Mazzola marvels

The football field is not normally a place where family values flourish. The
single-minded pursuit of the self that the game requires can often escalate
sibling rivalry to a whole new level. And history is littered with the
stories of sporting sons who could never live up to the reputation of their
famous forebears. More often than not, it seems, you are better off leaving
the family baggage on the touchline.

That is what makes the story of Valentino and Sandro Mazzola so singularly
exceptional. Both father and son were players of the highest calibre who
wrote themselves ample chapters in the history of the Italian game. On the
field of play, at least, no family has made quite such an impact.

Perhaps it was their unique story which helped young Sandro follow and even
surpass many of his father’s achievements. Valentino lost his life in the
Superga air crash in 1949, leaving his young family to fend for themselves.
In many ways it was a case of the young man carrying on the work his father
had started rather than struggling to live up to his reputation.

Although both players donned the No 10 shirt their footballing stories and
styles could hardly have been more different. Mazzola senior was a robust
figure as the game in the immediate years around World War 2 required. An
inspirational character, he was also gifted with great skills and a scoring
ability which was second to none in the era in which he played. Sandro was,
in appearance at least, a more frail figure. But the same skills shone
through in his play and also guaranteed him more than his fair share of goals.

Valentino’s footballing story began with the Alfa Romeo factory team in
Milan, but it was only when military service took him to Venice in 1939 that
he really started to break through. The lagoon team were starting to build an
interesting side - which would take their one and only major honour in 1941
with the Coppa Italia. It was there that Mazzola teamed up with his ‘twin’
attacker Ezio Loik. Born on the same day, they both transferred to Torino in
1942 and would both die in the plane crash of 1949.

Before that terrible day Valentino established himself as the greatest player
of his generation. Five League championships, a couple of Italian Cups and
over 100 Serie A goals, despite the disruption of the war, were the hallmark
of his quality. He was killed at the age of 30 when there was still surely a
lengthy international career ahead of him and his Grande Torino teammates. In
his last interview before the crash he shared his view of the game with a
local Portuguese reporter.

"I have to say that I consider football to be a very simple game," he said.
"You will win as long as you don’t always play in the same way. You have got
to add some variations to make your game more dynamic. There has to be room
for improvisation outside of classical tactics. But I am of the opinion that
modern football must be above all a team game."

His theories have been echoed in the sport throughout the rest of the century
and beyond. And even though Sandro was only seven when he lost his father it
is clear that the man had a huge effect on his son prior to the dreadful
events of May 1949.

"Every time I think of that day it hurts, I feel an awful pain in the pit of
my stomach and I can do nothing about it," admitted Mazzola junior. "The fact
is that you try not to think about it and put it at the back of your mind but
whenever the anniversary comes around all the bad memories come flooding
back."

Still, part of that legacy were the footballing skills which had evidently
been transferred from father to son. They also shared a strength of character
required to reach the very top of the game. Sandro would be the first to
recognise his debt to his father.

"Almost since the day I was born my dad would help me put my boots on and
take me along to training, I was a mascot," said Sandro. "There must be
something in the genes because he certainly transmitted his love of football
to me."

The young Sandro was always likely to be the focus of attention given his
famous father and Inter were happy to find a place for him in the
all-conquering side they were building. Despite making his debut in a record
defeat - the 9-1 hammering from Juve in a match where Inter fielded their
youth team - he was destined to mark the club’s history like few others
before him.

Inter were desperate to make their mark in Europe and Mazzola delivered the
extra class they needed to make that leap forward. Back-to-back European Cups
and World Club Cups cemented both the Nerazzurri’s and their No 10’s
reputation at the highest level.

An undisputed legend at club level, things never quite went as easily for
Mazzola with the national team. Continual indecision between himself and Milan
’s Golden Boy Gianni Rivera meant he did not quite make the impact he might
have. Still, 70 caps and 22 goals were a fairly major contribution. Mazzola
was also part of the 1968 European Championship winning side and the team so
cruelly destroyed by Pele’s Brazilians in the 1970 World Cup.

After retirement in 1977 there was no question of Mazzola disappearing from
the game and he covered a number of roles for Inter. With more than 400 games
and 116 Serie A goals they were unlikely to discard a man who became a symbol
for the club. But lately a new temptation has drawn him away from the Stadio
Giuseppe Meazza and back towards his family’s past. A post with Torino
beckoned and Mazzola could not resist trying to rebuild a great team with one
of the grandest old clubs of Italy. If anyone can achieve it, then probably a
Mazzola can.

STAR RATING 8/10 Because of the Superga disaster, Vincenzo Mazzola never got
the chance to complete his football career. But he was a truly inspirational
figure of his time. Son Sandro also had to contest his position with Gianni
Rivera, but his 77 caps prove his claim to fame.

VALENTINO MAZZOLA
Born: Cassano D’Adda (Milan), 26/1/19. Died: 1949.
Position: Attacking midfielder.
Serie A debut: Lazio 1-0 Venezia, 31/3/40
Clubs: Venezia, Torino
International debut: Italy 4-0 Croatia, 5/4/42
International caps: 12
International goals: 4

Honours:
5 Scudetto (1943, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949)
2 Coppa Italia (1941, 1943)
1 Serie A Capocannoniere (1947)

SANDRO MAZZOLA
Born: Turin, 8/11/42
Position: Attacking midfielder
Serie A debut: Juventus 9-1 Inter, 10/6/61
Club: Inter

Honours:
4 Scudetto (1963, 1965, 1966, 1971)
2 European Cups (1964, 1965)
2 Intercontinental Cups (1964, 1965)
1 European Nations (1968)
1 Serie A Capocannoniere (1965)
International debut: Italy 3-0 Brazil, 12/5/63
International caps: 70
International goals: 22
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