It’s been over a week since Ciro Immobile’s 36th and final goal of the 2019-20 Serie A season earned him both the Capocannoniere (five goals more than Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo) and European Golden Shoe (two more than Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski), but the 30-year-old Lazio striker is still in disbelief, and one look at the last decade of Golden Shoe-winners tells you exactly why.
You’d have to go all the way back to the 2008-09 season — when Diego Forlán scored 32 goals for Atlético Madrid — to find a winner not named Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Luis Suárez.
And the manner in which that trio has gone about claiming the prize for Europe’s top marksman is simply staggering: Messi’s 50-goal campaign in 2011-12, Ronaldo’s 48-goal total in 2014-15 and Suárez’s 40-goal haul in 2015-16 are landmarks of never-before-seen brilliance.
“It’s crazy, me in front of Ronaldo and Lewandowski,” Immobile says. “If I reread the roll of honor, I almost don’t believe it: Messi, Messi, Messi, Suárez, Ronaldo, Ronaldo, Suárez, Messi, Messi, Ronaldo, Messi. I interrupted the Leo-Cristiano duet. For this I thanked the team, it was the least I could do.”
Immobile’s own season was equally historic as the 36-goal tally brought him into a three-way tie for the most prolific Serie A season ever. Gino Rossetti scored 36 goals for Torino in 1929 and Gonzalo Higuaín equaled that record with Napoli in 2016.
Remarkably, Immobile is only the third Italian to win the prestigious award since its inception in 1967. His name now stands alongside Luca Toni (Fiorentina in 2005-06) and Francesco Totti (Roma in 2006-07) in footballing lore.
As for his future — he's briefly appeared for Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Sevilla in the past — the Neapolitan is keen to finish his career in Rome despite interest from other clubs.
“During the period in which there was talk of the possible purchase of Newcastle by the Sheikh’s fund they called my agent, Alessandro Moggi,” Immobile revealed. “Then the Premier League did not approve that proposal, or the fund withdrew, I don’t remember well. I know they were also looking for an Italian coach, Allegri or Spalletti.
“I intend to commit to Lazio forever. The renewal will be three years, so the contract will expire in 2025, when I turn 35. Before I came to Lazio, I was frequently in touch with Napoli, but for one reason or another, we never agreed. Napoli is the city where I was born, I’ll always follow Napoli with affection, but what Lazio has given me and is giving me is priceless.”
Immobile credits much of Lazio’s recent improvement to manager Simone Inzaghi, who’s been in charge since 2016 and led the side to the 2018-19 Coppa Italia and a fourth-place finish this past season.
“He’s developed in an impressive way,” Immobile says. “He went through all the intermediate stages from player-coach to the accomplished coach. We have always listened to him, but in recent times he expresses a certainty that convinces, he knows how to change between dialogue and reprimand, he never mistakes the tone of voice.
“The players are ugly beasts sometimes. Simone and the club have created a beautiful group, there are a couple of people who take care of us every day, take care of the delicate relationships, don’t leave any details out.”
Despite interest from Juventus, Lazio’s reportedly prepared to pay the 44-year-old $3.5 million a year to continue at the Olimpico. Inzaghi wants reinforcements for the upcoming Champions League campaign, and one name that’s almost certainly on the way is David Silva after the expiration of his contract with Manchester City.
“He’s a great player and has great experience; we are waiting for him with open arms,” Immobile says. “I can’t wait for him to arrive; we are Lazio fans before Lazio players.”
Recent European Golden Shoe Winners
2008-09: Diego Forlán | Atlético Madrid (32 goals)
2009-10: Lionel Messi | Barcelona (34 goals)
2010-11: Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid (40 goals)
2011-12: Lionel Messi | Barcelona (50 goals)
2012-13: Lionel Messi | Barcelona (46 goal)
2013-14 tie: Luis Suárez | Liverpool (31 goals)
2013-14 tie: Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid (31 goals)
2014-15: Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid (48 goals)
2015-16: Luis Suárez | Barcelona (40 goals)
2016-17: Lionel Messi | Barcelona (37 goals)
2017-18: Lionel Messi | Barcelona (34 goals)
2018-19: Lionel Messi | Barcelona (36 goals)
2019-20: Ciro Immobile | Lazio (36 goals)
