Gianni Rivera

Gianni Rivera (born August 18, 1943 in Alessandria) was an Italian football player, the European Footballer of the Year in 1969.

Related Topics:
August 18 - 1943 - Alessandria - Italian - Football - European Footballer of the Year - 1969

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He was nicknamed The Golden Boy of Italian football. He is the product of Alessandria's youth soccer academy. He debuted in Serie A for Alessandria against Internazionale. That was on June 2, 1959; he was only 15 years old. He only played for his first club 26 matches in which he scored six goals. After one year, he was bought by AC Milan with a record transfer fee for that time, $200,000, ahd he was only 16 years old. In 1962 he won the first scudetto with AC Milan and on May 13, 1962, at 18 years, he played his first match for the Italian national team against West Germany at the World Cup in Chile, a game that finished with a goalless draw, 0-0.

Related Topics:
Serie A - Alessandria - Internazionale - June 2 - 1959 - AC Milan - May 13 - 1962 - Italian national team - West Germany - World Cup - Chile

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Due to their win of the 1962 scudetto, AC Milan qualified for the European Cup in 1962, a European Cup which they have finally won, beating Benfica 2-1 in the final with a Rivera in great form as he was awarded the second place in the famous Ballon d'or award, won by the Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin.

Related Topics:
European Cup - Benfica - Russia - Lev Yashin

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In the 1967/1968 season, Rivera won with AC Milan both the title and the Cup Winners' Cup. In 1968, he played for Italy as they won at the European Championship. Next season, Rivera takes AC Milan to win the Champions Cup as he finally gets the Ballon d'or award.

Related Topics:
Cup Winners' Cup - European Championship

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He played with the Squadra Azzurra (Italian national team) in the {{Wc|1970}} hosted by Mexico, where they reached the final, losing against Brazil, 4-1. He also played in the {{Wc|1974}} when the Italians were knocked out by Poland, 2-1. That was the end of Rivera's career at the national team for which he played in 60 games scoring 14 goals.

Related Topics:
Mexico - Brazil - Poland

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Rivera took AC Milan in two Cup Winners' Cup finals, one in 1973 and another in 1974; the first one was won and the second one lost. He also won with the red-and-black team two consecutive Italian titles, in 1972 and 1973. AC Milan also won several Italian Cups in the 70's but without Rivera in most of them who was banned because of his statements against the Italian referees.

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Rivera won his last scudetto of his career as a player in 1979 with AC Milan, this also being the 10th title for The Devils. Totally, he played for AC Milan in Serie A 501 matches and scored 122 goals.

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After retirement, Rivera entered the Italian political life, being one of the members of the Italian Parliament. He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.

Related Topics:
Italian Parliament - Pelé - Top 125 greatest living footballers - 2004

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