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Enzo
Scifo
(Belgium)
Originally Italian born by Italian parents, Vincenzo
Scifo was nicknamed the 'Little Pele' after scoring
432 goals in only four seasons as a junior. He moved
to Anderlecht in 1980 and made his first division
debut in the Belgian league three years later. At the
age of 18, Enzo gained Belgian nationality in June
1984 just in time for the European Championships.
He was one of the most
promosing youngsters in the world in the mid-80s and
most top clubs battled to sign the Belgian playmaker.
In 1986, Belgium surprised many by reaching the
semifinals of the World Cup in Mexico, and Scifo
contributed a great deal to their success. He played
in all the seven games and scored two goals.
Anderlecht could not stop him from taking the big step
to the Serie A in 1987. Unfortunately his spell at
Inter Milan was anything but successful and he was
soon transferred to French side Bordeaux. After
another miserable season, Enzo was ready to give up
football at the tender age of 23.
Guy Roux, the Auxerre manager,
saved Enzo’s career and took him under his wings and
soon Scifo was back at his best level again. By the
time the 1990 World Cup started in Italy, many
expected Belgium to emulate their achivements of four
years earlier. Scifo scored a magnificent goal against
Uruguay in the first round, but England scored a last
minute winner in extra-time of the second round which
meant Belgium were eliminated much sooner than they
had hoped for.
Scifo went back to Italy and
had a few successful years with Torino where he won
the Italian Cup and also enjoyed success at Monaco
before he returned back home to Anderlecht after ten
years away. He participated also in the 1994 and 1998
World Cups with moderate success. Enzo Scifo is one of
only 14 players who have participated in four World
Cups. He retired from the national team shortly after
the World Cup in France 1998.
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