Filippo INZAGHI
Filippo Inzaghi is the big thorn in Parmaís flesh. The Italian Football and Cesare Maldini found a new great scorer, a long-limbed, quick forward able to dribble and free himself inside the goal-mouth. A tall and thin player, with a deadly header, always ready to take defenders by surprise. Filippo is not 25 yet and, in spite of a tiresome injury, he has been shooting ahead so far: Serie C1, Serie B, Serie A, Champions League, step after step always scoring bunches of goals.
In summer 1995 Parma and his General Manager Pastorello succesfully laid their hands on Inzaghi and Barcelonaís Bulgarian star Hristo Stoichkov. A young promising player and an old successful champion. Filippo was just a youngster but goals already abounded in his short career: 13 with Leffe (Bergamo) in Serie C1, 13 with Verona and 15 with 'his' Piacenza in Serie B. The next step was supposed to be Serie A, and Parma, a young, ambitious and rich Club, led by PARMALAT's Owner Tanzi, seemed to be the right place to make it. On the contrary many things have changed since then. Parma underwent a deep revolution by signing Enrico Chiesa and the young Argentine Hernan Crespo for about 30 thousand million of Italian Lira. Inzaghi, meanwhile, drew crowds with Atalanta before landing at Juventus.
However, what does Filippo think about this economic and technical hotch-potch?
We asked him the day after the nth success of Juventus, a day of rest he was spending along with his relatives: his father Giancarlo, a Sales Manager for an important textile Company (Zucchi-Bassetti), his mother Marina and his 20 years old brother Simone, who plays in Serie C2 with Lumezzane (Brescia).
A family reunion in a very happy moment of his career. Do you have any regrets for that opportunity you couldnít exploit?
'Absolutely not' he answered by a smirk 'because I talked with Parma, and, to be honest, that damn injury on my left foot decided for us.'
What did happen?
'A very banal injury during a midweek game with the amateur team of Collecchio. Just a normal tackle but my left foot bumped against an opponentís knee and I felt a tremendous pain. My fifth metatarsus was broken and I had to keep the leg motionless for 60 days. When the plaster was taken away my leg was half than normal. I took hard trainings and many sacrifices to recover my phisycal and psychological confidence.'
Have you ever been worried over those long months?
'Sure. I had a metal plaque in my foot, it was painful and a couple of times I thought I would quit. However I have a strong character and I finally found the energy to recover.'
Your comeback wasnít a great one though.
'Many teammates were injured and I accepted to play for Parmaís good but my ankle was a little crushed and I couldnít give my best. However we were tough enough to qualify for the UEFA Cup.'
In short Parma didnít reveal itself as a lucky experience.
'It was really disappointing because I arrived there motivated and ready to emerge but as soon as I had an opportunity to play weird injuries prevented me from showing my talent. It was frustrating because Scala said and proved to believe in me.'
How did he prove it?
'He immediately included me among the starters giving me the opportunity to play both in Italy and in Europe. Later, in October, when Napoli asked to borrow me until the end of the season, Scala opposed and kept me with Parma. I repaid him in Europe by scoring two goals and leading our team to recover against the Swedish team of Halmstad. We won 4-0 at home after losing 3-0 on the road. In Italy I scored to defeat Piacenza and later I played as a starter in Cremona where we won and reached the first place of the standing.'
You seemed to be the ideal partner for Stoichkov.
'Yes but my foot broke down and everything went awry.'
Later you fully recovered, but not in Parma.
'There were no problems between me and Parma and our relation was great. However after that injury they couldnít assure me the only thing I really needed. I needed to play with more continuity to find my best shape again.'
Why did you choose Atalanta?
'It looked to be the best option for me. President Ruggeri was with Verona when I played there, and Maurizio Radici who is an Atalantaís shareholder, was my President when I played with Leffe. They knew me and I was sure I could trust them.'
Did you expect a so quick explosion?
