For a club that have never won a Serie A title, picking a five a side team made up of former Udinese players proved monumentally difficult. Nestled in north-east Italy, Udine is significantly closer to Slovenia’s capital of Ljubljana than Rome. Yet it has been a nursery for many elite players, as well as providing the stability and seclusion for the more mature player to find their feet and flourish.
This side is a mixture of youth and experience and helps to emphasise just how much talent has graced the Stadio Friuli. My selection based primarily on players who played during my lifetime and ones that would flourish in the five a side game.
Morgan De Sanctis (1999-2007)
Udinese have had some talent between the sticks over the years. Dino Zoff and Samir Handanovic were two notable keepers who cut their teeth in Udine. There was also Luigi Turci, who seemed spectacular to me as a young viewer. Unlike Zoff and Handanovic, De Sanctis was there for his prime and he was more successful and arguably more consistent than Turci. De Sanctis was capable of the eye-catching, instinctive save but was a vocal organiser and leader at the back. His rise to prominence at the club coincided with their regular spells at the higher end of the table and his performances particularly between 2003-06 were the bedrock of that rise. One thing that always stood out was his concentration and calmness. Although Udinese had flair during the early 2000s, they also had to hang on to leads and stay organised, which emanated from him outwards. Someone with these qualities is perfect for the frenetic pace of five-a-side.
Roberto Sensini (2002-06)
This is a team with a lot of flair, so it needs someone reliable, strong, consistent and intelligent at the back. There isn’t a Udinese player better suited for that role than Roberto Sensini. The Argentinian’s ability to play as a full-back or centre-back (as well as a defensive midfielder if need be) showed his composure and positional sense. Sensini had two spells in Udinese, one in the early 1990s before going on to captain Parma to a Uefa Cup. He then returned to Udine at the age of 36 in 2002, but remained a major force for a number of years, culminating in the club achieving Champions League qualification. Given a choice between the younger or older version of Sensini, give me the latter. He got better with age.
Zico (1983-85)
Zico is unique in this selection in that the playmaker arrived at Udinese a huge star upon his arrival in 1983. The Brazilian was part of the wonderful 1982 World Cup team knocked out by Italy. The hub of an all-conquering Flamingo side, his lucrative contract was initially blocked by the Italian FA but Udinese still got their money’s worth. An exceptional two-footed dribbler, his slender 5ft 8in frame allowed him to wriggle and weave his way through the brutal Serie A defences of early 1980s. He was prolific from the No 10 role in his two seasons in Udine, scoring immaculately-placed free-kicks seemingly at will. Although Zico departed Italy without a major honour, he is still revered in Udine. Check out the footage of his last appearance for the club, a 2-2 draw with Napoli in 1985, with him and his usurper as the world’s greatest player, Maradona, going toe-to-toe. Magic.
Antonio Di Natale (2004-16)
Although Zico may be the best player in this team, I wouldn’t say he was the most influential. Udinese’s leading appearance-maker and record goalscorer, Di Natale was the epitome of the modern attacker. Similar to Zico in stature at 5ft 7in, he also had an ability to dribble wonderfully and escape from the attention of defenders. He was versatile, fleet of thought and foot, capable as a winger, a second striker or a lone striker. He could score any type of goal – lobs, swerving shots from distance, free kicks, tap-ins, placed shots and running off the shoulder of the last man. Di Natale is not only an Udinese hero but an Italian football one. He improved with age, his hard work and dedication being rewarded in his mid to late 30s with five consecutive seasons of scoring 20 goals or more. Although he had been fairly prolific at Empoli, his 12 seasons at Udinese helped the club become a top-half side that qualified for the Champions League as a result of his goals, leadership and loyalty. An old-school footballer in a modern age and one who would be the fulcrum of this side.
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Oliver Bierhoff (1995-98)
With two diminutive and tricky players as attacking outlets, the 6ft 3in German, Oliver Bierhoff, would provide a focal point up top. Something of a late bloomer having struggled in his homeland, Bierhoff hit a prolific vein of form in Austria and then Ascoli before heading to Udinese. His lethal heading ability may not be all that handy in five-a-side, but he was a true striker, eager to score goals in any way they came about. Bierhoff perfected the art of being in the right place at the right time, scoring 57 goals in 86 games, and won the capocannoniere award in 1997-98 with 27 goals as Udinese finished third. He also had a brutally powerful and accurate shot from distance and excelled in Alberto Zaccheroni’s system. Perhaps not always the most elegant at times, he could still link up play wonderfully and be on the end of any flowing move those around him would construct. Perfect for this team with the flair of Di Natale and Zico and perfect for five-a-side.
