Valentino Mazzola, one of Italian football’s most iconic figures and captain of the legendary Torino team of the 1940s, was born on this day in 1919 in Cassano d’Adda, Lombardy.
Mazzola’s extraordinary talent and leadership transformed Il Grande Torino into a dominant force, capturing five Serie A titles in seven seasons between 1942 and 1949.
A versatile player, Mazzola excelled as an attacking midfielder but could adapt to any position on the pitch. Over 231 Serie A appearances for Venezia and Torino, he scored 109 goals, earning a reputation as one of Italy’s greatest footballers. He also became the central figure of Italy’s national team, coached by double World Cup-winner Vittorio Pozzo.
However, his life and career were tragically cut short in the Superga Disaster on 4 May, 1949. The plane carrying Mazzola and the Torino team home from a friendly in Portugal crashed into the rear wall of the Basilica of Superga in thick fog, killing all 31 on board. Among the victims were 18 players, including almost the entire Torino first team, their English coach Leslie Lievesley, and several officials and journalists.
Determination and Courage
Mazzola’s determination and courage were evident from an early age. Born into a poor family, he left school early to support his household, taking jobs as a baker’s boy and in a linen mill. At just 10 years old, he saved the life of six-year-old Andrea Bonomi, who later captained AC Milan to a league title.
His footballing journey began with local teams before joining Alfa Romeo’s semi-professional side, balancing a mechanic apprenticeship with his budding career. The death of his father in a workplace accident made this opportunity vital for his family’s survival.
Conscripted into the navy, and based in Venice, during World War II, Mazzola joined Venezia, where he made his Serie A debut in 1940. His performances earned him a move to Torino in 1942 for a then-significant fee of 200,000 lire.
As Torino’s captain, Mazzola became known for his iconic gesture of rolling up his sleeves to rally his teammates during difficult moments. This simple act often signalled a turning point, inspiring both his team and the fans in Torino’s Filadelfia stadium.
Triumphs then tragedy
Mazzola’s influence extended beyond the domestic league. Torino dominated Serie A in the post-war years, winning titles with record margins and providing 10 of the 11 players in Italy’s 3-2 victory over Hungary in 1947. However, the war robbed him of opportunities to compete in the World Cup and limited his international caps to 12.
Off the pitch, Valentino Mazzola valued his privacy. He married Emilia Rinaldi in 1942, and they had two sons, Ferruccio and Sandro. Sandro followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a star with Internazionale and achieving even greater success, including four Serie A titles and two European Cups.
In April 1949, just ten days after marrying his second wife, Giuseppina Cutrone, Mazzola’s life ended in the Superga Disaster. He was buried in Milan’s Monumental Cemetery.
