A new Grande Inter? - Monday, 9 June 2008

Inter Milan have just celebrated winning the Scudetto on the last day of the season, but few would hail todays Inter as being one of the best teams to do so, or even the best Inter Milan side to do so. The platform is there; a financially supportive owner in Massimo Moratti, an excellent man-manager in Jose Mourinho, and quality players. But what are they up against in comparisons to the top Inter side?

Il Grande Inter were the most successful team in Italy during the 1960's and the most successful Nerazzurri team in their long history. The secret to their success was a financially supportive owner in Angelo Moratti, and excellent man-manager in Helenio Herrera, and some of the best players to grace Serie A.

Helenio Herrera (Left) was a quirky charachter, as the best so often are. A managerial style of strong authoritarianism made the players know that they had just one priority. Football should be the main part of the players life, and those who allowed their private life to take over would often find themselves out of the club. His teams played with anticipation of play, clever use of free space around the pitch, all played upon the base of a strong defensive line, including a sweeper, seen often in Serie A at the height of Catenaccio.

In this defence, the sweeper position was held by Armando Picchi, one of few players to question Herrera and remain at the club. His job was to instigate the play, feeding the wing-play and begin attacks. He would also be the last line of defence, ensuring a defensive solidity that made it possible to accomodate more attacking players further up the field. As a left-sided defender, Giacinto Fachetti became a legend, representing il Grande Inter through this successful period. Able to push forward and hlp the attack, he can best be compared to another Nerazzurri legend of today, Javier Zanetti.

Further up the pitch were tricky winger Luisito Suarez, a pacey Spaniard who had the ability to attack defenders and cause unrest. More central, attacking midfielder Mario Corso was a mercurial talent, but not all the time. Due to his laid-back approach to winning the ball back, he would normally have been sold on by Herrera, but his moments of genius were enough to pursuade owner Angelo Moratti that he was a necessity.

Up front Sandro Mazzola (Right), son of Torino legend Valentino, was the main striker in a low-scoring team. Capable of playing on the last defender, he also had the ability to drop deeper, and to dribble. His best moment came in getting a brace against Real Madrid in the 1964 European Cup Final.

The current Inter may well have the management set-up for a period of sustained success, but may still be a summers spending away from having a playing staff capable of this. Zanetti will go down in history as a legend for the Interisti, and instrumental in this period of success. Other than him, there seems to be too many mercenaries, Zlatan Ibrahimovic being the obvious example. More players with the passion of Materazzi, and defensive stars must be found to create the bedrock from which the great Inter side were based on. With their main rivals likely to be spending significantly in the market this summer, another succesful season for the Nerazzurri will surely signal a period of dominance and success that can create a new Grande Inter for the new century.

Interested in the history of Inter Milan?

Date: Thursday, June 05, 2008 - Monday, June 16, 2008

Opening times: 10am - 5pm

Venue: Italian Cultural Institute, Belgravia, London

Organised by: Italian Cultural Institute

In collaboration with: F.C. Internazionale and Rosso Pomodoro

On the occasion of the centenary of F.C. Internazionale Milano, the Italian Cultural Institute hosts a photographic exhibition by Oliviero Toscani, which illustrates historical and significant moments of one of the world's most famous football club. The images portray the protagonists of Inter's century-long history, with a continuous link between sporting events and Italian society and culture of the last one hundred years.

Tim D