Sandro Mazzola

Alessandro " Sandro " Mazzola ( born November 8, 1942 in Turin, Italy ) is a retired Italian footballer.

During his career, Mazzola was 17 years active for Inter Milan and was part of "La Grande Inter" with whom he won numerous titles. With the Italian national team, he was European champion in 1968.

Still applies Mazzola as one of the best players who played for Inter.

Youth

Alessandro Mazzola was born during the Second World War in Turin. His father Valentino Mazzola, captain of the legendary Grande Torino team of Torino and the largest football star in post-war Italy, 1949 died ( plane crash of Superga ) in a plane crash with the bulk of his team. At this time the little Alessandro, the soon they all called just " Sandro ", not seven years old.

Club career

But Sandro played despite the tragedy continues enthusiastic football and joined together with his brother Ferruccio in 1958 as a 16 -year-old Inter Milan. His debut as a professional, he celebrated in Serie A on June 10, 1961 game against Juventus. Inter coach Helenio Herrera had left in protest against the Association all professionals out there and just let youth player accrues, the subject against Juve with 1:9. Mazzola converted a penalty for a consolation goal.

But Herrera built in the following years one of the best club teams in European football. Basic structure and formula for success was the Catenaccio: the defensive bulwark formed Libero Armando Picchi, the defender Tarcisio Burgnich and Giacinto Facchetti, the counter should run on the fast outer Jair da Costa and Mario Corso, in midfield gave playmaker Luis Suárez set the pace. In this structure also Mazzola has now been installed, which was a regular player from the season 1962/63. He commuted between midfield and attack, where it benefited from his goal threat, as well as his creativity and technical class. Mazzola was soon one of the most important figures in the system of Inter and also one of the crowd favorites.

Soon successes one: 1963, 1965 and 1966 he won with Inter the championship. (where Mazzola 1965 with 17 league goals scorer in the Serie A was ) On the European stage was Inter mid-sixties successfully: 1964 Inter defeated Real Madrid in the final of the European Champions' Cup 3-1. Mazzola had significant on the first international title winning percentage since he promoted with two goals in the final match winner and his total of seven goals earned him the top scorer (along with Ferenc Puskás and Vladica Kovačević ). The following year, Herrera protégés defended the title when they beat Benfica 1-0. 1964 and 1965 brought the Nerazzurri even twice the Intercontinental Cup in Lombardy. 1967 defeated Inter in the final of the European Champions' Cup against Celtic Glasgow 1-2. Although he had got his team from the penalty spot in front, but the Lisbon Lions struggled favorites down.

In the early 1970s changed the role of Deputy Captain: Suárez left the club and with Roberto Boninsegna an unerring marksman was brought, why Mazzola acted from now on in midfield. Boninsegna was a reliable scorer, while Mazzola moved as a new playmaker pulling the strings of the control center. 1970/71 he won his fourth Scudetto, which was his last title. In the same year, the sports journalists chose him in the election to the European Footballer of the year in second place behind Johan Cruyff. The Inter were defeated with Ajax Amsterdam in Mazzola's fourth final of the European Champions' Cup 2-0.

After 17 years in the black and blue dress, he announced to end his career after the 1976/77 season. His last game was the cup final ( Coppa Italia ) on July 2, 1977 against local rivals AC Milan, who decided the match 2-0 for itself. It was also Mazzola's last meeting with his eternal rival Gianni Rivera. Overall, Sandro Mazzola completed 565 duty games ( 158 goals) for Inter Milan, the broken down as follows: 418 games ( 116 goals) in the Serie A, 80 games (24 goals) Coppa Italia and 67 games ( 18 goals) in the European Cup.

Career in the national team

His debut in the national team celebrated the then 20 -year-old Mazzola on May 12 at the 1963 3-0 win over world champions Brazil, where he also managed the same score. 1966 belonged to Edmondo Fabbri Mazzola 's World Cup squad in England. He played in all preliminary round matches from the beginning and in the 2-0 victory against Chile scored a goal; Italy but lost the next two games ( including a defeat against North Korea) and embarrassed himself in front of the football world. After the incredible eliminated in the preliminary round, the national team were thrown upon arrival in Rome of angry tifosi with tomatoes.

But two years later at the 1968 European Championship played Mazzola a strong tournament and led the Azzurri to the title; so that the national team had been rehabilitated for the embarrassing resignation of 1966.

With the Football World Cup 1970 in Mexico, the Italians Great had before and were considered one of the favorites for the title. The team of coach Ferruccio Valcareggi had a problem with Mazzola and Gianni Rivera of Inter's city rivals AC Milan, he had two equivalent players for the position of playmaker. Valcareggi did not believe that both could play together, which is why he had to start Mazzola and Rivera einwechselte always at half-time (so-called Staffetta ). So Mazzola was the match of the century in the semifinal against Germany on the court. Italy won, had no chance in the final against Brazil. The final was lost with 1:4, but Valcareggi moved from the Staffetta and took Mazzola only 83 minutes from the square, as he held it defensively for more than Rivera. For this decision, the coach was heavily criticized.

In its third World Cup in 1974 in Germany, Mazzola was to play his last tournament. However, as early as 1966, the Italians did not come on the first round out; Although familiar Valcareggi time alone Mazzola subject as playmaker, but when you in the last group match with Poland 1:2, the Azzurri were eliminated. This game on June 23, 1974 was his last international game appearance. After 70 caps (22 goals) he ended his career.

Achievements

• Italian Champion: 1962 /63 1964/65, 1965/66, 1970/71
• European Champion Clubs' Cup: 1963/64, 1964/65
• World Cup: 1964, 1965
• European Champion 1968
• Vice World Champion 1970
• Scorer in the European Cup of Champions: 1963/64,
• Scorer of the Serie A 1964/65
• European Footballer of the Year: Second 1971