Biography of Enzo Bearzot

The Duncan and his pipe

26 September 1927 21 December 2010 Italian sporting hero, coach of national football team world champion 1982, Enzo Bearzot was born in Shee, Ajello del Friuli (province of Udine) on September 26, 1927. Start playing in his home town team in the role of Defender. In 1946 he moved to Gorizia, which plays in serie b. serie A then goes on for Inter. Will play in the top flight with Catania and Turin. Bearzot will play a total of 251 matches serie A in 15 years. At the peak of his career comes to play a game with the national Jersey, in 1955. Ending his career in 1964. Thereupon began an apprenticeship as a coach; before following the doormen of Turin, then sit on the bench alongside an illustrious name: Nereo Rocco. It's then Assistant of Giovan Battista Fabbri also in Turin before moving to Meadow where he leads the team in serie c. joined the Federation as head coach of the youth team under 23 (now under 21); don't spend a lot of time and Bearzot became Assistant of Ferruccio Valcareggi, the national team Coach, who follows Mexico 1970 FIFA World Cup in 1974 and in Germany. After a few months away from the World Cup Germany, Enzo Bearzot was appointed Coach with Fulvio Bernardini, with whom he shares the bench until 1977. The 1976 European Championship qualifiers fail miserably. Bearzot's work is showing off to the World Cup of 1978: Italy ends in fourth place, showing however-by all accounts the reviewer-the best game of the event. Successive European Championships (1980) take place in Italy: the team of Bearzot arrives again fourth. It is in Spain, at the World Championships of 1982, Bearzot will author a miracle. The first phase of the Championship shows a modest team, by the equally modest results. The choices of CT seem quite controversial. The criticism by journalists to the national team and his coach is tough, merciless and fierce, so wearing Bearzot decide for "blackout", absolutely new event then. But Bearzot, in addition to the technical preparation, proves able to infuse his boys courage, hope and a strong moral preparation, based on the strength of the group. That's how the July 11, 1982 the blue team, with his trainer, rises on the top of the world by beating Germany 3-1 in the final over historical. La Gazzetta dello Sport the next day called the cover with the echo of that phrase that the commentator Nando Martellini the night before seemed to fail to finish: "world champions". In the same year to Bearzot was awarded the prestigious title of Commander of the order of merit of the Italian Republic. After Spain are Europeans of 1984 the new commitment of Bearzot: Italy fails to qualify. Then came the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where Italy does not shine (ends in the round of 16 against France). After this experience, "Bearzot Vecio", as he was nicknamed, resigns in these words: "for me to coach the Italy was a vocation that, over the years, has become a profession. The values of the game have changed from my day. Due to the development of the sector and of the entrance onto the scene of major sponsors, it appears that the money has moved the goal posts of the doors". To date still holds the record for the blue benches: 104, in front of the 95 of Vittorio Pozzo. From 1975 to 1986 Bearzot collects 51 WINS, 28 draws and 25 defeats. His successorè will be Azeglio Vicini. Tough, determined and self-effacing, yet incredibly human, Bearzot has always been very close to his players, looking at the man before the player. Many years later his words are an example for Gaetano Scirea, for which he proposed (in early 2005) his Jersey was withdrawn, as was done for Gigi Riva in Cagliari. Well known in terms of image for his inseparable pipe, the "Duncan" has always managed to hold the dressing-room and has always promoted the playful side of sport, never soak up the excitement of the events or the value of the stakes. Abandoned football scenes, Bearzot back in 2002 (at the age of 75 years, 16 years after retiring) picking up the pressing invitation to take charge of the technical sector of the ITALIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION. His nomination is an attempt to restore luster to a sector that is suffering from a serious crisis. In recent years, Bearzot chose to distance themselves from tv, radio and newspapers and not appear: "Today the institutions of football don't count, everyone screams on television and all speak ill of all. It bothers me to see former arbitrators who criticize the referees and coaches who criticize their colleagues, no respect, forgetting the responsibilities that one has. And then I'm home and I don't answer to nobody. " Cesare Maldini (Assistant of Bearzot in blue), Dino Zoff, Marco Tardelli and Claudio Gentile are just a few that in their coaching career claimed to have been influenced by the ideas of Enzo Bearzot. He died in Milan at the age of 83 years the next day December 21, 2010, seriously ill.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.