Italy mourns Sandro Mazzola as Inter and Italy great dies aged 83 | OneFootball

Sandro Mazzola, an Inter icon of the 1960s, died on Saturday aged 83.

The club said in a statement that he was one of the greatest footballers in history, not only in Inter’s history. He wore only the Inter shirt in club football and represented Italy.

He was the son of Valentino Mazzola, a Torino great who died in the 1949 Superga air disaster, which claimed 18 Torino players including eight Italy internationals.

With Inter, who dominated in the 1960s, he won the league in 1963, 1965, 1966 and 1971, and lifted the European Cup in 1964 and 1965. He scored 158 goals in 565 Inter appearances.

He lit up the 1964 final against Real Madrid, scoring twice in the 3-1 victory, and received a tribute from Ferenc Puskas, who offered his shirt and told him he was worthy of his father.

For the Nazionale, he won Euro 1968 on home soil and reached the 1970 World Cup final, losing to Brazil led by Pelé. He earned 70 caps and scored 22 goals.

In 1971 he finished runner-up to Johan Cruyff for the Ballon d’Or. After 17 seasons he retired in 1977, later joining Inter’s backroom staff before becoming Torino’s sporting director.

Source: Le Progres

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