FC Internazionale Milano, its President Giuseppe Marotta, Vice President Javier Zanetti, head coach Cristian Chivu and his workers, the gamers, and everybody at Inter mourn with profound sorrow the passing of Sandro Mazzola, a Nerazzurri and world soccer legend, and embrace his household as they bear in mind him.
The will to recollect is blended with a way of restraint: how troublesome it’s to seek out the correct phrases to say goodbye to somebody who really wrote historical past, leaving a everlasting and unprecedented mark.
After which there’s the melancholy that’s already right here and can by no means depart us, as a result of we are able to nonetheless image him right here, between the Membership headquarters and Appiano, recalling Puskas, Herrera, Suarez and Corso, one anecdote after one other, instantly linking them to the current, along with his ardour for Inter shining in his eyes, speaking about Lautaro and our Inter, the group of at present and the group of all the time.
Sandro Mazzola was one of many best footballers in historical past. Not solely within the historical past of the Nerazzurri. He was Inter’s historical past: he joined the Membership as a boy and by no means left it. A heavy burden was on his shoulders, the reminiscence of a father who appeared invincible. And in his future have been two legendary Nerazzurri who would successfully elevate him, accompanying him on his journey via historical past.
He had one shirt for his complete life, and one dream. A dream to construct himself and not using a father, misplaced within the Superga air catastrophe that claimed the lives of the Grande Torino group. Alessandro, recognized to everybody as Sandro or Sandrino, was six years, 5 months and 23 days previous. He noticed the devastated faces of the individuals embracing him and working their palms over his head, questioning what was occurring. Sandro got here to know Valentino via the epic tales handed all the way down to him day after day. He started to nurture that dream on the San Lorenzo oratory in Milano’s Porta Ticinese, taking part in full-pitch matches in opposition to Adriano Celentano. He was not the one Inter determine to form his improvement: Giuseppe Meazza and Benito Lorenzi. Meazza helped develop him technically, instructing him each secret. Lorenzi turned up at Sandro’s house in Cassano d’Adda with boots and a ball. At eight, Mazzola and his brother have been successfully Inter mascots: on the pitch, within the dressing room and within the stadium, immersed within the Nerazzurri world.
He needed to develop up rapidly, out of necessity. Sandrino did so in a rush, helped alongside by circumstances. Born in 1942, he was thrown into the primary group for the notorious replay of Juventus vs. Inter on 10 June 1961 in Turin. From a faculty examination to the journey to the Piedmontese capital, the place Moratti and Herrera fielded the Primavera aspect. It completed 9-1, with Inter’s purpose scored by a slim, technically gifted teenager: Sandro Mazzola. He was 18.
A second striker, as we’d name him at present. An eight and a ten, just like the shirts he wore at Inter. A midfielder or a centre-forward? Herrera managed to mould the correct function for him, paving the way in which for an unstoppable rise within the spectacular aspect that was the Grande Inter. His breakthrough? It got here very early, and was confirmed by the greats of world soccer. Vienna’s Prater, European Cup last, 1964. Because the gamers walked out, Suarez pushed Mazzola onto the pitch: Sandro had been left exterior the dressing room admiring his idols, Di Stefano, Puskas and the opposite Actual Madrid stars. Then, on the pitch, two objectives. A brace within the European Cup last, Inter’s first European triumph, an unprecedented victory bearing Mazzola’s signature and incomes Puskas’s reward: “You’re worthy of your father Valentino,” the good Hungarian instructed him as he gave him his shirt.
Tales we all know by coronary heart, tales now we have heard time and again with out ever getting bored with them, discovering a brand new element every time, instructed in his heat voice, all the time crammed with emotion when he regarded again. A way of devotion and whole gratitude in direction of Inter, which was “like a mom to me”, repaid with an countless stream of sensible touches, objectives and moments of magic. 4 Scudetti, two European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, the Serie A top-scorer title (in 1965 with 17 objectives) and the European Cup top-scorer title (seven objectives in 1964). Runner-up within the 1971 Ballon d’Or behind Johan Cruyff.
The Grande Inter of Angelo Moratti, Helenio Herrera, Sarti, Burgnich and Facchetti. Mazzola was there, between midfield and assault, shaping trajectories and scoring objectives. European nights, afternoons on the Meazza. Essential, unforgettable objectives. His mark in opposition to Independiente within the Intercontinental Cup, the comeback in opposition to Liverpool celebrated to the sound of “When the Saints Go Marching In” blasting from the San Siro audio system. And extra: the purpose within the derby after 13 seconds, the purpose in Inter vs. Lazio in 1966 that secured the Prima Stella. All the way in which to 1977. In between got here the European Championship with Italy, the World Cups and the well-known relay with Rivera.
17 seasons, 565 official appearances, 158 objectives. A bond with Inter that by no means ended, persevering with all through his profession as a director after which sporting director. Even behind a desk, his eye for expertise was distinctive. Platini and Falcao, who finally acquired away. Zenga, introduced again to Milano from Sambenedettese. And above all, Ronaldo. Il Fenomeno, who arrived after Moratti and Mazzola, certainly, had pushed for his signing. When R9 was introduced on the Nerazzurri headquarters, Luis Suarez and Sandro Mazzola stood beside him.
His visits to Inter’s headquarters continued in recent times. A member of the Membership’s Corridor of Fame, he all the time spoke of his distinctive and unbreakable bond with the Nerazzurri colors. He additionally shared that bond with Lautaro and his teammates throughout a current go to to Appiano Gentile, the place he felt at house, recalling the coaching camps below Herrera via great and hilarious anecdotes.
He additionally felt the love of the Nerazzurri followers in individual in Might 2024, on the day the Seconda Stella was celebrated: he was not he pitch, alongside Bedin and Cappellini, honoured for that Prima Stella gained 58 years earlier.
The star with the moustache shone on the pitch, and nonetheless does at present. As he usually stated, he had one last want: “To be remembered as a great man, somebody who retains combating even when successful is inconceivable, like in that 9-1.”
We’ll, Sandro.
