The Man They Call ‘Batigol’: Gabriel Batistuta (Video)
By Chris Wright
The subject of Pies’ Friday afternoon tribute this week just so happens to be one of my all-time favourites, ever since my grandparents bought me a knock-off ‘Batistuta #9′ Fiorentina shirt home from a market stall in Venezuela (of all places) at the age of ten or eleven.
The ‘Viola’ die washed out almost immediately, but I continued to wear that damn shirt until it came apart at the seams – careering full-tilt shots around my garden, splintering fence panels, losing footballs and putting shed windows through on a regular basis.
Just like ‘Batigol’…
I still enjoy the fact that he always looked so utterly surprised each and every time he scored. After all 250(ish) of them.
While we’re on the subject, reckon you’re in the mood for another 26-more minutes of Batistuta-y goodness to round out your afternoon? Feel free to try this ‘Football Greatest’ documentary on for size…
Part One…
You’ll have to go here for part two, the fool has disabled embedding.
Suggested further viewing…
The Thin, Wild Mercury Genius Of Djalminha
Vision And Finesse: Michael Laudrup
Ronaldo’s 62 Brazil Goals In The Space Of Four Minutes
Thierry Henry’s 226 Arsenal Goals In The Space Of 14 Minutes
Do Arsenal Artificially Enhance The Emirates Atmosphere? – OTP
Big Cup Bullshit – The FCF
Guess UEFA Cup Finalists From Their Shirt – Three Match Ban
20 Damning Steve Kean Quotes – Mirror Football
'Abandon All Hope…' – Sunshine Room
Leaked Blackburn Letter Shows Extent Of Turmoil – EPL Talk
Genius Who Couldn't Exist Today: Dragan Stojkovic – LBITCR
German Philosopher Reflects On Jose Mourinho – Futfanatico
Rule Changes That Could Hand Title To Man Utd – FourFourTwo
Welcome To Posh – Danny Last for IBWM
Woah! My obsession with football grew after I received my knock-off Argentina jersey from India as well. Albeit not a Batistuta jersey, I followed him like crazy just for the jersey cause he was the greatest around… aaahhh how I miss those years!!!
My favourites were the indirect freekicks (particularly at 2.50). You’d have to be a brave cunt to stand in that wall.
poor mans Steve Bull…
Batistuta was the 1st footballer is supported as a kid.
Carried that Fiorentina side on his own back then.
When Batistuta was in Newell’s youth team in Argentina, he started a course on how to fix machines because he did not believe he’d make it pro and was scared he wouldn’t be able to provide his family with any money.
And when he finally reached pro in Newell’s, the coach at the time told him… “Gabriel, I need you to be more precise with your passes and touches, you have to improve your technique.” Batistuta looked at him and replied… “You just get me in front of the goal and I’ll destroy it.”
Batistuta is Chad Kroeger’s half brother.
Awesome vids Chris and Pies. Loving these Friday Footie YouTube Classics….The Batistua documentary was AWESOME. Thanks!!
Hey Chris check out the video I uploaded from the mid 90′s. It was an Australian show called ‘On the Ball’ hosted on Saturday’s by Les Murray and Johnny Warren. Stock full of Bati-goals and cheesy mid 90′s dance music. They always finished each show with a compilation. Here’s the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7eBzI3XDac
This “Football Greatest” is awesome, u should see the others too.
Zico
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIN778zmlb0
what a legend. one touch and hit or just HIT!!!
Couldn’t do much else except score. But boy oh boy could he do scoring damn well! Never forget that goal against Arsenal at the old Wembley. Ka-Boom! Nearly took Seaman’s moustache off!
My parents gave me a full page pic for Xmas of Bati crying like a little girl after Arg went out of the WC in the 1st round, knowing I hated him. It had pride of place framed on my toilet wall.
So stuff your stupid clips, not listening na na na na…
Varun let me fix that for ya
“Batistuta was the 1st footballer I supported as a kid.
He and Rui Costa carried that Fiorentina side on his own back then.”
anyone who doesnt pick batigol as there all time 9 in there all time team can take a shotgun put my opinion on the cartridges and blow there dumb brains out the greatest 9 ever FACT edmundo put it simply im good ramario is better ronaldo better still but non of us is batistuta A FACTS A FACT the 9 of all 9′s
batistuta never won nothing at viola but in 2001 he won it with roma in his first season… but that would never deny that he was loyaly to viola..