Tragic childhood

Alessandro "Sandro" Mazzola's highly successful career was spent entirely with Inter Milan with whom he won both domestic and international honours.

He had a tough start to life after his father, himself a footballer who played at national level and for Serie A club Torino, was killed in a plane crash.

The tragedy on May 4, 1949, was all the more traumatic because the crash claimed the lives of the entire Turin team on its way home from a European match against Benfica.

Inter Milan centre-forward Benito Lorenzi took the seven-year-old Alessandro under his wing and was instrumental in ensuring him a footballing destiny.

"Sandro" quickly rose to the heights of his sport, breaking into the starting 11 at Inter in 1960 where his great technical skills and powerful shot were instrumental in guiding the club to the Italian championship in 1963.

Greater success beckoned and with the help of his teammate and captain Giacinto Facchetti, Mazzola lifted the European Cup the following season, adding the Intercontinental Cup along the way and collecting the title of top scorer in Italy.

He then had a marvellous run on the international stage when he was a member of the Italian team that won the European Championship in 1968, although a replay was needed to overcome a brave Yugoslavia side in the final.

In rivalry with Rivera

A black mark during this heady period of success was the rivalry which had built up between Mazzola and AC Milan midfielder Gianni Rivera.

Italian midfielder Sandro Mazzola (L) shoots on goal under pressure from Argentinian defender Ruben Glaria during the World Cup first round soccer match between Italy and Argentina 19 June 1974 in Stuttgart. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. AFP PHOTO/DPA

The difficulties in their relationship were blown up to such proportions by the media and supporters that national selectors were afraid to put them in the same team.

The build-up to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico coincided with a move by Mazzola from an attacking position into midfield to enable him to take full advantage of his driving runs and excellent dribbling skills.

Italian coach Ferruccio Valcareggi then took the unprecedented decision to unite Mazzola and Rivera at the heart of midfield, a move that reaped great reward in Mexico.

The semi-final against West Germany - led by Franz Beckenbauer - was a 4-3 thriller, won in extra-time by a goal by Rivera, who blasted the ball home past Maier in the German goal.

Italy were humbled by the outstanding Brazil 4-1 in the final, but the scoreline unfairly reflected Italy's great contribution to what had been a feast of football.

Mazzola declined all offers to leave Inter spending 17 years with the club in all during which time he played 418 matches and scored an impressive 116 goals.