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Top 50 Foreigners

Those who made an impact on the Italian game after the borders were re-opened in 1980

50 Glenn Stromberg SWEDEN Swedish midfield organiser who became a fan favourite at Atalanta. He joined the Bergamaschi in 1984, at the age of 24, and would stay there until his retirement in 1992. A pivotal member of the side which reached the 1988 Cup-Winners Cup semi-final, he totalled 185 games in Serie A with 15 goals and also stayed loyal during a term in Serie B. 49 Matias Almeyda ARGENTINA The heart and lungs of the great Lazio side that Sergio Cragnotti built. A combative midfielder, he provided the much-needed balance as the capital club won the Scudetto, the Cup-Winners Cup and the European Super Cup. He later joined Parma and Inter before ending his Italian stint with a problematic spell at Brescia. 48 Walter Casagrande BRAZIL Signed from European champions Porto in 1987, Casagrande wrote himself into Ascoli folklore thanks to his four seasons with the Bianconeri. The Brazilian, similar in some ways to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, netted 38 goals in 96 games for the minnows. He led the club back to Serie A in 1991 before joining Torino, whom he helped to the UEFA Cup Final against Ajax. Who can forget his white tape strapped wrists?