Italy proved they have been a minimize above the remaining once they gained the 2006 World Cup in Germany – and so they regarded the half due to Massimo Oddo; the full-back who was dubbed ‘The Barber of Berlin’.
Oddo was taking part in within the decrease leagues of Italian soccer during the early days of his profession earlier than he was plucked from obscurity by Verona. After impressing in his stint in Serie A, Oddo was snapped up by Lazio in the summertime of 2002 and went on to win full worldwide honours with the Italian nationwide facet.
But it was within the 2006 event in Germany that Oddo actually got here to the fore – each on and off the pitch. The 45-year-old – who celebrates his birthday right now – is a educated barber and have become a cult hero for protecting his teammates wanting sharp all through the event.
Speaking in regards to the event, Oddo revealed that his unofficial position because the workforce’s barber all come about by probability – after Gennaro Gatusso noticed him checking out his personal barnet.
Oddo instructed COPA90: “It all started very fortuitously. We did – Pippo reminded me well – a month of retreat first and then in Germany we were closed there and didn’t have a chance to go to a barber.
“I was at all times fixing my hair on my own, till somebody noticed me, I believe it was Rino Gattuso. He instructed me ‘Cut my hair’, so for him the aesthetic facet was lower than zero. I did it nicely and from there got here Gilardino, who had lengthy hair and I did it quick, Perotta who additionally had lengthy hair I did quick. I additionally did Buffon.”
(Image: Giuseppe Bellini)
One of the more odd pictures of Italy’s post-match celebration concerned Oddo as nicely – as he have Mauro Camoranesi’s hair within the center of the pitch instantly after they beat France on penalties.
And Oddo revealed that Camoranesi’s post-match trim was the outcome of a high-stakes wager that the pair had made after Camoranesi had refused a haircut from Oddo during the event.
Oddo added: “This little game with Camoranesi was born there; joking, I told him to come into the room to cut his hair too, but he was naturally very attached to his long hair. So one day I said to him ‘Lets do this, if we win the World Cup I’ll cut your hair right after the end of the game’ and thats how it was.”
Oddo himself has had a quantity of completely different trims all through his profession however now has a a lot slicker look in his new position as the top coach of Serie C outfit Padova.