What happened to Fiorentina’s 2012 roster, Part 1

Florence, 10 February – Facundo Roncaglia turns 39 today, and the Argentine defender’s birthday has become the annual cue for Fiorentina supporters to dust off memories of the 2012-2013 side that briefly threatened to gate-crash Serie A’s top tier under Vincenzo Montella. Roncaglia, a cult hero whose Facebook meme page once rivalled the official club account for traction, was never more than a rotation option at right-back, yet his bruising tackles and wholehearted commitment embodied the spirit of that over-achieving squad. Where, then, are the guardians of that memory? The first instalment of our three-part audit begins between the posts and sweeps across the back line.

Goalkeepers

Luca Lezzerini has come full circle. A decade after leaving Tuscany to hone his craft in Serie B, the 31-year-old returned to Fiorentina last summer as the designated third keeper, tasked with ticking the home-grown quota and keeping the bench warm. He is unlikely to dislodge the starters, but training-ground videos of his exuberant warm-ups have already endeared him to a new generation.

Cristiano Lupatelli, the bald-headed showman whose sculpted sideburns once framed the Artemio Franchi, hung up his gloves in 2015. Coaching stints with the Viola Primavera were followed by appointments within the Juventus and Italy youth set-ups; he now works with Luciano Spalletti’s senior Azzurri staff, the goatee replaced by stubble but the charisma intact.

Neto’s career reads like a passport-stamp collector’s dream. After refusing to renew in Florence, the Brazilian stopper collected domestic titles at Juventus, sampled La Liga with Valencia, served as Marc-André ter Stegen’s deputy at Barcelona, survived the Premier League at Arsenal and Bournemouth, and, at 36, is back home with Botafago.

Emiliano Viviano has traded saves for soundbites. The former Italy international, instantly recognisable for his flamboyant facial hair, is now a sought-after pundit whose anecdotes – including one recent admission about playing while under the influence at Arsenal – colour DAZN’s coverage. Viviano was also among the first high-profile players to voice support for Jakub Jankto when the Czech midfielder came out in 2022.

Defenders

Michele Camporese, once the teenage stopper who nullified Zlatan Ibrahimović on debut, is rebuilding at 31 with Serie B’s Livorno after a string of loan moves. Marvin Compper’s six imperious months in purple preceded a surprise switch to the Red Bull galaxy; the German now assists Enrico Maaßen at Swiss side St. Gallen and crossed paths with Fiorentina last season without most fans noticing.

Egyptian centre-back Ahmed Hegazy never cemented a place in Florence but flourished elsewhere: West Brom’s Hawthorns, Al Ahly’s cauldron and Al-Ittihad’s title run earned him hero status. Now 35, he captains Saudi Pro League newcomers NEOM FC, having retired from international duty with 88 Pharaohs caps.

Saverio Madrigali’s story could grace a feel-good screenplay. Forced to retire at 23 without a single competitive Viola appearance, the Pisa native channelled his perfectionism into cakes rather than clearances. His artisan bakery on Via Fiorentina boasts a 4.6-star Google rating and, according to local reports, the owner’s jawline remains as sharp as his youthful potential once promised.

Gonzalo Rodríguez, the Argentine heart-throb who married Florence both literally and metaphorically, continued for three more seasons at San Lorenzo before retiring in 2020. Still spotted at charity matches – last year he assisted on a Gabriel Batistuta goal in the Stadio Franchi legends fixture – he keeps a low profile while remaining synonymous with the club’s modern golden age.

Roncaglia himself, newly released by Sarmiento after 22 appearances in Argentina’s 2025 season, has not ruled out extending a career that has already spanned 17 professional campaigns.

Stefan Savić, the gangly Montenegrin who arrived as makeweight in the Matija Nastasić deal, matured into a La Liga stalwart. Nine trophy-laden seasons at Atlético Madrid preceded this summer’s switch to Turkish giants Trabzonspor, where the 33-year-old remains a first-choice warrior.

Nenad Tomović, 38, is back in Belgrade marshalling Čukarički’s back line after wandering years in Italy and Cyprus. Manuel Pasqual, the indefatigable cross-machine, finally retired in early 2020 and has carved a dual career as DAZN commentator and FIGC youth coach, currently guiding Italy’s U-16s.

Mattia Cassani’s Italy career peaked at 11 caps during his Parma pomp, but a fallout with Montella limited his Viola renaissance. He quit in 2018 with Bari and now tutors youngsters at grassroots level, determined to spare the next generation the curse of the Franchi right-back slot.

Finally, Nii Nortey Ashong, the Ghanaian left-back whose sole senior outing came in the 2011-2012 Coppa Italia, plays on at amateur side Sanmichelese at 31, proof that the footballing road less travelled can stretch for more than a decade if the love is strong enough.

Part two, surveying the midfield artisans of 2012-2013, will follow next week.