12 Facts About Nereo Rocco

Nereo Rocco played 287 Serie A matches within 11 seasons, scoring 69 goals.

Nereo Rocco was capped one time for the Italy national team.

Nereo Rocco obtained a surprising second place in Serie A, which is still the highest result ever reached by the team.

Nereo Rocco left Triestina a few years later because of disagreements with the club chairmanship.

In 1953 Nereo Rocco signed as coach of Serie B team Padova, being able to avoid a relegation and obtaining promotion into Serie A the following season.

Milan coach, starting one of the most successful periods for the rossoneri: he built a hard-working and defensively sound side around the team's young star playmaker, Gianni Rivera, which complemented the midfielders' creative playing style; Nereo Rocco formed an important relationship with Rivera throughout his career, and together, they played a key role in the club's successes, winning the Italian league in 1962 and the European Cup in 1963.

Nereo Rocco left Milan in 1973, after having won another European Cup in 1969, an Intercontinental Cup, two Italian Cups and another Cup Winners' Cup.

Nereo Rocco is Milan's longest-serving manager, managing the club for 459 matches.

Nereo Rocco became popular for his quips, which he would often say to his players and journalists.

Nereo Rocco, popularly known as El Paron, was popular for his strong use of his native Triestine dialect.

Former Parma manager Nevio Scala, who played under Nereo Rocco, was inspired by Nereo Rocco's charisma as a manager, and for giving his players more freedom by placing less importance on tactics and set plays during training.

Nereo Rocco died on 20 February 1979, aged 66, in his hometown Trieste.