27 Facts About Gianni Rivera

Giovanni "Gianni" Rivera is an Italian politician and former footballer who played as a midfielder.

Gianni Rivera was a member of the first Italian side ever to win the European Football Championship in 1968, on home soil, and represented Italy at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, helping the team to a fourth-place finish.

Gianni Rivera was an elegant, efficient, and creative offensive playmaker, with an eye for goal, who possessed excellent vision and technical ability, and who was highly regarded for his footballing intelligence, leadership, correct behaviour, and class.

Gianni Rivera is widely considered to be one of the best passers and most talented offensive playmakers of all time, due to his passing accuracy and his adeptness at providing assists.

Gianni Rivera was born in Alessandria, Piedmont, to Edera and Teresio; his father was a railway worker.

Gianni began playing football with local side ASD Don Bosco, where he was scouted by former Milan midfielder Franco Pedroni, who was the assistant coach at Alessandria at the time, prompting Rivera to join the local Serie A side at the age of 13.

Gianni Rivera is the third youngest player in history to debut in Serie A, behind only Amedeo Amadei and Pietro Pellegri, and the second youngest goalscorer in Serie A, behind only Amadei.

Gianni Rivera was in great form during the match, providing two notable assists for Jose Altafini's goals; he finished the season in double figures with 11 goals for Milan in all competitions, while he made 40 appearances throughout the season for both club and country.

Gianni Rivera picked up a three-month suspension because of his statements against Italian referees, suggesting that they favoured Milan's rivals Inter and Juventus; coincidentally, the latter team won the Serie A title that season.

Gianni Rivera won the last scudetto of his playing career in his final season with the club, under manager Nils Liedholm, at the age of 35; despite his own advancing age and physical decline, he still contributed to Milan's League title in 1979, the club's tenth overall, with 13 appearances and a goal, which earned The Devils a star on their jersey.

In total, Gianni Rivera played for Milan in 501 Serie A matches and scored 122 league goals, with a total of 164 goals in 658 appearances in all competitions for Milan.

In total, Gianni Rivera scored 170 goals in all club competitions in 684 appearances.

Gianni Rivera was a part of the Italy national side between 1962 and 1974.

Gianni Rivera was later included in Italy's squad for the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England; during the tournament, Gianni Rivera was critical of Edmondo Fabbri's defensive-minded system, and the Italians suffered another first round elimination following an unexpected defeat to North Korea in their final group match.

Gianni Rivera subsequently played with the Squadra Azzurra in the 1970 FIFA World Cup hosted by Mexico.

Gianni Rivera played in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, wearing the number 10 shirt for Italy, and finally appearing alongside Mazzola, who was deployed on the wing.

Gianni Rivera participated in four World Cups with Italy, making nine appearances in total and scoring three goals.

Gianni Rivera started his career in politics in 1986, becoming a member of the Italian Parliament in 1987 with the Christian Democracy party; he was, re-elected in 1992, in 1994, under the Segni Pact, and in 1996, under the Uniti nell'Ulivo coalition.

Gianni Rivera served as an under-secretary for defense under Romano Prodi's government and later as a non-inscrit Member of the European Parliament.

In 2013 Gianni Rivera was appointed by the Italian Football Federation as President of the Technical Sector, which oversees the training and qualification of technical staff employed by the FIGC and is headquartered at the Coverciano in Florence.

Gianni Rivera was a graceful, creative, technically gifted, and efficient offensive midfield playmaker, who possessed exceptional footballing intelligence, and class.

Gianni Rivera was highly regarded for his outstanding ball control, excellent first touch, dribbling skills, and excellent technique, as well as his quick feet, acceleration over short distances, agility, flair, and balance on the ball, which allowed him to change direction quickly, and dribble past players with ease.

Gianni Rivera was an accurate set piece and penalty-kick taker.

Gianni Rivera is widely considered to be one of the greatest Italian footballers and one of the most talented advanced playmakers of all time, as well as one of the best players of his generation.

That same year, journalists of La Gazzetta dello Sport elected the greatest Italian player of all time, with Gianni Rivera finishing in first place.

On 3 July 1968, Gianni Rivera founded the Italian Footballers' Association, in Milan, along with several fellow footballers, such as Giacomo Bulgarelli, Sandro Mazzola, Ernesto Castano, Giancarlo De Sisti, and Giacomo Losi, as well as the recently retired Sergio Campana, a lawyer, who was appointed president of the association.

In 2012, Gianni Rivera took part in the eighth season of Ballando con le Stelle, on Rai 1.