Editing Roberto Baggio (section)

=== 1997–1998: Bologna ===
{{quote box|width=33%|align=right|quote="I said, 'No, you have to play striker.' Baggio went to another club. That year Baggio scored 25 [actually 22] goals – for Bologna! I lost 25 goals! Big mistake."|source=—[[Carlo Ancelotti]] talking to [[Simon Kuper]] of the ''[[Financial Times]]'' in 2014, reminiscing his greatest regret in football, choosing a system over a generational talent.<ref name=MM>{{cite web |url=http://www.managingmadrid.com/2017/4/1/15110610/how-zidanes-experience-in-italy-shaped-his-coaching-philosophy |title=How Zidane's experience in Italy shaped his coaching philosophy |work=Managing Madrid |last=Wiltse |first=Matt |date=1 April 2017 |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403051512/http://www.managingmadrid.com/2017/4/1/15110610/how-zidanes-experience-in-italy-shaped-his-coaching-philosophy |archive-date=3 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
In 1997, Capello returned to Milan, subsequently stating Baggio was not a part of his plans with the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1999/febbraio/24/Baggio_Sparavo_con_papa_ora_co_0_9902241958.shtml|title=Baggio: "Sparavo con papa', ora faccio la lepre con i miei figli|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=24 February 1999|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119215803/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1999/febbraio/24/Baggio_Sparavo_con_papa_ora_co_0_9902241958.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Baggio chose to move to Parma, but the manager at the time, [[Carlo Ancelotti]], impeded the transfer, as he also did not feel Baggio would fit into his tactical plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1997/luglio/10/Tanzi_pensa_mercato_Baggio_Parma_co_0_9707103541.shtml|title=Tanzi pensa al mercato: Baggio al Parma|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=10 July 1997|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=19 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119082851/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1997/luglio/10/Tanzi_pensa_mercato_Baggio_Parma_co_0_9707103541.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Ancelotti would later state he regretted this decision, stating that in his naïveté, he believed that the [[Formation (association football)#4–4–2|4–4–2 formation]] was the ideal formation for success, and he felt that at the time, creative players such as [[Gianfranco Zola]] and Baggio were not compatible with this system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/43963/ancelotti-pirlo-and-baggio|title=Ancelotti: 'Pirlo and Baggio'|date=17 January 2014|publisher=Football Italia|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=27 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127173212/https://www.football-italia.net/43963/ancelotti-pirlo-and-baggio|url-status=live}}</ref>

Baggio subsequently transferred to [[Bologna F.C. 1909|Bologna]], aiming to save the squad from relegation, and earn a place at the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]]. Baggio refound his form with the club and had a dominant season, scoring a personal best of 22 goals in [[1997–98 Serie A|Serie A]], as well as providing 9 assists, leading Bologna to an eighth-place finish, allowing them to qualify for the [[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]. Baggio was the highest scoring Italian in Serie A that season, and the third-highest goalscorer in Serie A. His performances earned him a place in Italy's 1998 World Cup squad. Baggio also led Bologna to the round of 16 in the [[1997–98 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]], where he scored one goal in three appearances. Although he rose to hero status amongst the fans,<ref name="Pacearmata"/> he had difficulties with his manager [[Renzo Ulivieri]], in particular when he was left out of the starting 11 against Juventus.<ref name="Pacearmata">{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/gennaio/20/Baggio_Bologna_una_pace_armata_co_0_980120233.shtml|title=Baggio e Bologna, una pace armata|work=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|author=Luca Valdisseri|date=20 January 1998|access-date=3 March 2014|archive-date=1 July 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701161612/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1998/gennaio/20/Baggio_Bologna_una_pace_armata_co_0_980120233.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Ulivieri later denied ever having any difficulties with Baggio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=194559|title=Ulivieri: "Baggio? Un campione, mai avuto problemi con lui"|publisher=Tutto Mercato Web.com|language=it|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=20 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220022317/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=194559|url-status=live}}</ref> At the beginning of the season, Baggio cut off his iconic ponytail, signifying his rebirth.<ref name="Roberto Baggio" /> Baggio was named as Bologna's captain for part of the season, before handing the armband to [[Giancarlo Marocchi]].<ref name="Le sfide nel segno di Baggio"/> Baggio made his 300th Serie A appearance while at Bologna, in a 0–0 draw against [[Empoli F.C.|Empoli]] on 11 January 1998.<ref name="golcalcio.it"/> Baggio received nominations for both the [[1998 Ballon d'Or|Ballon d'Or]] and the [[1998 FIFA World Player of the Year|FIFA World Player of the Year]] due to his performances for Bologna and Italy that season. He was also nominated for the 1998 [[Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year]] and [[Serie A Footballer of the Year]] awards, losing out to Alessandro Del Piero and [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]], respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/storia-assocalciatori-sergio-campana_6.html|title=Gli Oscar del Calcio|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=6 February 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115825/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/storia-assocalciatori-sergio-campana_6.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199809/22/3607ef0f06e63/|title=La notte degli Oscar|trans-title=Oscar Night|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|date=22 September 1998|access-date=4 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208154017/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/news/sport/calcio/199809/22/3607ef0f06e63/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>