'Honestly I didnít but in Bergamo I suddenly found the right atmosphere to give my best. Mondonico immediately helped me to become part of the team and gave me a lot of confidence. The fans are great, you always have 20 thousand people cheering and supporting you every Sunday.'
The Italian League is rated as the hardest one. Why?
'Because the greatest players of the world play here and then because of the strategies. In the Italian Football nothing is left to chance. Every Sunday I have to face the greatest defenders of the world and goals still arrive very easily. This is what amazes me the most.'
Filippo Inzaghi looks to be very happy. He lives a magic moment and everything appears harmonious like his goals: little masterpieces of simplicity. He is always ready to be in the right place at the right moment, his headers are just precise and his shots always balanced. His effectiveness has often precedence over spectacularity. Inzaghi is a slipping forward able to excite the crowd by his dribblings and by making difficult things look to be easy. Comparisons are always hazardous but his qualities recall Paolo Rossi who led Italy to win the 1982 Worl Cup. Inzaghi is taller but as lean as Rossi.
They share an incredible opportunism, which means the ability to figure out in advance how and where an action is going to develop. Qualities that quickly reveal a talented forward. Qualities that pushed Stoichkov to see Inzaghi as his best partner. How can one make a champion like this? How does one materialize a player who seems to be born for football?
'I began to play very early because of a huge passion for football that, still a child, pushed me to my villageís team San Nicoloí (nearby Piacenza). When I was 12 then a Scout called Giovanni Rubini took me to Piacenza where I spent as many as 8 years playing with the Clubís juvenile teams, before Gigi Cagni gave me the opportunity to make my debut in Serie B. Piacenza revealed itself to be a perfect 'school' fo me. I didnít have to leave my family too early, and I could play for a Club that always expends time and care in fostering young players.'
What kind of attitude did your parents have towards football?
'They just wanted me to keep on studying while playing football and I contented them. However my mother had often to deal with the troubles my brother and I caused by playing football in our houseís corridor.'
Were you as good as a student as you are as a football player?
'I achieved the General Certificate of Education from the Commercial School and also in this case I was lucky to play at home, because itís not easy to couple Football and School if you donít have a mother who every morning wakes you up to study.'
When did you decide to become a professional player?
'I always had this dream. I couldnít imagine my life without football. Later when I had the first contact with professionalism I definitively decided to pursue this career and everything came off well.'
If you werenít a football player what kind of career would you pursue?
'It's tough to say. I still have that Certificate of Education and maybe I would try to be hired by my father.'
Do you still enjoy playing football?
'Yes I do. I think Iím very lucky to have a job like this. As soon as I come into play and hear the crowd cheering I feel excited and amused.'
Are you really without faults like your mother claims?
'If only!!! Actually we should distinguish Inzaghi ' the man' from Inzaghi 'the player'. As a man Iím very open-minded but also a little touchy. As a player I have a great flair for goals but I need to improve the way I approach the game.'
What do you mean?
'I'm still too emotional. I canít sleep the night before the game and I spend too many psychological energies. Every Sunday, after the game, I'm exhausted.'
Do you still have dreams to materialize?
'I already accomplished so much ..but if I have to keep on dreaming I would dream the National Team, the main goal for any football player. In addition the World Cup is coming this summer.'
Did you have an idol?
'Marco Van Basten, the greatest forward ever.'
What would you steal him?
'It's difficult to choose. He was such a perfect player. I hope to win as much as he did but I still need to grow up.'
Many claim that an Italian League which no longer has room for players like Roberto Baggio and Zola means an Italian League in crisis. What do you think about that?
'Today football is much more physical and creative players happen to have some problems. However I would always want so talented teammates with me. They just have to sacrifice and run a little more and there will always be room for them.'
Is there anything you donít like about the 'Football World'?
'It's a great World. The only problem we all should eliminate is violence. I think Football is supposed to be a big moment of joy and more and more families should fill our stadiums.'
Is there room for anything but Football in your life?
'When I had more free time I loved fishing and mushrooming in some Appenninoís woods close to Piacenza. I still do that in the summer because itís very relaxing.'