Mark Tullio Strukelj (born 23 June 1962) is an English-Italian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. A coach, he is currently in charge as Attilio Tesser's assistant at Triestina.

Mark Strukelj
Personal information
Full name Mark Tullio Strukelj
Date of birth (1962-06-23) 23 June 1962 (age 61)
Place of birth Dorking, England
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Triestina (assistant)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1983 Triestina 58 (8)
1983–1984 Roma 11 (1)
1984–1985 Pisa 6 (0)
1985–1986 did not play
1986–1988 Reggiana 0 (0)
1988–1990 Treviso 32 (4)
1990–1992 Arezzo 47 (1)
1992–1993 Pistoiese 25 (4)
1993–1994 Castel San Pietro
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life edit

Strukelj's parents emigrated from Trieste to Australia before settling in England, where he was born to an Italian father and an English mother.[1]

Playing career edit

Strukelj played one season in the Serie A for A.S. Roma (1983–84), mostly as a backup to Brazilian star Paulo Roberto Falcão, winning the Coppa Italia.[2] He also came on as a substitute with 5 minutes to go in extra time in the 1984 European Cup Final against Liverpool, a club of which he is a fan; Roma lost in the subsequent penalty shoot-out.[2]

His career was hampered by the chronic injury of his ankle that forced him to retire at the age of 30.

Coaching career edit

After starting a career as a youth coach at Triestina, he became Attilio Tesser's right-hand man on all of his coaching roles from 2003 onwards.

Personal life edit

Strukelj was born in England to an Italian father and an English mother, and moved to Trieste (the city of origin of his father) with his family at the age of 2.[2] He spent occasionally time in England with his maternal grandparents, which led him to become a Liverpool fan.[2]

His son Kevin Strukelj is also a professional footballer.

Honours edit

Roma

References edit

  1. ^ "Auguri a Mark Strukelj !". Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Mark Tullio Strukelj: la riserva di Falcão che arrivò a 11 metri dalla gloria" (in Italian). Goal.com. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2022.