On the occasion of Fiorentina’s centenary, Giunti Odeon welcomes Giancarlo Antognoni and Luca Calamai with Una vita da dieci (Piemme): the journey of an “adopted Florentine” who chose the eternal embrace of his city over a thousand league titles elsewhere. The story of a man, but above all of a footballer who never betrayed his colours, remaining forever in the firmament of a single team.

Surprise guests will be on stage too!

The book:

“Giancarlo Antognoni shows great qualities. He plays while looking at the stars.” With these words, during a historic radio commentary, Sandro Ciotti captured the timeless elegance of a young man destined to become a legend.

In this book, for the first time, the Unico 10 opens up, recounting fifty years of life. It is not only the chronicle of an extraordinary career — from the 450 million lire wager made by president Ugolini to his debut in Verona under Liedholm’s gaze, all the way to the 1982 World Cup triumph — but above all a declaration of love from a man who chose to belong to one people, one team: Fiorentina.

Antognoni retraces his most famous “noes”: to Avvocato Agnelli and Juventus, to Dino Viola and Milan. Choices made by listening to the heartbeat rather than the call of trophies or money. In these pages we rediscover the “bread and salami” football of one-club icons such as Gigi Riva and Gaetano Scirea, his fraternal friendship with Paolo Rossi, his duels with the champions of the past, but also his fragilities, serious injuries, and friendships born in the dressing room and strengthened in the streets of a magical Florence.

The authors:

Born in 1954, Giancarlo Antognoni is one of the most beloved legends of Italian football. His name is indissolubly linked to Fiorentina. To this day, he still holds the record for appearances in the club’s history, with 429 matches in total. Wearing the number 10 shirt, he won a Coppa Italia in 1975 and came close to winning the Serie A title in 1982. With the Italian national team, he played a key role in the Azzurri’s triumph at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, becoming World Champion. He has also had a long career as a football executive. Since April 2024, he has returned to the prestigious role of head of delegation of the Italian Under-21 national team.

Luca Calamai, a 53-year-old Florentine journalist since 1984, was deputy editor of the Gazzetta dello Sport and head of the Florence editorial team. In 2002, he won the USSI Award for "desk" work.