Gianni Rivera

Gianni Rivera
Gianni Rivera, 1996
Personnel
Surname	Giovanni Rivera
birthday	August 18, 1943
place of birth	Alessandria ,  Italy
size	173 cm
position	midfield
Juniors
Years	station
1956-1959	US Alessandria
Men's
Years	station	Games (goals) 1
1959-1960	US Alessandria	26 00(6)
1960-1979	AC Milan	501 (122)
National team
Years	selection	Games (goals)
1962-1974	Italy	60 0(14)
1 Only league games are given.

Giovanni "Gianni" Rivera (born August 18, 1943 in Alessandria ) is a former Italian football player . He played for AC Milan for 19 years in the 1960s and 70s and won numerous titles with the club. The attacking midfielder is one of the great club idols of the Rossoneri , he was voted Europe's Footballer of the Year in 1969. The FIFA put Rivera on the list of the 125 greatest living footballers ( FIFA 100 ).

After his football career, he went into politics, from 2005 to 2009 he was a member of the European Parliament .

youth

Giovanni Rivera was born in 1943 as the son of a railroad worker in Alessandria ( Piedmont ) in northern Italy and comes from a humble background. During the economically difficult years after the end of the Second World War , the young "Gianni" discovered his passion for football and became an avid street footballer . He found support from his father, who organized selection training for the boys in the neighborhood and also invited representatives from US Alessandria . The club's assistant coach was convinced of Rivera's talent and quickly brought the thirteen-year-old into the youth department.

Club career

It quickly became clear to those in charge that Rivera was an exceptional talent; they soon let him train with the professionals. At the age of just 15, he made his Serie A debut on June 2, 1959 against Inter Milan (1-1). This makes him the second youngest player ever to appear in the Italian premier league. In his first professional season he was a regular (26 games / 6 goals) and all of Italy raved about the slender boy from Piedmont, whom the press dubbed "Golden Boy". He took part with Italy in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome and took fourth place with teammates like Tarcisio Burgnich and Giovanni Trapattoni . Rivera was the country's most sought-after player and Gipo Viani , manager of AC Milan , offered the then astronomical transfer fee of 90 million lire (around 200,000 US dollars ). The US Alessandria could not possibly refuse the Milan offer and let Rivera, then officially still a youth player, move to the Rossoneri in the summer of 1960 .

Even then, AC Milan was one of the largest clubs in Serie A and had numerous top players under contract, which is why Rivera was initially used on the right wing. Only after the departure of old star Juan Alberto Schiaffino did Rivera move into central midfield and take on the role of playmaker intended for him . Without any problems, he filled the gap and swung himself up to become the decisive man of the team, who acted as director and passer-by for the storm peaks. The formula for success was simple: after winning the ball or in the build-up game, the ball must immediately go to Rivera, who will then initiate the next move. His first major success was winning the championship (Scudetto) in 1962 . A year later, Milan's final rise to international stature followed when he won the European Cup . Rivera prepared both goals for center forward José Altafini in the 2-1 final win over Benfica Lisbon at the legendary Wembley Stadium . Significantly, the only 19-year-old took second place behind Lev Yashin in the European Footballer of the Year election . But now followed a titleless dry spell for Milan, while the great local rival Inter Milan hurried from success to success (including two victories in the European Cup). Coach Nereo Rocco had left the club and took over the position at AC Turin .

Gianni Rivera after winning the 1968 European Cup Winners' Cup against Hamburger SV

It wasn't until the late 1960s that Rocco was brought back and he rebuilt a successful team; National players like Angelo Sormani and Pierino Prati were signed. The coach appointed Rivera as the new captain and he was now the central figure of the team structure. Rivera himself approached the zenith of his skills and led Milan back on the road to success. They started with winning the Cup ( Coppa Italia ) in 1967, the championship and the European Cup Winners' Cup (2-0 against Hamburger SV ) the following year. The coronation followed in 1969 with the renewed victory of the European Cup (4: 1 against Ajax Amsterdam ) and even the World Cup (3: 0 and 1: 2 against Estudiantes de La Plata ). Rivera was one of the best players in the world during those years and he was named Europe's Footballer of the Year by France Football in 1969 . After two more domestic cup wins (1972, 1973), the Rossoneri were again in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1973 , in which Leeds United was defeated 1-0. A year later, they missed the title defense in this competition after a sensational defeat in the final against the underdogs from 1. FC Magdeburg .

