Career
After retiring, he also worked as a football manager. As a player, he also represented the Italian national side at two World Cups, reaching the final in 1970. As a player, Boninsegna was a powerful, agile, and acrobatic striker, who was known for his accurate finishing ability.
He was a prolific goalscorer, who excelled in the air, despite not being particularly tall or imposing physically.
He was also gifted with pace, stamina, technical ability, opportunism, and outstanding consistency, which enabled him to become one of the top Italian forwards of his generation. Because of his jumping ability in the air, and his power and accuracy with his head, the famous Italian sports journalist Gianni Brera gave him the nickname "Bonimba".
Despite his talent, he was criticised on occasion for being a selfish player, although he was also capable of creating chances for team mates. Club career
He started his career in Serie B (the second tier of Italian professional football) with Prato in 1963-1964 season.
He transferred to Football Club Potenza, who was Serie B team in 1964-1965 season.
He also played for Varese in 1965-1966 and Cagliari between 1966–1969, helping the club to a second place finish during the 1968-1969 Serie A season alongside Luigi Riva. Boninsegna gained a status as an efficient striker with Internazionale Milano F.C. and the Italian national football team in the 1970s, playing alongside Sandro Mazzola. In Serie A, he totaled 171 goals in 281 games, and was top goalscorer in Italy during the 1970-1971 and 1971-1972 Serie A seasons, with Inter.
After leaving Juventus in 1979, he finished his career with Verona, retiring from professional football at the end of the 1979-1980 Serie B season.
International career
Boninsegna made his debut for Italy on the 18th November 1967, in an away Union of European Football Associations Euro 1968 qualifying match against Switzerland, which ended 2–2, although he was not called up for the final tournament, which Italy ended up winning on home soil under manager Ferruccio Valcareggi, with whom he would have several disagreements throughout his international career. With the national side, he took part in two World Cups, the first in 1970, and the second in 1974.
In total, he managed 9 goals for Italy in 22 appearances. In the epic semi-final match against West-Germany, he scored a goal, and later set up Gianni Rivera"s match-winning goal in extra time, which allowed Italy to advance to the final after a 4–3 victory.
He scored Italy"s only goal (though at the time it was an important equaliser) in the final against Brazil, which Italy ultimately lost 4–1.
He came off for Rivera in the final mintues of the game.