Fernando Couto

A central defender with excellent heading ability, he arrived in Italy thanks to Parma, after making his first footballing experiences in Portuguese professional football. In his first spell with the Crociati, which lasted two seasons, he took no time to settle into Italian football, winning one UEFA Cup.

He left Parma in 1996 and was bought by Barcelona. He returned to Italy in a Lazio jersey, with whom he played seven seasons before returning to the Gialloblù in 2005. He retired from football in 2008 and embarked on a managerial career.

During his career, he was one of Portugal’s stalwart defenders, collecting 110 appearances and winning a silver medal in the 2004 European Championships in Portugal.