“Picchio”, former flag of Rome and Fiorentina, told Agi: “If it were up to me, agents wouldn’t exist. Mou and the referee? In my day I always called ‘her'”
Giancarlo De Sisti’s birthday. Today the former flag of Rome and Fiorentina, champion of Italy with the viola in 1969 and champion of Europe with Italy in 1968, will be 80 years old. “The greatest satisfaction of my career – “Picchio”, his historic nickname, told AGI – is to have entered the Halls of Fame in Rome and Fiorentina, with the awareness of having been an example for young people”.
Memories
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De Sisti, from Rome, played in Serie A from 1960 to 1979. Almost twenty years as a professional player with more than 600 matches and six titles: in addition to the Scudetto with the Viola and the Azzurri, he won the Fairs Cup with Roma in 1961, the Mitropa Cup with Fiorentina in 1966 and two Italian Cups, one for Giallorossi in 1964 and the other in Florence in 1966. “Among the positive memories – he said – are the debut with Roma and the arrival among the professionals. As a child you dreamed of being a footballer, but it remains a dream until your debut arrives. I also remember with great pleasure some titles, such as the championship won with Fiorentina, the two Italian Cups, the Fairs Cup “. Only one regret, however: “The 1970 World Cup final in Mexico. Even more than the Scudetto lost on the last day when I was coaching Fiorentina in 1981-82, the biggest disappointment I’ve had in football is the defeat against Brazil. A one thing is to have won a match like Italy-Germany, another is to have won the World Cup. Even if that Brazil was really very strong”.
prosecutors
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After ending his career as a footballer, De Sisti was in charge of the Italian national youth teams from 1988 to 1990: Under 18, Under 16 and Under 15. From 2001 to 2004, however, he directed the Lazio youth sector. “In Italy, the problem of parents has arisen for years, rather than agents. In 1968 – he says – with Rivera, Mazzola, Losi and Bulgarelli we reconstituted the Italian Footballers’ Association. One of the first battles was the one against the agents, who they weren’t that important yet. We didn’t imagine that they could enter so strongly into the world of young footballers. However, parents also put their money into it. They only think about their bank account. In my day it wasn’t like that.” An anecdote: “Paolo Conti, goalkeeper for Roma in the 70s, signed the contract taking the accountant with him and was criticized. In Italy the presence of parents is important in economic negotiations, while in England they impose penalties. Today, if they don’t playing the son, the parents raise their voices, make noise and even threaten you. Personally, however, I remain with my conviction at the time and I think it would be better if the prosecutors weren’t there at all”.
Talents
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A comment also on the most important Azzurri talents, including Zaniolo, now at Galatasaray: “We’re talking about a good and lucky footballer, who played for the national team even before playing in Serie A. He’s good, Rome is a special square, but certainly Not easy”. A comment also on Mourinho and the disqualification: “I don’t take anyone’s side because I wasn’t there and I have no perception of the words that have flown, but I think that anyone, referee or coach, must always base the relationship on respect and politeness because young people look at you, you are an example and you must always remember that. I have always been convinced of this and in my time I was one of the most polite. When I spoke to the referees I called them ‘referee’, I called him surname”.
Juve
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On the Covisoc paper: “I don’t know the cards, but if there is the certainty that an offense has been committed, it is right that Juve pay the penance. It is right to give him a beating!” Finally, De Sisti finished with the name of a midfielder who resembles him more than the others: “When I was a kid I wanted to play like Schiaffino, as a coach I imitated Liedholm. If I have to say the name of a player who perhaps looks like me, I’ll say Jorginho and, in part, Locatelli. Cristante? Not much, he has vision but he’s a lot more robust than I was.”
March 12, 2023 (change March 13, 2023 | 01:41)
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