Inter Milan publishes unreleased Sandro Mazzola interview after his death
Inter Milan released a never‑before‑heard interview with club legend Sandro Mazzola on Saturday, a day after the former Italian forward died at 83. The full transcript, posted on the club’s official channels, offers intimate recollections of Mazzola’s formative years at the Nerazzurri and his role in the side’s first European Cup triumph.
In the interview, Mazzola described his early relationship with the club as “a mother to a young player,” emphasizing how the environment shaped his development. He recalled that, before becoming a starter, he was regularly invited to train with the first team, observing the senior squad’s movements and learning “how they played with the ball – it was a wonderful experience that taught me a lot.”
Mazzola’s debut for the senior side came under extraordinary circumstances. At 18, he featured in the controversial 10 June 1961 match against Juventus, when club president Angelo Moratti and manager Helenio Herrera fielded a youth lineup in protest against the federation. The young forward scored a penalty, a moment he later called “the first sign of an extraordinary career.”
The former striker highlighted the 1964 European Cup as the trophy he feels most connected to, stating, “It’s the trophy I feel most attached to; finally we had managed to win it.” He reflected on the historic final against Real Madrid, where Inter’s disciplined defence and Herrera’s tactical innovations secured the club’s first continental glory.
Under Herrera’s guidance, Mazzola became a central figure in the iconic lineup that still resonates with Inter supporters: “Sarti, Burgnich, Facchetti, Bedin, Guarneri, Picchi, Jair, Mazzola, Peirò, Suárez and Corso – a formation that fans still recite by heart.” He credited the collective spirit and tactical discipline of that era for laying the foundation of Inter’s later successes.
Mazzola also shared a personal anecdote about first wearing the Inter shirt at the age of eight, a moment he described as the beginning of a lifelong bond. “I never left the shirt after that,” he said, underscoring his deep loyalty to the club that defined his entire career.
The release of the interview adds a poignant chapter to Mazzola’s legacy, offering fans and historians alike a rare glimpse into the mind of one of Italy’s most celebrated footballers. Inter Milan announced that the full video and transcript will remain accessible on its platforms as a tribute to the legend’s enduring impact on the sport.