32 Facts About Valentino Mazzola

Valentino Mazzola was an Italian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or forward.

Valentino Mazzola was captain of the Italy national team for two years.

Valentino Mazzola became known during his spell at Venezia, where he played as a midfielder, a playing position he held throughout his career that allowed him to expand his fame beyond Italy.

Valentino Mazzola died at the age of 30 in the Superga air disaster.

Valentino Mazzola was born in Cassano d'Adda, Ricetto, a neighbourhood of abandoned homes to a very modest family.

Valentino Mazzola's father, Alessandro, was a labourer for Azienda Torinese Mobilita and died in August 1940, hit by a truck.

Valentino Mazzola had an unsettled childhood; in 1929 his father was fired from his job because of the Great Depression.

Valentino Mazzola found employment as a baker's boy, then, at age 14, the linen mill at Cassano d'Adda.

Valentino Mazzola played in his local neighbourhood team, the "Tresoldi" and was noticed by a football fan who worked as a test driver for the Alfa Romeo factory in Arese, who offered Valentino a place in the Alfa Romeo team and a job as a mechanic.

Valentino Mazzola worked in Lingotto and reported as a FIAT worker essential to wartime production, to avoid participating directly in the Second World War.

The players were not considered professionals and officially held other jobs; in the aftermath of the war, Valentino Mazzola owned a sports shop in Turin, where he sold footballs that he manufactured personally.

Valentino Mazzola, who considered himself a solitary person led a secluded life, prioritising football above all.

Valentino Mazzola's entertainment consisted of a few games of bowls near his house.

Valentino Mazzola used to write down everything, both in regard to his personal and professional life.

Valentino Mazzola was very strict and meticulous and demanded the same treatment from others; this was the main reason for separation from his first wife, who was no longer willing to live with his firm discipline.

Valentino Mazzola separated from his wife in autumn 1946 and remarried on 20 April 1949 to 19-year-old Giuseppina Cutrone.

Valentino Mazzola briefly moved to Fara d'Adda and then returned to Tresoldi.

Valentino Mazzola played as a centre midfielder and right-sided midfielder, even though he was already a multi-purpose player.

Valentino Mazzola left the team in 1939, to join the military service in Venice.

Valentino Mazzola was noted by some observers of Venezia, who after various stresses succeeded in getting him to tryout; according to another source, a naval officer who was a fan of Venezia, admired the skill of Valentino and offered him to the Lagunari.

Valentino Mazzola convinced everyone, especially the manager Giuseppe Girani to purchase him.

Valentino Mazzola played in all five of the remaining league games, often in the middle of the attack, creating a goal on the penultimate day against Bari, guaranteeing Venezia mathematical safety from relegation.

Valentino Mazzola officially debuted for Torino on 20 September 1942, in the Coppa Italia against Anconitana Bianchi.

Valentino Mazzola initially objected to the position he was played in for over two months, despite the team beginning to put together a series of victories.

Valentino Mazzola contributed 16 goals to Torino's scudetto-winning formation, with five braces; the first in the third round when he scored twice against Sampierdarenese in Genoa.

On 23 May 1948, the match against Triestina in Trieste finished goalless; Valentino Mazzola refused to pass to his teammates, who showed impatience for his actions.

Various interpretations of this event exist: besides the simple justification that the Valentino Mazzola wanted to rest, as he was tired and struggling with injuries, there were rumours that he intended to end his relationship with Torino and move to Internazionale.

Valentino Mazzola finished the season with 25 goals as second top scorer behind Giampiero Boniperti.

Valentino Mazzola, included in the transfer list, would miss the first round of the season against Pro Patria.

Ferreira and Valentino Mazzola had met in a restaurant in the afternoon, and discussed the match that Benfica would dedicate to the Portuguese, with proceeds donated to charity.

Valentino Mazzola was a quick, strong and energetic midfielder, with excellent technical qualities and dribbling skills, as well as notable stamina, positional sense, vision, creativity, and accurate shooting and passing ability with both feet.

Valentino Mazzola was an excellent playmaker, and highly regarded for his ability to orchestrate his team's attacking moves.