2000–2004: Brescia Roberto Baggio

—carlo mazzone.

after 2 years inter, baggio decided not renew expiring contract due conflicts marcello lippi, making him free agent @ age 33. linked smaller serie clubs such napoli , reggina, , several premier league , la liga clubs, including barcelona. baggio transferred serie newcomers brescia, under head coach carlo mazzone, aiming save them relegation, , staying in italy in order have greater opportunity of being called 2002 world cup. made captain , given number 10 shirt, playing attacking midfielder.

despite injury problems during first half of season, baggio re-found form , managed ten goals , ten assists in 2000–01 season. brescia finished in joint seventh place, best serie finish since league s re-establishment in 1946, , qualified uefa intertoto cup, reaching quarter-finals of coppa italia, losing eventual winners fiorentina. baggio helped brescia final of 2001 uefa intertoto cup, defeated paris saint-germain on away goals. baggio scored 1 goal in tournament, in final penalty. performances earned him nomination 2001 ballon d or, , finished 25th overall in rankings. baggio 1 of best offensive playmakers in league, winning guerin d oro award in 2001, awarded italian sports magazine il guerin sportivo, player highest average rating throughout season @ least 19 appearances.

at start of 2001–02 season, baggio scored 8 goals in first 9 matches, leading him top of serie goalscoring table. in eighth league appearance of season, against piacenza, baggio scored goal later suffered injury. week later, against venezia, scored penalty, endured more serious injury following hard challenge caused him tear acl of left knee, keeping him out of action 4 months. suffered second serious injury season, tearing meniscus in left knee, after returning team, , coming off bench, in coppa italia semi-final against parma on 31 january 2002. operated on 4 february 2002 , returned 3 matches before end of season, making recovery in 76 days. on 21 april 2002, in first game after comeback, baggio came on substitute score 2 goals against fiorentina, helping brescia win match. scored again against bologna, saving brescia relegation on final matchday, , bringing seasonal tally 11 goals in 12 serie matches. despite baggio s performances, italy national team head coach giovanni trapattoni did not deem him fit, prompting trapattoni leave baggio out of final squad 2002 world cup. trapattoni expressed concern bringing baggio world cup due presence of francesco totti , alessandro del piero in role, believing create rivalry between players. after missing out on tournament, baggio reversed initial decision retire after world cup, expressing intention surpass 200 serie goal mark.

baggio maintained high level of performance under new coach gianni de biasi. baggio managed 12 goals , 9 assists during 2002–03 season, helping brescia eighth-place finish , uefa intertoto cup spot. scored 300th career goal penalty on 15 december 2002, in brescia s 3–1 home victory on perugia, setting-up 1 of igli tare s goals. baggio first player in on 50 years reach milestone, , 318 goals, fourth-highest scoring italian player in competitions, behind silvio piola, alessandro del piero , giuseppe meazza.

in 2003–04 season, final season of career, baggio recorded 12 goals , 11 assists. scored 200th goal in serie in 2–2 draw against parma on 14 march 2004, saving brescia relegation, finished season in 11th place. baggio first player in 30 years surpass 200-goal milestone, , 1 of 7 players have accomplished feat. baggio scored final , 205th serie career goal on second last matchday, in 2–1 home win on coppa italia winners lazio on 9 may 2004; set brescia s first goal in match. played last career match on 16 may 2004 on final matchday of season @ san siro against milan, 4–2 loss serie champions; set-up matuzalém s goal. in 88th minute, de biasi substituted baggio, prompting 80,000 present @ san siro give him standing ovation; milan defender paolo maldini embraced him before left pitch.

with brescia, baggio scored 46 goals in 101 appearances in competitions, scoring 45 goals in 95 serie appearances, , 1 goal in 2 european matches. baggio made 4 coppa italia appearances brescia. baggio retired brescia s all-time leading goalscorer in serie a. ended career 205 goals in serie a, making him seventh-highest scorer of time, behind silvio piola, francesco totti (who overtook him in 2011), gunnar nordahl, giuseppe meazza, josé altafini , antonio di natale (who overtook him in 2015). baggio s number 10 shirt retired brescia in honour, , considered club s greatest ever player. before baggio had joined brescia, had never been able avoid relegation after being newly promoted serie a, in on 40 years. during 4 years under baggio, brescia recorded best ever serie run , never relegated.