Pippo Inzaghi took a trip down memory lane this afternoon as he spoke about his time at AC Milan during an interview on stage.
Inzaghi spoke at La Gazzetta dello Sport’s ‘Festival dello Sport’ which is having its sixth edition this year, and he discussed a number of things from his the first time at San Siro to the last match played scoring under the Curva Sud. Radio Rossonera relayed his comments.
“At 22 I won top scorer with Atalanta and subsequently played 4 years for Juventus and 12 for Milan: the best. At Juventus I met Zidane. Together with Kakà he was the ideal attacking midfielder, the best of the best,” he began.
“I scored more than 300 goals, I managed to decide Champions League finals and matches for the Scudetto. At Milan everyone remembers Athens but the match of their lives is the Manchester final in 2003.
“Now we are struggling in Italy to produce great centre-forwards. Now the national team is in excellent hands, there are good young players and patience is needed. In my time there was crazy quality and I think I played less than my quality.
“We played with just one striker and it was Vieri. We tried to play together with Bobo but then there were so many other champions behind us.
“First Juventus and after Milan, a dream I had as a child and which came true. I did everything to fuel and try to make my dream come true. The first goal scored in Europe is wonderful, having reached and beaten Gerd Müller’s record is wonderful.
“I scored against Real Madrid starting from the bench and I had two commemorative shirts with me. My classmates thought I was crazy but then I was right.
“My brother Simone is better than me in everything but already from the days when we played football in the attic, at home, and the fireplace was our imaginary door. My father always told us to stop but we always continued.
“Another beautiful goal was the garage at home where we played with another friend of ours who crossed and we volleyed. Now I challenge everyone to find a boy who plays under his house with a garage. My goal now is to introduce my children to sport, whatever it is. Because it aggregates, teaches values and rules.
“I entered San Siro for the first time in 1983 for a World Cup. But the most beautiful emotion was when Simone and I returned home and out of happiness in the middle of the night we went to wake up our mother to tell her everything about that unforgettable day.
“The last game as a footballer at San Siro was in May 2012. However, despite being 39 years old, I thought I was still fine. It was nice to score as soon as I entered, with the first ball touched, under my Curva and then to be rewarded for 300 appearances by Galliani.
“And then I decided that it was better to end this way anyway. After a few months I started training the Milan students, while my brother was already coaching the Lazio youth team.
“All the choices I have made, both as a footballer and as a coach, I have always made them out of passion and that’s it. What drove me to coach is the desire to give and teach something to my players.
“Sometimes not everything can be taught, some things Mother Nature just gives you. But we can teach something else and try to bring out the best in every single player. Speaking of passion: I left Milan to go to Venezia in Serie C.
“It went well also because the following year I met Angela, a woman who had many similarities with my mother and I thought she was the right woman for me and the mother of my parents. children. In fact we have two.”
Inzaghi was rather predictably asked about that famous night in 2007 in Athens when Milan got revenge for the defeat in Istanbul two years prior by beating Liverpool 2-1 to win their sixth Champions League.
“Athens is a magical place. I wasn’t well the day before, only Carlo Ancelotti could believe in me and make me play. I was stretched, I played in critical condition. I score a goal with the attack on the offside line, a typical goal of mine.
“Then that rolling ball, I didn’t catch it very well, but it was a true apotheosis. I didn’t sleep for 10 nights straight. In the two Champions Leagues won, however, the goals that I consider most important are those scored in the preliminaries.”
After retiring as a player, Inzaghi decided to do the same as his brother Simone by going down the coaching path, and he ended up in charge of the Rossoneri’s first team for the 2014-15 season, which would be his only one.
“Berlusconi and Galliani gave me the opportunity to coach the Allievi [U18s] and the Primavera. Then the first team I couldn’t say no to. I knew about the difficulties and I tried to put my all into it.
“It allowed me to understand that this job is what I like to do most regardless of the category. This year I thought I would stay put and have the chance to wander around to catch up. Then the call from Salernitana came and this new challenge began.”
Great player, always on the offside line and one the right place at the right time. Also a good example why Abate shouldn’t be the first team coach without real experience, Inzaghi did even better with Primavera, but coaching big boy was way different.
Super Pipo, LEGEND
he literally outdo everything his body can offer. Kudos to him. Respect! Super Pippo, you are one of Milan finest
When Inzaghi played…I thought he was always a lucky person, but Pippo skill so rare ……I couldnt found any players can replicate Pippo skill…..legend……thanks for everything youve done for AC Milan…..Kudos
I wish i could meet you in person before i die. I want to shake hand and selfie pics with no.1 football legend. From your fan since atalanta.
Me too 😄 though, know him at Rossoneri