Giuseppe Dossena (Italian pronunciation: [dʒuˈzɛppe dosˈseːna]; born 2 May 1958) is an Italian football manager and former football player, who played as a midfielder.^[1] He played for several Italian clubs throughout his career, in particular Torino and Sampdoria, where he won several titles. At international level, he represented the Italy national football team, and was a member of the Italian squad that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

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Giuseppe Dossena

Personal information
Date of birth	(1958-05-02) 2 May 1958 (age 65)
Place of birth	Milan, Italy
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
	Alcione
	Torino
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1976–1977	Torino	0	(0)
1977–1978	Pistoiese	28	(1)
1978–1979	Cesena	28	(0)
1979–1981	Bologna	57	(7)
1981–1987	Torino	187	(20)
1987–1988	Udinese	28	(6)
1988–1991	Sampdoria	102	(9)
1991–1992	Perugia	26	(3)
Total		456	(46)
International career‡
1983–1984	Italy U21	4	(0)
1981–1987	Italy	38	(1)
Managerial career
1998	Triestina (assistant coach)
1998–1999	Ghana U20
1998–2000	Ghana
2000–2001	Ittihad Jeddah
2001–2002	Paraguay (assistant coach)
2002	Albania
2002–2003	Al-Ittihad
2003–2004	Lodigiani
2010–2012	Saint George FC
Medal record Representing  Italy FIFA World Cup Winner 1982 Spain
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 June 2006 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 April 2015

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Dossena began his playing career for Torino in 1976, and moved to Pistoiese the following season. He subsequently played for Cesena and Bologna, before returning to Torino in 1981, where he remained until 1987; it was during this second spell with the club that he was a member of the Italy national team, even earning a call-up for the Italy squad at the 1982 FIFA World Cup.^[2] He then played for Udinese, Sampdoria and Perugia, where he retired in 1992.^[3] Dossena is mostly remembered for his time with Sampdoria, where he achieved notable domestic and international success, winning the 1988–89 Coppa Italia, the 1989–90 European Cup Winners' Cup, the 1990–91 Serie A title, and the 1991 Supercoppa Italiana, also losing out on the 1990 European Super Cup final to European Cup winners and Serie A rivals Milan.^[4]

With the Italy national side, Dossena received 38 caps between 1981 and 1987, scoring 1 goal. After making 4 appearances in Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, he was selected as a member of Italy's 1982 FIFA World Cup winning squad, although he was an unused substitute throughout the tournament, despite being given the number 10 shirt.^[1][5][6][7]

Primarily a playmaker, Dossena was a hard-working, creative team player, renowned for his stamina, vision, technique, and passing ability in midfield, although he was also known for his ability to make attacking runs and strike from distance.^[4]

Later, he started a managing career at international level, coaching Ghana for two years (1998–2000),^[8] and then being assistant of Cesare Maldini in Paraguay's appearance at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Between 2000 and 2001, he coached Ittihad Jeddah of Saudi Arabia.^[9] He later worked as an analyst for Italian public broadcasting company RAI.

In July 2002, Dossena was appointed the new manager of Albania national team,^[10] becoming the first foreigner manager of the team since Hungarian Miklós Vadas in 1953.^[11] His spell at The Red and Blacks lasted for only three months, during which he led the national team in only two matches: the first was a 1–1 draw against Switzerland and the second was the 4–1 loss to Russia.^[11] He also won an unofficial friendly match against Kosovo 1–0 in September.^[10] In November 2002, he asked for his resign via a letter directed to Albanian Football Association, citing the pressure from the local media as the main reason of his decision.^[10]

On 30 August 2010 it was revealed that Dossena had agreed a two-year contract with Ethiopian champions Saint George FC. He later worked as a sporting director. Now, he is an adviser for the Italy national football team.^[12]