Sandro Mazzola, Inter’s heartfelt tribute: “An eternal icon”

In a lengthy message posted on its official channels, Inter paid tribute to the memory of Sandro Mazzola after news broke early Saturday morning that its “eternal icon” had passed away at the age of 83. Mazzola, born in 1942, inextricably linked his name to that of Inter, for whom he played from the youth ranks until the end of his career, later becoming an executive and the club’s living history, spanning various changes in ownership.

“Sandro Mazzola was one of the greatest soccer players in history—not just in Inter’s history,” the club writes. “He was the history of Inter: he joined as a young boy and never left. He carried a heavy burden on his shoulders: the memory of a father who seemed invincible. Destiny brought him two legendary Nerazzurri figures who, in effect, raised him, accompanying him on his journey through history.”

The reference to his father, Valentino, who died in the tragic Superga air disaster, was inevitable: “Just one jersey for his entire life, just one dream. A dream he had to build without a father, lost in the Superga disaster—the one involving the Grande Torino team. Alessandro—known to everyone as Sandro or Sandrino—was six years, five months, and 23 days old. He saw the distraught faces of the people who hugged him and ran their hands over his head, and he wondered what was happening. Sandro came to know the man Valentino had been through the epic tale passed down day by day.”

“17 seasons, 565 official matches, 158 goals. A bond with Inter that never ended, with his career as an executive and then as sporting director. Even behind a desk, he had unique insights. Platini and Falcao—deals that ultimately fell through. Zenga, brought back to Milan from Sambenedettese. And, above all, Ronaldo. “Il Fenomeno,” who arrived after persistent lobbying by Moratti and Mazzola, in fact. When R9 was presented at Inter’s headquarters, he was flanked by Luis Suárez and Sandro Mazzola.”

“He shone on the field, and he still shines today, the star with the mustache,” concluded the “Beneamata,” which Mazzola represented until the very end, even as he was courted by the greatest rivals, starting with Milan and its legendary captain Gianni Rivera, who contested his spot on the national team in a rivalry that became legendary in the 1970s.