personal achievements include:

•   Serie A Top Scorer in 1994/95

•   Coppa Italia Top Scorer in 1995/96

•   Fiorentina All-time top scorer in Serie A

•   Roma Hall of Fame in 2015

Ruud Gullit

 Birthday

: 1 September 1962

Birthplace

: Amsterdam, Netherlands

The next football player on our list for the

best Serie A foreign players ever

is

. Born in the Netherlands, this retired striker took his first steps in football at ASV Meerboys in 1967 and after 8 years, he joined Door Wilskracht Sterk. In 1979, the senior career of this brilliant forward began as he signed with HFC Haarlem.

In 1982, Gullit moved to

, where he kicked the ball for 3 years. Then he joined

and in 1987, this brilliant footballer went to Italy to sign with

. After playing 6 seasons for this club, he was loaned to Sampdoria in 1993, although he signed a contract with this club after 1 season. In 1995, this Dutch footballer moved to

, where he finished his career in 1998.

During his career as a manager, Ruud Gullit managed Newcastle United in the 1998/99 season, Feyenoord in 2004/05, LA Galaxy in 2007/08, and Terek Grozny in 2011 from January until June.

Ruud Guillit, who is one of the

best Serie A foreign players in history

, won 1 Eerste Divisie title with HFC Haarlem, 1 Eredivisie and 1 KNVB Cup with Feyenoord, 1 Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven, 3 Serie A titles, 2 Supercoppa Italiana, 2 European Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 Intercontinental Cup with AC Milan, and 1 Coppa Italia with Sampdoria. His most important individual achievements are:

•   Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1984 and 1986

•   Ballon d’Or in 1987

Michel Platini

 Birthday

: 21 June 1955

Birthplace

: Jœuf, France

is also one of the best Serie A foreign players ever. This former attacking midfielder started playing football at AS Jœuf in 1966. In 1972, his senior career started at Nancy. The King kicked the ball for this club for 6 years and then joined Saint-Etienne. After 3 seasons, Platini moved to

and played there until 1987, when he ended his career as a footballer.

Michel Platini, who is regarded as one of the most outstanding footballers of all time, won 1 Coupe de France and 1 Ligue 2 title with Nancy, 1 Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne, 2 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Champions League, 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, and 1 Intercontinental Cup with Juventus.

This retired footballer is among the greatest Serie A foreign players ever and his most significant individual achievements include:

•   Ballon d’Or 1983, 1984, and 1985

•   UCL Top Scorer in 1984/85

•   French Player of the Century in 1999

Lothar Matthaus

Birthday

: 21 March 1961

Birthplace

: Erlangen, West Germany

The next name among the best Serie A foreign players ever is the German football manager and former player

. Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Matthaus won the Euro 1980 and World Cup 1990 with his national team.

This outstanding midfielder started playing football at FC Herzogenaurach in 1971. 8 years later, his senior career started as he joined

. Matthaus played there until 1984 and then moved to

, where he kicked the ball until 1988. This retired player then signed with Inter Milan.

After 4 years of playing for the Black and Blues, Matthaus moved back to FC Bayern. He kicked the ball for the Bavarians until 2000 and then went to the US to join Metro Stars, where he finished his career in 2000.

During his managerial career, Matthaus managed Rapid Wien, Partizan, the national team of Hungary, Atletico Paranaense, and Maccabi Netanya.

Lothar Matthaus won 7 Bundesliga titles, 3 DFB Pokal, 1 DFL Super Cup, and 1 Europa League with the Reds of Munich, 1 Serie A, 1 Supercoppa Italiana, and 1 Europa League with the Black and Blues, and 1 Eastern Conference title with Metro Stars during his career as a footballer. He is surely one of the greatest Serie A foreign players of all time and his most outstanding achievements are:

•  Ballon d’Or in 1990

•  Golden Foot in 2012

•  Footballer of the Year in Germany in 1990 and 1999

Zinedine Zidane

Birthday

: 23 June 1972

Birthplace

: Marseille, France

The next name on the list of the best Serie A foreign players ever is the football manager and former footballer

. At the youth level, Zizou played for AS Foresta, US Saint-Henri, SO Septemes-les-Vallons, and Cannes. In 1989, his senior career began and this outstanding attacking midfielder played for Cannes until 1992.

In 1992, Zidane joined

, where he kicked the ball for 4 years. Then he went to Italy to sign with Juventus. After 5 years of playing for the Old Lady, he moved to

in 2001. This outstanding footballer ended his career in 2006 in Madrid.

During his managerial career, Zidane managed Real Madrid once from 2016 until 2018 and again in 2019 until 2021. He won 2 La Liga titles, 2 Supercopa de Espana, 3 Champions League, 2 UEFA Super Cup, and 2 FIFA Club World Cup titles with The Whites as a manager.

Zinedine Zidane, who is among the best Serie A foreign players of all time, won 2 UEFA Intertoto Cup titles, 2 Serie A, 1 Supercoppa Italiana, 2 Intercontinental Cup, 1 La Liga, 2 Supercopa de Espana, 1 UEFA Champions League, 2 UEFA Super Cup titles during his career as a footballer.