After seven titles in six years, this defeat marked the end of the most successful era in the club's history. Criticism of the seemingly untouchable Rivera also grew. The star player accused the referees of favoring Inter Milan and Juventus Turin through their decisions, and was therefore in an ongoing dispute with the association. In 1975 club president Albino Buticchi even wanted to sell him. But Rivera did not want to leave Milan and turned the tables without further ado; with some wealthy businessmen he acquired the majority of shares in the highly indebted club and unceremoniously dismissed his adversary. With that, Rivera was a player and president of AC Milan for a short time. After winning the fourth cup in 1977, Rivera's career was drawing to a close. Due to injury he was missing most of his last professional season 1978/79 (only 13 appearances), but won the championship again. Since it was Milan's tenth Scudetto , it gave the club the first star above the logo. On May 13, 1979 Rivera completed his last game for AC (1: 1 against Lazio Rome ) and ended his career.

In his 19 years he played 658 competitive games for AC Milan and scored 164 goals (Serie A: 501/122, Coppa Italia: 74/28, European Cup: 74/13, others: 9/1). With this brand he was the record player of the Rossoneri for years and, not least because of these impressive numbers, is one of the best players in the history of the club.

National player

On May 13, 1962, the 18-year-old Rivera made his debut for the national team in the 1: 3 away win over Belgium in Brussels . Subsequently, the Golden Boy was in the squad for the World Cup in Chile , but was mostly a substitute here and only played one role. Italy were eliminated in the group stage.

Four years later, at the 1966 World Cup in England , the Italians were among the big favorites, as Italian club teams determined the European cup competitions. The hopes of the Tifosi were based among others on the two playmakers Gianni Rivera and Sandro Mazzola . But the team disappointed across the board and after the sensational 1-0 defeat against North Korea , the Italians had to return home after the preliminary round. On their return to Rome , the players were pelted with rotten tomatoes by angry fans. In 1968 the Squadra Azzura rehabilitated itself for the shame of England by winning the European Championship in their own country. Rivera was absent from the final due to an injury (2-0 against Yugoslavia ).

Rivera's career in the national team was shaped by the duel for the role of playmaker. With Sandro Mazzola from Inter Milan, the Italian national coaches of the 1960s and 1970s had an almost equal player at their disposal. This rivalry, which divided football fans, peaked at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico . Coach Ferruccio Valcareggi tried to solve the problem with a compromise: he felt that neither Rivera nor Mazzola would last 90 minutes in the scorching heat of Mexico. Therefore, he put Mazzola on in the first half and then exchanged him during the break by Rivera (so-called Stafetta ). In the semifinals against Germany , he experienced his greatest moment in the national jersey, when he scored the decisive goal to 4: 3 in extra time in this game of the century and became the match winner. Nevertheless, Valcareggi deviated from his interplay in the final against Brazil (1: 4) and only brought Rivera in the 84th minute, because he thought Mazzola was defensively stronger. For this, the coach was harshly criticized in the Italian press.

Rivera played his last world championship in 1974 in Germany . The highly traded Italians once again disappointed expectations and were eliminated again in the preliminary round. This means that Rivera was eliminated three times after the preliminary round in four appearances in a World Cup finals. In the second game (1-1 against Argentina ) Rivera was substituted in the 66th minute and was even completely on the bench against Poland . After the tournament, Rivera announced his resignation from the national team so that he could devote himself to his job with AC Milan.

Style of play

Rivera was a short, skinny, almost scrawny player. He compensated for his physical inferiority with his extraordinary technique and unique feel for the ball, elegance and good overview shaped his game. The classic playmaker's strengths included a fatal pass to the top, but Rivera also looked for the way to goal himself ( 1973 top scorer in Serie A with 17 goals).

He hated defensive work and tough duels. Rivera's critics kept reproaching him for being lazy and unable to fight. Teams that had a Rivera in their ranks had to have appropriate water carriers to do the dirty work on the defensive . At Milan, this task fell to Roberto Rosato .

Titles & Awards

society

• Italian champion (3): 1961/62 , 1967/68 , 1978/79
• Italian Cup Winner (4): 1966/67 , 1971/72 , 1972/73 , 1976/77
• European champion cup (2): 1962/63 , 1968/69
• European Cup Winners' Cup (2): 1967/68 , 1972/73
• World Cup winner : 1969

National team

• European champion : 1968
• Vice world champion : 1970

Personally

• European Footballer of the Year : Winner 1969 (Second 1963)
• Serie A top scorer : 1972/73 (17 goals)
• Top scorer of the Italian Cup : 1967 (7 goals), 1971 (7 goals)
• FIFA 100

Season overview

society	league	season	league		Coppa Italia		European Cup		Other		total
			Games	Gates	Games	Gates	Games	Gates	Games	Gates	Games	Gates
US Alessandria	Series A	1958/59	1	0	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	0
		1959/60	25th	6th	-	-	-	-	-	-	25th	6th
total			26th	6th	-	-	-	-	-	-	26th	6th
AC Milan	Series A	1960/61	30th	6th	1	0	-	-	2	0	33	6th
		1961/62	27	10	1	0	2	0	-	-	30th	10
		1962/63	27	9	-	-	7th	2	-	-	34	11
		1963/64	27	7th	1	0	2	1	2	0	32	8th
		1964/65	29	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	29	2
		1965/66	31	7th	1	0	4th	1	-	-	36	8th
		1966/67	34	12	6th	7th	2	0	-	-	43	19th
		1967/68	29	11	5	3	10	1	-	-	44	15th
		1968/69	28	3	4th	1	7th	2	-	-	39	6th
		1969/70	25th	8th	3	1	3	2	2	1	33	12
		1970/71	26th	6th	10	7th	0	-	-	-	36	13
		1971/72	23	3	6th	2	8th	4th	-	-	37	9
		1972/73	28	17th	6th	3	9	0	-	-	43	20th
		1973/74	26th	6th	5	1	6th	0	2	0	39	7th
		1974/75	27	3	4th	0	-	-	-	-	31	3
		1975/76	14th	1	5	1	3	0	-	-	22nd	2
		1976/77	27	4th	7th	0	5	0	-	-	39	4th
		1977/78	30th	6th	5	1	1	0	-	-	36	7th
		1978/79	13	1	4th	1	5	0	-	-	22nd	2
total			501	122	74	28	74	13	9	1	658	164
Career total			527	128	74	28	74	13	9	1	684	170

National team
year	Games	Gates
1962	4th	2
1963	5	2
1964	4th	2
1965	6th	1
1966	6th	2
1967	4th	-
1968	4th	-
1969	3	-
1970	7th	2
1971	3	-
1972	3	-
1973	7th	2
1974	4th	1
total	60	14th

Functionary and politician

After his active career, Rivera moved to the management of AC Milan and took over the position of Vice President. But the club was proven to be involved in a betting scandal and the association sentenced him to relegation to Serie B in 1980 . When the media mogul and multi-millionaire Silvio Berlusconi acquired the majority of the club's shares in 1986 , he restructured the club's management and Rivera also had to leave.

Rivera turned his back on football for good and went into politics. First he was a member of the Democrazia Cristiana (DC), after its collapse in 1994 at Patto Segni , from 1996 in the liberal reform party Rinnovamento Italiano and in the center-left electoral alliance L'Ulivo . From 1987 to 2001 he was a member of the Italian House of Representatives . In the center-left governments of Romano Prodi , Massimo D'Alema and Giuliano Amato , he was Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Defense from 1996 to 2001 . From 2002 he belonged to the La Margherita party (also part of the L'Ulivo alliance).

On May 25, 2005, Rivera moved into the European Parliament as a successor for Mercedes Bresso on the L'Ulivo list , to which he was a non-attached member until July 13, 2009. There he was a member of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection , in the Delegation for relations with the Palestinian Legislative Council and, from 2007, also in the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality . Rivera did not participate in the merger of Margherita to form the center-left rallying party Partito Democratico , instead he joined the small Christian Democratic party Rosa per l'Italia in 2008 .

For the 2009 European elections , he ran as a candidate for the Christian Democratic Unione di Centro , but was not re-elected. For the municipal elections in Milan in 2011, he supported the center-right candidate Letizia Moratti in her intended re-election as mayor, which was unsuccessful. Rivera himself ran for the Stradrat on the list Unione Italiana - Librandi per Milano , but received only 20 votes.

Web links

Commons : Gianni Rivera  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Entry on Gianni Rivera in the database of Members of the European Parliament
• Gianni Rivera in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )
• Interview with Gianni Rivera on 11freunde.de
• Gianni Rivera in the database of weltfussball.de
• Profile on the website of the Italian Federation

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Volker Kluge : Olympic Summer Games. The Chronicle II. London 1948 - Tokyo 1964. Sportverlag Berlin, Berlin 1998, ISBN 3-328-00740-7 , pp. 587-590.
2. ^ Archive entry about Mercedes Bresso . On: europarl.europa.eu
3. ^ Archive entry about Gianni Rivera . On: europarl.europa.eu
4. ↑ E per Rivera solo 20 voti . On: archiviostorico.corriere.it on May 18, 2011