Vito Chimenti (9 December 1953 – 29 January 2023) was an Italian professional football player and manager, who played as a forward.
Career
Chimenti began his professional career in 1972 with Matera in Serie C. After a brief stint with Lazio in 1973, he played for several Serie C clubs including Lecco, Salernitana, and Matera before moving to Palermo in Serie B in 1977. Over two seasons with Palermo, he scored 29 goals. During the 1978–79 Coppa Italia final against Juventus, Chimenti scored the opening goal in the first minute, though Palermo eventually lost 2–1; he was substituted at half-time after a knee injury from a foul by Antonio Cabrini.
In 1979, Chimenti joined Serie A side Catanzaro, making his top-flight debut on 16 September 1979, but scored only once in the league. He then transferred to fellow Serie A club Pistoiese, where he scored nine goals during the 1980–81 season. Although the team finished bottom of the table and was relegated, Chimenti became Pistoiese's all-time top scorer in Serie A, a record he still holds.
He moved to Avellino in 1981, scoring three goals, and joined Taranto in Serie C1 the following year. He became the tournament's top scorer in the 1982–83 season with 13 goals, helping the club gain promotion to Serie B. Chimenti remained at Taranto until 1985, when he received a five-year ban from football activity due to his involvement in the Padova match-fixing scandal, ending his playing career.
Managerial Career
After retiring as a player, Chimenti worked as a head coach and assistant coach for several Italian clubs, including Matera, Rimini, Casarano, Lanciano, A.C.R. Messina, Foggia, and Salernitana. His last role was coaching the Under-19 team of Pomarico from 2021 to 2023.
Style of Play
Chimenti was a forward known for his goal-scoring ability and a trademark dribbling technique called bicicletta ("bicycle"), which is distinct from the bicycle kick.
Personal Life and Death
Vito Chimenti was the brother of former forward Francesco Chimenti and the uncle of former goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti. He died from a heart attack in Pomarico on 29 January 2023, at the age of 69.
