7 November: Gigi Riva, the thunder of Sardinia
Gigi Riva
«Rombo di tuono»
- A.C. Legnano 1962-1963 · 6 goals
- Cagliari Calcio 1963-1976 · 164 goals
- Parma Calcio 1913
The one who would not leave
He was born by Lake Maggiore, in the north, and was orphaned young. At nineteen he was signed by Cagliari, then in Serie B. He himself said that when he arrived in Sardinia he planned to go home as soon as he could. He stayed forever.
Juventus and the Milan clubs tried to sign him time and again, with huge offers. He said no to all of them. In Sardinia he is regarded almost as a national hero.
1968, 1970
With Italy he won Euro 1968 in Rome, scoring in the replayed final against Yugoslavia. In 1970 Cagliari won Serie A, the only league title in their history, with Riva as top scorer. That same summer he played in the World Cup final in Mexico against Pelé's Brazil, which Italy lost 4-1.
He broke his leg twice playing for his country. He died in Cagliari in January 2024, and the whole city came out to say goodbye.
Also born on 7 November
David de Gea, twelve years at Old Trafford
A goalkeeper from Madrid developed at Atlético, with whom he won the 2010 Europa League at nineteen. In 2011 Ferguson's Manchester United signed him and he stayed twelve seasons, voted the club's player of the year several times. He then moved to Italy, to Fiorentina.
- Atlético de Madrid Juvenil 2003-2008
- Club Atlético de Madrid "B" 2008-2009
- Atlético de Madrid 2009-2011
- Manchester United Football Club 2011-2023
- ACF Fiorentina since 2024
Another 37 internationally known footballers were born on this day. We do not list them for the sake of it: only those with a story to tell make it here.
📅 The almanac: pick any date
Every day of the year has its story. Highlighted days are already out: click to see who was born or what happened on that date. The faded ones go live on their day, at midnight (Spain time). 52 published.
Football almanac · Elopi23
January
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
February
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
March
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
April
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
May
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
June
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
July
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
August
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
September14 ★
- 11 September: Ruud Gullit
- 1111 September: Franz Beckenbauer
- 1818 September: Ronaldo
- 2020 September: Henrik Larsson
- 2121 September: Sándor Kocsis
- 2222 September: Thiago Silva
- 2323 September: Quini
- 2424 September: Marco Tardelli
- 2525 September: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
- 2626 September: Michael Ballack
- 2727 September: Francesco Totti
- 2828 September: Javi Poves
- 2929 September: Andriy Shevchenko
- 3030 September: Frank Rijkaard
October31 ★
- 11 October: George Weah
- 22 October: Alisson Becker · Roberto Firmino
- 33 October: Zlatan Ibrahimović
- 44 October: Jorge Valdano
- 55 October: Kopa, Rial, Di Stéfano, Puskás and Gento
- 66 October: Bruce Grobbelaar
- 77 October: Diego Costa
- 88 October: Zvonimir Boban
- 99 October: Gheorghe Popescu
- 1010 October: Tony Adams
- 1111 October: Bobby Charlton
- 1212 October: Cristhian Stuani
- 1313 October: Raymond Kopa
- 1414 October: Matt Le Tissier
- 1515 October: Didier Deschamps
- 1616 October: Paulo Roberto Falcão
- 1717 October: Sergio Goycochea
- 1818 October: Julio Olarticoechea
- 1919 October: Gunnar Nordahl
- 2020 October: Claudio Ranieri
- 2121 October: Paco Gento
- 2222 October: Lev Yashin
- 2323 October: Pelé
- 2424 October: Wayne Rooney
- 2525 October: Francisco Sá
- 2626 October: The founding of the Football Association
- 2727 October: Sebastián Abreu
- 2828 October: Garrincha
- 2929 October: Edwin van der Sar
- 3030 October: Diego Armando Maradona
- 3131 October: Marco van Basten
November7 ★
December
Nothing from this month is out yet. One goes live each day, on its own date.
★ published · ✎ written, waiting for their day · the red circle is today
A new one goes live every day at midnight (Spain time). We will let you know in your browser, and also when there is a new article. Turn it off whenever you like.
Dates, clubs, individual awards and photos come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, under free licences, and update themselves. Ages are not written anywhere: they are calculated the moment you open the page, so this page always shows the right age, this year and twenty years from now. If any of these players signs for another club or wins an award, their profile picks it up on its own. What is written by hand is the story and the judgement: who the day belongs to, and why.