Stats made by: JeanMarc and Interista93
Name: Comunardo Niccolai
Nickname: "Agonia", "Re degli autogol"
Country:
ItalyClub: U.S. Cagliari
Position: *CB
Side: RF/BS
Age: 22-27 years (15/12/1946)
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Attack: 64
Defence: 83
Balance: 84
Stamina: 81
Top Speed: 78
Acceleration: 76
Response: 82
Agility: 75
Dribble Accuracy: 74
Dribble Speed: 74
Short Pass Accuracy: 75
Short Pass Speed: 73
Long Pass Accuracy: 74
Long Pass Speed: 76
Shot Accuracy: 65
Shot Power: 84
Shot Technique: 68
Free Kick Accuracy: 63
Curling: 65
Header: 81
Jump: 84
Technique: 75
Aggression: 67
Mentality: 77
Keeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 78
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 5
Growth Type: Standard
CARDS:
S07 - Man Marking
S09 - Covering
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Marking - Covering
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Defence Minded
INFO:
Niccolai was a centre back. He spent most of his career at Cagliari, playing 273 matches and scoring 6 goals from 1964 to 1976 and winning the 1969-70 Scudetto. He played also for Torres, Perugia and Prato, retiring in 1978. Probably not one of Cagliari's best players during the club's golden era, he still gained 3 caps for Italy while the likes of Mario Brugnera, Ricciotti Greatti, Mario Martiradonna and Giuseppe Tomasini never capped for the national team.
Nicknamed "King of own goals", Niccolai was indeed mostly famous ─ or infamous ─ for his prowess to score in his own goal. Despite defenders like Franco Baresi and Riccardo Ferri having scored more own goals than him, Niccolai is still considered Italy's greatest in this aspect for the spectacularity of his own goals. In terms of defensive abilities, Niccolai was a good man marker who challenged tall and strong centre forward. He himself possessed strength as well as ability in the air, good sense of anticipation and decent pace. He also had solid ball control, dribbling and a decent shot. In fact, one of his goals was from the penalty spot while another came after he pushed forward, went past a few defenders and beat the goalkeeper.