A determined and physically powerful player, Crippa began his playing career during the 1981–82 season, with A.C. Meda Mobil, in the Prima Categoria, where he spent two seasons in the first squad. He later moved to play in the Eccellenza Lombardy - the sixth tier of Italian club football - with FBC Saronno for two seasons before moving to his hometown club, Seregno. His performances earned him a move to nearby Serie C2 club Pavia in the summer of 1986. After only one season with the club, he moved to Torino in Serie A. In the 1987–88 season he scored three goals for the Turin club in 29 league appearances.