Italy World Cup winner Bearzot dies, aged 83

Italian football is in mourning following the death of legendary coach Enzo Bearzot.

Bearzot, who steered the Azzurri to their third World Cup in 1982, died in Milan yesterday at the age of 83.

The former Inter, Catania and Torino centre-back began his professional career with Pro Gorizia in 1946.

After ending his playing career 18 years later, Bearzot became assistant coach to Nereo Rocco and Giovan Battista Fabbri at Torino, but it was with Italy that he gained recognition.

In 1977 he was promoted to head coach of the Azzurri and led them to fourth-place finishes at the 1978 World Cup and at the 1980 European Championships.

Four years later, Bearzot guided Italy past Germany in the final to win the country’s first World Cup since 1938.

Italy and Bearzot did not qualify for Euro 1984 and the coach resigned after the 1986 World Cup following the national team’s last-16 defeat to France.

Bearzot was in charge of the Italy’s first team for an all-time record of 104 games.

The players from the 1982 World Cup-winning side were among the first to pay their respects to him.

“Enzo Bearzot was one of the great Italians of the 20th century, of this I have no doubt,” said Spain ’82 top scorer Paolo Rossi.

“For me, he was like a father. I owe everything to him. Without him I wouldn’t have managed to do what I did. He was a person of incredible honesty and a trainer of great value.

“He personified the Italian people and even if he wasn’t a scientist or an artist, he will remain in the history of the last century as one of the great Italians.”

Bruno Conti echoed Rossi’s thoughts and said: “Aside from being a great coach, I want to remember the man, a great man, with great values.”