History Makers: Gabriel Batistuta

His long-range rockets and thumping headers were as unmistakable as the trademark flowing locks and patented goatee.

So too were the roaring celebrations; fists clenched, arms outstretched, veins pulsing and stadiums rocking to Batigol’s heavy metal soundtrack.

They were the hallmarks of a legendary career, played out in its peak during the glory days of Italy’s top-flight that resulted in Batistuta’s face being carved into Serie A’s Mount Rushmore of strikers.

BATIGOL - CAPELLO'S MISSING PIECE

In an era shaped by names such as Roberto Baggio, Oliver Bierhoff, Hernan Crespo, Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi, Ronaldo, Giuseppe Signori, Gianluca Vialli, Christian Vier, and many more, Batistuta reigned supreme - rattling home 203 goals in 331 games for La Viola before moving to the Eternal City.

At the time, his status was already legendary, his reputation as one of the world’s best players on the planet assured. But there was something missing.

He wanted trophies.

"I'm moving to Roma because they wanted me the most,” said Batistuta after opting for the Giallorossi when his time at Fiorentina finally came to an end in the summer of 2000.

“[Fabio] Capello and [Franco] Sensi are working on a serious project. They want to win as soon as possible, and I want to help them achieve their goal. Before I leave Italy, I dream of becoming a champion."

One year later, Batistuta had his wish.

His 20 league goals in 28 appearances were essential in firing Capello’s side to their first Scudetto since 1983 and the Argentine proved to be a game-changing difference-maker in Roma ending their 18-year wait for the title.

"We signed Batistuta because we needed an important striker like him, a strong aerial presence, a scorer, a leader on the field and in the locker room,” said Capello years later.

”He was very important to win the title.”

Batistuta’s arrival was greeted with much fanfare in the capital, as supporters packed out the Stadio Olimpico just for his unveiling - all to get a first look at their highly-sought new hero.

As Francesco Totti would go on to reflect: "When Franco Sensi announced to us that he would sign him, I felt like a child with new shoes.”

It was love at first sight for Roma and Batistuta, with the then 31-year-old’s agent, Setimio Aloisio, saying it was the pull of the Giallorossi’s “special fans” that ultimately swayed his client when it came to decision time after a near decade stint at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

On his arrival, Batistuta joined a mouth-watering Roma attack that consisted of fellow new (and returning) arrival Abel Balbo, Marco Delvecchio, Vincenco Montella and precocious young skipper Totti.

Batistuta added a new dimension to the side, one that also saw Emerson, Gianni Guigou, Walter Samuel and Jonathan Zebina join Capello’s ranks that summer.

The Rome revolution immediately kicked into gear and, having scored on his club debut in the UEFA Cup, it took Batistuta just two games to find the back of the net for the first time in the league as he hit a double in the 4-0 win at Lecce on Matchday 2.

Strike after strike followed, with Batistuta scoring a number of important goals on route to the title, including an emotional late winner against Fiorentina and efforts in each of the last two matchdays of the season as Roma clinched the Scudetto on the final day.

Batistuta scored the third of the 3-1 win over Parma on week 34 of his first season at the Olimpico and he could barely contain his emotions after finally getting his hands on the championship he craved for so long.

​​"I can't believe it, we fought so hard,” he said.

“I'm very happy because we came out to play with our hearts. The Scudetto is what I've been looking for for so long. As soon as I arrived in Rome I already believed we could win it, and I was right."

Batistuta had reaffirmed his status as one of the greatest centre-forwards the world has ever seen and became a Roma legend overnight.

He would go on to score 33 times in 87 appearances for the Giallorossi, and here are five of his best in yellow and red…

1. The rocket free-kick

vs. VERONA (a)
2000
Serie A

Batistuta was a player with many trademarks - some of which are outlined above - and one of them was rollocking free-kicks into the top corner.

This one against Verona came just six weeks into his Serie A career at the club and just one game after Batigol bagged a hat-trick at Brescia.

From just three purposeful strides at the ball, Batistuta somehow gathers enough momentum to send a rocket beyond Fabrizio Ferron that almost tears the net from its support.

2. The one that broke Fiorentina hearts

vs. FIORENTINA (h)
2000
Serie A

"I played the whole match with these conflicting thoughts in my head - I’m sorry for Fiorentina. It was important, though, because I want to win for Roma so I was trying hard but I can not forget my past.

“Certainly I can’t say that I’m happy to have scored against my former team-mates, but Roma wanted the win."

After a nine-year love affair with Fiorentina, Batistuta was full of mixed emotions taking on his old club but he delivered in spades for his new team.

His ferocious, dipping volley from 25-yards out was too much for Francesco Toldo, sealing an 83rd-minute win that was crucial in the long run as Roma pulled up two points clear of Juventus on the final day.

3. The predator’s volley

vs. PARMA (a)
2001
Serie A

Another massive Batistuta goal with long-term implications on the title race that shows the Argentine’s guile and intelligence that also accompanied his battering ram qualities that made him so potent on the ground, in the air, and off the ball.

His movement pulls him behind the full-back and in clear space from the centre-half, allowing Batigol to race onto Aldair’s perfectly-placed clipped ball from the left.

Unmarked, six-yards out, the rest is history.

4. The one in the derby

vs. LAZIO (h)
2001
Serie A

Another example of Batistuta’s elusive movement, he this time gets across Sinisa Mihajlovic at the near post before expertly steering Delvecchio’s whipped cross into the far corner.

Cue a leaping Batistuta to hurdle the advertising boards and celebrate in front of a delirious Curva Sud as the Giallorossi took a 2-0 lead.

They’d ultimately relinquish that advantage and share a 2-2 draw with their Derby della Capitale rivals in one of the most entertaining derbies in history.

5. The Scudetto clincher

vs. PARMA (h)
2001
Serie A

A long, enthralling Serie A season boiled down to its final weekend, with just two points separating Capello’s leaders from Juve and Lazio still able to steal the title if they won and the top-two both lost.

But Roma made sure of the Scudetto as efforts from Totti and Montella put them 2-0 up at half-time, before Batistuta put a bow on the victory - and the championship - with 12 minutes remaining.

Montella’s raking long ball released Batistuta who turned Fabio Cannavaro in half before arrowing into the far corner on his left foot, as relief and joy poured out of the Olimpico.

What happened next for Batistuta?

Batistuta would win the Supercoppa Italiana with Roma in 2001 and eventually left for Inter Milan on loan after three years in the capital.

He would eventually hang up his boots in Qatar where he added a top-scorer trophy in the Gulf country to his 1994-95 Serie A Capocannoniere.

There was also top-scorer honours in the Copa America (twice) and the FIFA Confederations Cup with Argentina, both of which he won during a remarkable international career that consisted of 54 goals in 77 games for La Albiceleste.

In 2018, his iconic fist-clenched celebration was immortalised in statue alongside Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi in Recoleta, the same year that Batistuta was named in Argentina’s all-time XI.

Introduced to Roma’s Hall of Fame in 2015, he has also been recognised with HOF status by Fiorentina and the Italian Football Federation - just reward for an incredible footballer.

Read more in this series:

Simone Perrotta
Vincenzo Montella
Rudi Voeller
Damiano Tommasi
Marco Delvecchio
Rodrigo Taddei
Vincent Candela
Pedro Manfredini
Alberto Aquilani
Hidetoshi Nakata
Cafu