Paolo Tramezzani

Footballers can be like ghosts, first you see them and then they are gone, never to be seen, or heard of again. One such figure is former Tottenham Hotspur defender Paolo Tramezzani, the highly sought after Italian signed for Spurs in 1998 £1.5 million from Piacenza, but he never quite fulfilled any the expectations many had for him and was quickly on his way back to Italy.

Tramezzani started his career in the Inter Milan youth set-up in 1989; he was quickly loaned to lower league side, Prato, Cosenza and Lucchese respectively to gain first team experience. Upon is return to Inter, he became more of a squad player, and in two years amassed 26 matched for the Milanese side. He did manage to win the UEFA Cup during his tenure with Inter.

After a couple of seasons in search of regular first team football with Venezia and Cesena, he got his big break with Piacenza, for whom he made 57 appearances, scoring 6 goals. It was his for here that alerted Christian Gross and Spurs.

His career at Tottenham got of to a reasonably good start, he scored on his debut in a friendly against Peterborough. He was a gangly runner and it seen the urgency of the English game did sit comfortably. His first competitive game came against Wimbledon and was duly lost, then a 3-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in the following match coupled with a number of injury problems signalled the beginning of the end for the Italian.

After George Graham took over from Christian Gross, it was apparent Tramezzani wasn’t in Graham’s plans, the pair also had a falling out over where Tramezzani should receive treatment for his injury problems. Tramezzani wanted to be treated in Italy so he could be closer to his children, who lived with his estranged wife. Graham insisted he be treated in London. All in all he managed seven games for Spurs in two years, and was released to Pistoiese.

He then returned to Piacenza in 2000 where he helped them back into Serie A. After three years he was transferred to Atalanta and after one season with the Nerazzurri he moved to lower league side Pro Patria for the sole reason of being closer to his children. He even spurned a move to Empoli and could have moved to Benfica but declined for the same reason.

Five years of loyal service to Pro Patria ended on 9th June 2008 when he announced his retirement from football. His intention is to move into coaching. He has also made forays into the media world, working as a columnist for Rai Sport Più and Telelombardia covering the Italian lower leagues. He is also a co-presenter of GNOK Calcio Show on Sky Sports Italy.