The "old man" of the second palace
Sitting with Pertini and Zoff playing cards with the Hercules Cup on the side, this is perhaps one of Enzo Bealzot's most famous photographs. When we mentioned the "old man" (il vecio), the first reaction was the 1982 World Cup.
Probably few people know that before becoming a coach, Bealzot was also a great defender, with more than 250 games in Serie A. In fact, it was Carlo Marceroni who brought him to the Italian top flight, and in the summer of 1948 he moved from then Serie B side Progolizia to Inter Milan and subsequently made his Serie A debut at the age of 21. Although he did not become a regular main player in the following three seasons, he could only transfer and leave the team, playing for Catania and Turin.
However, Ber's inter love affair did not end there, and in the summer of 1956, Angelo Moratti brought him back to the team. At the age of 29, he was already a very mature centre-back, playing an important role in the defensive throughout the season and finishing fifth with the team. After the season, he left the team and returned to Turin, where he played for seven more seasons at the Bulls until he retired at the age of 37. The fates of "The Old Man" and Inter Milan were never intertwined again, but his success in the national team was inseparable from the help of a number of Inter Milan players. At the 1982 World Cup, Bealzot selected the 18-year-old Bergomi into the national team and entrusted him with a heavy responsibility, and Orialy was an important member of the team's starting 11. Although the "poison needle" Altobelli was not the team's starter, on the night of Madrid, the "poison needle" scored a goal after only 7 minutes of the substitute play, helping the Blues to take a 3-0 lead. That goal was perhaps the most memorable scene in World Cup history.
Biography
Enzo Bealzot is a well-known Italian player and coach. Born in 1927, he made his Serie A debut in 1948 in the Inter Milan shirt. He played for the team for three seasons before leaving the club to play for Catania and then Turin. In 1956, he returned to Inter Milan for one season. He eventually ended his playing career in Turin.
As head coach, he achieved good results in Prato and then in Italy's u23 team, and eventually took charge of the Italian national team. Under his leadership, the Blues finished fourth at the 1978 World Cup and won the 1982 World Cup. After the 1986 World Cup fell through the sand, he chose to end his head coaching career.
He died in Milan on 21 December 2010 at the age of 83.