Footballer who scored iconic goal vs England now runs San Marino computer shop

Davide Gualtieri isn't a well-known name in England, but in San Marino and Scotland, he's a national hero.

In 1993, football's ultimate minnows San Marino welcomed England to their microstate for a World Cup qualifier. And just 8.3 seconds into the game, Gualtieri rushed onto an under-hit backpass by Stuart Pierce, sliding the ball under David Seaman to send San Marino into raptures.

However, after a career that never saw him leave the small mountainous nation, Gualtieri had to look for work after he hung up his boots. And the former football now works a 9-5 at his computer store, Micronics.

Speaking to The Athletic, Gualtieri joked: "It hasn’t changed me. But for San Marino, that goal was like winning the World Cup… When Scotland played here a few years ago, their supporters made T-shirts in my honour.

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"Across the back, it had my name, and, for the shirt number, it was 8.3. They came into the shop because they wanted to congratulate me for scoring against England. Even now, nearly 30 years later, I seem very popular with Scottish people.”

Micronics can be found just off a dual-carriageway that weaves its way around Monte Titano – the mountain at the heart of San Marino.

Do you remember Davide Gualtieri's strike against England? Let us know in the comments section

Gualtieri's strike saw San Marino lead England for 21 minutes. Although the Three Lions eventually won 7-1, it's not why the game is remembered.

England failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup despite the win, and speaking after the game, Graham Taylor said: "When the ball went into the net, I looked up towards the sky and just said quietly to myself 'God, please tell me what I have done wrong'.

"I can laugh about it now because that is a true story. Normally I would accept responsibility for every result, and every goal but, I mean, we were eight seconds into the game. I knew we would go on and win but you think to yourself 'what the hell is happening here?"

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