Fabio Pecchia

Fabio Pecchia (Italian pronunciation: [ˈfaːbjo ˈpekkja]; born 24 August 1973) is an Italian professional football manager and former player. Throughout his playing career as a midfielder, he was also known as l'avvocato ("The Lawyer" in Italian), as he obtained a law degree through the University of Naples.

Club career

A journeyman with eleven different clubs in his career, Pecchia amassed over 300 Serie A (the first division of the Italian football league system) appearances. He began his Italian football career with Avellino in 1991, and remained at the club for two seasons. Despite strong interest from Parma, he moved to Napoli in 1993, where he played for four seasons, becoming a key figure for the club, although he later struggled to establish himself in other teams. He made his Serie A debut with the Neapolitan club on 29 August 1993, at the age of 20, becoming a vital member of Marcello Lippi's midfield; Pecchia's tactical versatility, speed, technique, vision, and passing range allowed him to excel in Lippi's offensive tactical system, which made frequent use of long balls and fast-paced football. With Napoli, Pecchia soon established himself as one of the most promising and talented young Italian stars of the 1990s due to his leadership and work-rate; during his first season with Napoli, he helped the club qualify for the 1994–95 UEFA Cup.