Zizou’s most important personal achievements are:

•   Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year in 1996/97, 2000/01

•   La Liga Best Foreign Player in 2001/02

Ronaldo Nazario

is also one of the best Serie A foreign players ever. This retired striker, who is one of the greatest footballers ever, took his first steps in the world of football at Sao Cristovao in 1990. After playing there for 3 years, the Phenomenon moved to Cruzeiro and his senior career started.

In 1994, Ronaldo joined PSV Eindhoven and after 2 seasons, he moved to

. The Phenomenon kicked the ball for the Catalans only for 1 season and then signed with Inter Milan, where he played for 5 years. In 2002, this retired footballer joined Real Madrid, where he played until 2007.

Ronaldo moved to AC Milan in 2007, although he left the club a year later to join the Brazilian club, Corinthians, where he ended his career in 2011.

Ronaldo Nazario, who is certainly one of the best Serie A foreign players in history, won 1 Copa do Brasil title and 1 Campeonato Mineiro with Cruzeiro, 1 KNVB Cup and 1 Johan Cruyff Shield with PSV Eindhoven, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, and 1 Supercopa de Espana with Barcelona, 1 Europa League with Inter Milan, 1 La Liga, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and 1 Supercopa de Espana with Real Madrid, and 1 Campeonato Paulista and 1 Copa do Brasil with Corinthians.

The most outstanding individual achievements of this former footballer include:

•  Serie A Footballer of the Year in 1998

•  UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 1997/98

Gunnar Nordahl

Birthday

: 19 October 1921

Birthplace

: Hornefors, Sweden

Death

: 15 September 1995

Deathplace

: Alghero, Italy

The next name on our list for the best Serie A foreign players ever is Gunnar Nordahl. This former striker started playing football at Hornefors IF and kicked the ball for them from 1937 until 1940. Then he joined Degerfors IF, where he kicked the ball for 4 seasons.

In 1944, Nordahl moved to IFK Norrkoping and after 5 years, he went to Italy to join AC Milan. This former striker played for the Black and Reds from 1949 until 1956 and then moved to Roma, where he kicked the ball for 2 years. In 1959, he joined Karlstad BIK and finished his career in 1960.

During his managerial career, Nordahl managed Karlstads BIK, Degerfors IF, IFK Norrkoping, IF Saab, IK Sleipner, Osters IF, and AIK Fotboll.

Gunnar Nordahl, who is one of the greatest Serie A foreign players ever, won 4 Allsvenskan titles, 1 Swedish Cup, 2 Serie A, and 2 Latin Cup titles during his career. His most important personal achievements are:

•  Allsvenskan Top Scorer in 1942/43, 1944/45, 1945/46, 1947/48

•  Serie A Top Scorer in 1949/50, 1950/51, 1952/53, 1953/54, 1954/55

•  Swedish Footballer of the Year in 1947

Marco van Basten

Birthday

: 31 October 1965

Birthplace

: Utrecht, Netherlands

The next name among the best Serie A foreign players ever is the retired striker

. He played for EDO, Utrecht, and Elinkwijk during his youth career, which lasted from 1970 until 1981.

The senior career of this outstanding player started as he signed with

in 1981. Van Basten played for this club for 6 years and in 1987, he joined AC Milan, where he kicked the ball until 1995.

During his managerial career, van Basten managed the national team of the Netherlands, Ajax,

, and

.

During his career as a footballer, this Dutch striker won 3 Eredivisie titles, 3 KNVB Cup, and 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup with Ajax and 4 Serie A titles, 4 Supercoppa Italiana, 3 UEFA Champions League, 3 UEFA Super Cup, and 2 Intercontinental Cup titles with AC Milan. His most significant awards include:

•  Ballon d’Or in 1988, 1989, and 1992

•  UEFA Champions League Top Scorer in 1988/89

•  Eredivisie Top Scorer in 1983/84, 1984/85, 1985/86, and 1986/87

Diego Maradona

•  Birthday: 30 October 1960

•  Birthplace: Lanus, Argentina

•  Death: 25 November 2020

•  Death Place: Dique Lujan, Argentina

The next name among the

best Serie A foreign players ever

is

, who is surely one of the best footballers ever. This legend took his first steps in the world of football at Argentinos Juniors, where he played from 1969 until 1981. Then he joined Boca Juniors and kicked the ball for them for only 1 season.

In 1982, Maradona moved to Barcelona. After 2 seasons of playing for the Catalans, he joined

, where he kicked the ball until 1991. In 1992, this football legend moved to

and after only 1 season, he joined Newell’s Old Boys. In 1995, Maradona returned to Boca Juniors and finished his career in 1997.

During his managerial career, Maradona managed Deportivo Mandiyu, Racing Club, national team of Argentina, Al Wasl, Fujairah, Dorados de Sinaloa, and Gimnasia de La Plata.

Diego Maradona won 1 Argentine Primera Division, 1 Copa del Rey, 1 Supercopa de Espana, 2 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia, 1 Supercoppa Italiana, 1 Europa League title, and 1 FIFA World Cup title during his career as a footballer.

Maradona is certainly among the greatest Serie A foreign players of all time and his most important individual achievements are:

•  FIFA Player of the Century in 2000

•  Serie A Top Scorer in 1987/88

•  Coppa Italia Top Scorer in 1987/88

This was our article on the best Serie A foreign players ever. Thanks for reading. Do YOU want to add any names? Share it with us in the comment section.

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