Angelo Di Livio
A tireless and versatile midfielder, his relentless engine and tactical intelligence made him a crucial, if understated, component of Juventus's dominant 1990s dynasty.
Born 1966 (age 60)·Italian former footballer·Birthday: July 26·Generation X
Biography
Angelo Di Livio's career is a testament to the power of perseverance and adaptability. Born in Rome, he didn't follow a typical star's trajectory, instead grinding through lower-division football before his big break at Juventus in 1993. Under Marcello Lippi, he transformed from an attacking midfielder into a dynamic, defensively astute wing-back, a role that perfectly suited his boundless stamina and fierce competitive spirit. Nicknamed 'Soldatino' (little soldier), Di Livio became a fan favorite for his unyielding work rate, covering every blade of grass. He was the reliable cog in a machine of superstars, contributing to three Serie A titles, a Champions League triumph, and the 1996 Intercontinental Cup. His consistency earned him 40 caps for Italy, where he played in two World Cups and was part of the squad that suffered heartbreak in the Euro 2000 final. After leaving Juventus, he became a leader at Fiorentina, famously staying with the club after its financial collapse and helping guide it back from Serie C2, cementing his legacy as a player of immense character.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Angelo was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Angelo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Angelo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA Champions League, three Serie A titles, and the Coppa Italia as a key player for Juventus in the 1990s.
- Earned 40 caps for the Italian national team, featuring in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups.
- Played in the final of UEFA Euro 2000, where Italy lost to France via a golden goal.
- Demonstrated extraordinary loyalty by remaining with Fiorentina after its 2002 bankruptcy and relegation to Italy's fourth tier.
- Made over 250 appearances in Serie A across his career for clubs including Juventus, Roma, and Fiorentina.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'Soldatino', was given to him by Juventus manager Marcello Lippi for his soldier-like discipline on the pitch.
He is one of the few players to have won every major club trophy available in Italian football (Scudetto, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana).
After retirement, he served as the team manager for the Italy national under-21 football team.
He began his professional career with non-league club Nocerina before moving to Perugia in Serie B.
“I ran for every ball, because the team needed that more than a star.”
