ROME (ITALPRESS) – Italian football is in mourning. Sandro Mazzola, a legendary figure of Helenio Herrera’s Grande Inter and the Italian national team, has died in Milan at the age of 83. With the Azzurri, he was European champion in 1968 and a World Cup runner-up in 1970.

Considered one of the greatest Italian footballers in history, Mazzola was a midfielder and the son of Valentino Mazzola, who died with the legendary Torino team in the Superga air disaster. He was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on nine occasions, finishing second in 1971, behind Johan Cruyff. Among his individual achievements, he was the top scorer in the 1963-64 European Cup and in the Italian league in 1965. In 2014, he was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame, followed by induction into Inter’s Hall of Fame in 2022.

Born in Turin on November 8, 1942, Mazzola became synonymous with Inter, for whom he played from 1961 to 1977, making 570 appearances and scoring 162 goals. During his time with the Nerazzurri, he won four Italian league titles, two European Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. He served as captain for seven seasons, from 1970 to 1977, succeeding Mario Corso.

With the Italian national team, between 1963 and 1974, he played in the victorious 1968 European Championship, Italy’s first triumph in the competition. He also took part in three World Cups: England 1966, Mexico 1970 and West Germany 1974.

One of the most famous rivalries of the era was his competition with Gianni Rivera, the iconic Milan player and Mazzola’s main rival for a starting place with the Azzurri, although the two always maintained a relationship of mutual respect.

After retiring from playing, Mazzola held several executive positions at Inter, the last of which was sporting director from 1995 to 1999. He also held executive roles at Genoa and Torino and worked as a technical commentator and pundit for Rai Sport, appearing on several shows.

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews