Full name - Giovanni Rivera
Date of birth - 1943 18 August
Place of Birth - Alessandria, Italy
Nationality - Italy
Position - midfielder Shooting
Career:
In 1958-60, "Alessandro" (2 seasons) - 26 races, 6 goals
In 1960-79, "Milan" (19 seasons) - 501 races, 124 goals
The Italian team - 60 matches, 14 goals
Titles:
3 times in Serie A (1961-62, 1967-68, 1978-79)
Italian Cup 4 times (1966-67, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1976-77)
2 times European Cup (1962-63, 1968-69)
2 Cup Winners Cup twice (1968, 1973)
1 Intercontinental Cup once (1969)
1968 European Champion
1969 Footballer of the Year
1970 World vice-champion
1973 Italian League Top scorer
2004 Included in FIFA's 125 best living footballers list
Golden boy
Nearly twenty years of Gianni Rivera was not just a simple Milan player - it was all team spirit. Rivera was being kept at Milan, a symbol of good and bad times, always remembered the red-black number ten shirt. Because of their talent with a simple and elegant Shooting midfielder was nicknamed "Golden Boy". The square Rivera has always been to give teammates perfect renditions, which are easily destroyed opponents defense.
During the nineteen years spent in Milan club, Rivera has played for more than five hundred matches and scored over 120 goals. He also helped the team win three Serie A titles and two European Cup. The best Italian player in every election Rivera's name always appears in front of such legends as Silvio Piola, Luigi Riva and Paolo Rossi.
The boy from Alessandria
In 1943, the town of Alessandria railway became the father of the family. Parents named Giovanni, a boy quickly found a common language of soccer ball. He started coaching his native town football academy, Gianni soon became the main player in the team. Already on 2 June 1959 competition "Alessandro" - "Inter penkiolikmetis Gianni Rivera to debut in Serie A.
Even being so young, his mature game Rivera had a lasting impression on opponents. It is fast Italian girl most respected journalists. Giorgio Bocca about the youngster wrote: "His neck is as a swan, his eyes and the hair is very Retama and valuable bird. When he deploy the wings, it reminds me of the herons." Gianni Mottana added: "It does not affect the ball - which he him as an artist has become a masterpiece. When Rivera was running out, he seems to be elegantly valves square surface."
Italy between the major clubs began the fight for talent Alessandria. River observed at the earliest "Juventus" Youth football tournament in Turin. Bianconeri then stated that Rivera is physically too weak to fight the highest level, because it offered only for two and a half thousand pounds. This amount is enraged Alessandria coach Franco Pedroni, "When we got 'Juventus' motion, I could not restrain anger."
Gianni, I appreciate the many, many more. He found the Milan coach Giuseppe Viani and told him that we are here, Alessandria, we have the phenomenon. Viani before arrived in Alessandria was skeptical mood, but seeing River, he lost-tied: "No one talk more about it, I will be sure to recommend to the club. It will be great Footballer" - then only said Viani and hurry back to Milan.
"Milan" at a time just looking for a player who could replace Juan Alberto Schiaffino. Milan's attacks creator of Uruguay planned to end his career when the coach to review your workout born to a young, unknown boy. Gianni was invited to play friendly matches. After their current team leaders Liedholm and Schiaffino came to the coach and said "not run that boy!"
Being sixteen years of Gianni Rivera moved to Milan in favor at the time a record amount of 200 thousand dollars. Giuseppe Viani admiration of him dubbed "Golden Boy". This alias River "has been attached, and chased him all the rest of career.
Only come to San Siro, Rivera soon became an important part of the team. Schiaffino leaving Milan, all the attacks were stuffed creation newcomer shoulders. Thanks to the wonderful square of vision and ability to transmit great balls "golden boy" fit easily with the main team attack Jose Altafini. In 1962, Rivera had accompanied the team won their first scudetto. This title has "Milan next season in the European Cup. In this tournament, winning 31 goal in eight matches, Milan, take out a second time in the finals for the first time to win the European Cup.
Finals took place in the legendary Wembley Stadium. Italian opponents were Benfica with magical Eusebio to the forefront of the game but the mighty men of Milan was wearing a T-shirt - they became Altafini and Rivera. The Portuguese made a mistake failed to Italian tenth number, and left him much room midfield while striker from Brazil well exhausted the opportunities that it created a "golden boy, winning the two goals.
During these matches, Rivera made a huge impression on the English release. At that time, information technology was not yet sufficiently developed, the young football players, foreign press often only know the live monitor matches. The Daily Mirror after the finals, wrote: "The World Cup Rivera's feet." Gianni year has also become candidates to win the 'golden ball', but turnout has landed the legendary Russian goalkeeper Yashin Lev.
Best in Europe
As a nineteen Gianni Rivera had already been won and the scudetto and European Cup, the team was already without its not imagine. However, the film star looks won footballer of Fame head is considered the seventh decade, when the Turin team after several seasons spent in the post of chief coach Nereo Rocco returns. In 1968 Milan won the scudetto, and another Cup Winners Cup the following season while Rivera was inspired by his team for the second European Cup.
The 1969 European Cup final "Milan defeated the Dutch Ajax team. The Amsterdam club's young talent for Johan Cruyff had already become the team leader, but in that year Rivera was the best in the world. Milan the Dutch have left no chance, "Golden Boy" has two goals and Pierino Prati scored hat-trick.
After the amazing victories, Gianni Rivera became the ideal and the Italian football sports "luminary." Despite the enormous competition (at the time in Europe, dominated by football stars such as Bobby Charlton, George Best, Gerdas Müller, Johann Cruyjff, Franz Beckenbauer), French journalist he was elected European Footballer of the year. Gianni Rivera became the first Italian who has been served on the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award.
The truth has always occurred and critics. They argued that the small addition of Rivera undermines the standard model of Italian football. Gianni Brera abatino even dubbed him - a young priest, but the fans did not care: they were in love 'golden boy'.
Squadra Azzurra
Gianni Rivera inability to exploit their talent, representing the national team remains one of the most painful episodes in Italian football. Compared with a long career with Milan, the club, played 60 games for the Italy squad is an achievement for such a small player like Rivera. The main reason was Sandro Mazzola, the main Inter Milan attacks creator. It is said that Rivera and Mazzola relations were so strained that even the coaches were afraid to invite the team together. Although now it is recognized that considerable individual did not exist, and emotions often heat the sharp tongues of journalists, the then Italian football fans, "Milan - Inter opposed to long-Rivera became Mazolla.
1968 European Championships Rivera played with such stars as Riva and Pietro Anastasi and Giaccinto Facchetti. Nužingsniavo Italian team until the finals, where they met with the Yugoslav team. Rivera played all the games, but after the final-whistle the result was equal. Teams had to replay the final. Semi-finals Rivera injuries appeared serious as finalists reproduce it has been replaced. "Golden Boy" by none other, and Mazzola. Sandro played well and defeated Italy 2-0 result.
After those matches Rivera situation Caps never ceased to be stable. Coach Feruccio Valcareggi, like many football experts thought that Mazzola and Rivera, too similar to play together. Although Valcareggi and Mazzola was a fan, he could not ignore Rivera, who at that time was considered to be better Footballer. That is why the 1970 World Championships in Mexico Valcareggi invented absurd and infamous staffett. According to Mazzola and Rivera had to play one match At any matches. This system in theory, sounded like a fair way to split the playing time, but in practice it has never been implemented.
Despite the fact that during the first three events in Mexico Italians he scored only one goal, Rivera has not play most. Clearly upset Gianni even threatened to go home, but an open conversation with Nereo Rocco, change your mind. Quarter-Italian Cup, met with the owners - the Mexican team. Played 45 minutes, the result was equal. In the second match after changing the pitch ran out Rivera and turned the game upside down: the Italians in seven minutes, he scored three goals and went away in the semi-finals.
This Italian-West German meeting is remembered as one of the best matches in World Cup history. After an early goal drove the full 90 minute match Italians spend the goal. The match extended through the added time to pitch again after the exchange is entering Gianni Rivera. The first goal in the extension of shoots and German forward Gerd Müller outputs, but the Italians responded by two shots accurately. 110 minutes Müller their goal, yet one compares the result. Already another Italian attack during the "golden boy" does what makes him a national hero - most accurate blow to loot a ticket to the finals in Italy.
Unbelievable, but Valcareggi finals at the last match hero of spare time on a bench. At six minutes before the end of the match the Italians already pralaiminėjo results for Brazil 3-1, when once again after changing the pitch ran out Rivera. It was a humiliation which Gianni had expected. Rome airport landing aircraft met the vice-champion angry and vegetables armed crowd. Their taste had anyone other than the River, which has always been honest speaking about the team performance: "I still do not think I would have been able to help the team ... Brazil was too strong ... at least 84 in back-bench minutes spent in protected my face from the more tomato ... "
Rivera last game for Italy squad was the 1974 world championship. Italians in the group matches with the Poles lost 2-1 and left the sensational tournament. Failure resulted in the team championship of rapid change - many players (together with the coach) lost place team. Ironically, Rivera and Mazzola, who for many years fought for the local team, was refused service at a time.
Titles drought
The beginning of eighties' Milan leaves Trapattoni, Sormani, several other European Cup in the hills. Time incurred loses its strength, but inspired by Rivera's impressive game (in Italian in the first and only time is performing in the Italian league player) is able to defeat Leeds United in a Cup Winners' Cup finals. After the finals of the team coach leaves office, one of the best of all time "Milan coach Nereo Rocco.
Despite the deteriorating game, Milan club next year (1974) returns to the Cup Winners Cup Final. This time their opponents - a team from Magdeburg in eastern Germany. "Milan" and the "Golden Boy" was considered to be at the forefront of the game chores, but Rivera has played poorly as ever and the Fairy Cup in Germany.
The club started in Crisis: footballers stopped pet lovers victories, left the team Pierino Prati, Schnellinger, often changing the club presidents. Albino Buticchi, one of the then President, told the River to barter the Turin team leader Claudio twinge. This is a very enraged Gianni, he even started to organize a group of entrepreneurs who could take over the team leadership. "If Milan president wants to sell me, I'll get just the club," - said Rivera.
Seventies "Milan had several successful Italian Cup, but to the title of" Golden Boy "did not. The continuing conflict with the Italian law he was forbidden to participate in Cup competitions.
The tenth scudetto
1977 season "Milan" was falling from the Serie A level. At three matches before the end of the season relieved coach., In the last race in return for the second time invited Nereo Rocco. Cesena match against the Golden Boy "scores two goals and protect your team from falling into threaten Serie B next season takes another return this time to post back the legendary coach of Milan player - Nils Liedholm, who already had failed to train a team of Rocco, was long gone to Turin (1963-1966 m.).
