ASK a soccer fan to call an English World Cup winner and the likes of Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore or Gordon Banks will roll off the tongue.
One title you’ll nearly definitely not hear is that of Simone Perrotta.
Simone Perrotta gained the World Cup in Italy in 2006Credit score: Getty
Perrotta has been dubbed England’s final World Cup winnerCredit score: AFP
He was born in Ashton-under-Lyne lower than 10 miles from Outdated TraffordCredit score: EPA
Nevertheless, the 46-year-old now-retired midfielder holds a singular place in soccer historical past… because the final Englishman to carry the most important prize in soccer.
He was, sadly, enjoying for Italy.
Perrotta by no means earned an England cap, as a substitute enjoying 48 occasions for the Azzurri.
And he performed 61 minutes within the remaining because the Italians beat France on penalties to carry the Jules Rimet trophy within the summer time of 2006.
But it surely might need all been so totally different for Perrotta.
Because the Roma legend might have been knocked out on penalties by Portugal within the quarter-finals, enjoying for the nation of his start.
That’s as a result of Perrotta was born lower than ten miles from Manchester United’s Outdated Trafford in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Perrotta was born within the city to Italian mother and father who had emigrated within the Seventies.
Mum Ana Maria and Dad Francesco ran a pub in Ashton, with the latter additionally taking on a soccer staff known as the Jolly Milan, earlier than they headed again to Italy when Perrotta was six-years-old.
Giovanni Castellano, a former neighbour of the Perrotta’s, informed Manchester Night Information: “Soccer was within the household’s blood.
“It (the staff Francesco run) was named after the Jolly Carter, a pub in Hyde the place we have been primarily based, and Milan as a result of we have been all Milan followers.
“Having this soccer staff meant journeys for Simone to such unique footballing areas as Hyde, Gorton and Oldham and even at that age he was displaying indicators of changing into soccer loopy like his father.”
Throughout his time in England, Perrotta senior developed an affinity for Manchester United and finally noticed his son play on the stadium for AS Roma in a 2007 Champions League match.
On the 2006 remaining, Mr Castellano added: “It was not Simone’s finest match, however he did us proud all through the competition. It was a improbable achievement that the majority of us can solely dream about.
“Now we will rightly say that there isn’t any different place on this planet with two World Cup soccer gamers of various nationalities from the identical city.”
Perrotta’s membership profession noticed him keep in Italy, starring for the likes of Reggina, Juventus, Bari and Verona earlier than retiring at Roma in 2013 after 9 seasons with the membership.
He gained the Italian Cup in back-to-backs years and the Tremendous Cup as soon as with Roma, in addition to lifting the Euro Beneath-21 title with Italy in 2000.
Perrotta was immortalised with a statue outdoors of Curzon Ashton’s Tameside Stadium, which can play host to Avely or Barnet within the FA Cup first spherical correct.
The statute, erected in 2010, depicts him alongside the borough’s two members of England’s 1966 triumph – Geoff Hurst and Jimmy Armfield.
Upon discovering out concerning the statue seven years later he mentioned: “It was my uncle, who nonetheless lives there, who informed me about it.
“I discover it an enormous unusual no one else alerted me to the existence of this statue. My children have been stunned standing there in entrance of the statues of these gamers. And I believed: ‘Hey, I’m there too’.”
England can safe qualification to Euro 2024 by getting a draw towards Italy – who beat the Three Lions on penalties within the remaining at Wembley in Euro 2020 – on Tuesday.
Gareth Southgate’s facet are unbeaten in Group C qualifying, having overwhelmed 2-1 Italy within the reverse fixture.
Perrotta made 48 appearances for ItalyCredit score: AFP
Perrotta, center, has a statue alongside England 1966 winners Geoff Hurst and Jimmy ArmfieldCredit score: Getty