Batistuta has a successor!

Ozren Podnar reports.. on Luca Toni, the man of the moment in Serie A.

There is no stopping Luca Toni. In Italy he is called King Midas, because every ball he touches turns to gold. For the Fiorentina faithful, he is the new Batistuta, while for Toni Florence is the launch-pad for the World Cup in Germany.

In spite of the legion of foreign strikers in Serie A, most recent headlines have been dedicated to the Italian offensive contingent. And no forward has been more revered than Luca Toni, the striking needle of a high-flying Fiorentina.

The newcomer from Palermo immediately fit into the new surroundings and went on to play the first quarter of the season as though in a trance. In fact, the only man who had such a dream start to a season was Toni's childhood hero, Gabriel Batistuta, in the 1994/95 season.

As of early November, Toni stands alone on top of the Serie A scoring chart with 13 goals in 11 matches. Besides, he scored six times in five Copa Italia games, which makes it 19 goals in 16 games against the Italian defenses. Thanks to his amazing scoring run, Fiorentina are in a dazzling third place, three points behind Milan and five behind Juventus. Then there was his hat-trick for Italy against Belarus in September. He seems to be incapable of doing wrong nowadays.

But just eight years ago, during a poor spell at Serie C Fiorenzuola, Toni contemplated leaving soccer altogether and trying to find a regular job. At the time, he had a reputation of a somewhat cumbersome forward with slow feet, but the move to Lodigiani of Rome brought him a progress in shape of 15 goals in 31 games and a promotion to Serie B Treviso. Luca repaid Treviso's confidence with another 15 goals, climbing a step further, this time to Serie A Vicenza. His nine goals were not enough to help the team avoid relegation, but the observers noted his improved agility and speed.

Story of Love and Hate

In 2001 he moved to Roberto Baggio's Brescia, where he scored 13 goals in 28 appearances, earning praise from the old renaissance master (again Baggio) for his footballing skills. Misfortune struck when Toni injured his knee, which limited his output during the 2002/03 season, but Palermo already had him in sight for the climb back to Serie A.

"When we signed Toni, we knew he was a player who would lift us up to the next level. He is a great striker, he can do everything right, not just scoring goals. He can carry the whole attack on his shoulders," rejoiced Palermo's coach Francesco Guidolin.

The transfer was a hit for both sides. Counting competitive and friendly games, Tony scored 78 times in 23 months wearing Palermo's pink-black uniform, one of those that are not forgotten once you see them.

Touched by the player's quick adjustment to the southern lifestyle and the passion present in his game, Palermo's fans took the northerner to their hearts, but the love they felt for him evaporated when last summer he broke the promise he would stay there forever.

What Palermo's followers thought of him they showed in early October, during the game against Slovenia in which Italy sealed their place in the World Cup. Over 20,000 Sicilians booed Toni every time he touched the ball, specially when he missed a good opportunity a few minutes before the end.

Palermo's chairman Maurizio Zamparini added fuel to the flames accusing him of greed.

"His purse turned out to be more important to him than the colours," said the boss.

Toni disagreed. "Zamparini's words are hard to believe. During the two years I missed just a few games in the championship, scored 51 league goals and helped the team enter the UEFA Cup. But, he spoke of me much less then than in the past few months."

Luca Toni

Something of the late developer, it took the 28-year-old a while to encounter his golden streak. He is a physically potent striker, endowed with an animal sense of goal and very good ball control for a player 194 cm (6ft 4) tall.

Full Name: Pavullo nel Frignano
Birth date: May 26, 1977
Birthplace: Rome
Height and weight: 194 cm, 88 kg
Role: center forward
Shirt Number: 30

Career (appearances and goals)

1994/95 Modena 9 3
1995/96 Modena 25 5
1996/97 Empoli 3 1
1997/98 Fiorenzuola 25 2
1998/99 Lodigiani 31 15
1999/00 Treviso 35 15
2000/01 Vicenza 31 9
2001/02 Brescia 28 13
2002/03 Brescia 16 2
2003/04 Palermo 45 31
2004/05 Palermo 35 20
2005/06 Fiorentina 11 13

National team:
2004- Italy 13 5

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