Defender Mauro Bonomi started his career with Serie B side Cremonese in 1990. He spent most of his playing career in the second level of Italian football, but did play in Serie A with Cremonese, Cagliari, Bologna and Torino, making a total of 108 appearances. Although never capped by the full Italian international squad, he won 17 under-21 caps, and was part of the squad that won the 1992 European Under-21 Championship. Also that year, Bonomi played in three matches at the Barcelona Olympics when Italy reached the quarter-finals.