Gianni Rivera is considered to be one of, if not the best ever players in Italian history.
He was born in Alessandria on August 18, 1943.
His father worked for the railways and his mother was a housewife. At 13 he joined Alessandria's youth academy. He made his Serie A debut only two years later. He played two seasons with the "Orso Grigio" (Grey Bear) making 26 league appearances with 6 goals (Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Milan, Vicenza, Napoli, Genoa). In the second season, Alessandria were relegated. His manager both seasons was Luciano Robotti. His performances earned him a call from A.C Milan who he joined in 1960.
He arrived in Milan already known as the Golden Boy and despite a first difficult year he did not disappoint. He would stay 19 highly successful seasons.
In the first year, under Paolo Todeschini, he struggled in a new position and physically, but played 30 league games with 6 goals (Juventus, Udinese x2, Torino, Lazio, Juventus) and 1 game in Coppa Italia. Milan finished 2nd. He played alongside Milan legend Nils Liedholm in midfield while Carlo Galli was up front.
In 1960-61 with the arrival of manager Nereo Rocco, he flourished. Milan won the Scudetto and Rivera played 27 league games with 10 goals (Juventus, Atalanta, Mantova, SPAL, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Padova x2, Mantova, Torino), 1 game in Coppa Italia and 2 in the Fairs Cup. His attacking partners included José Altafini and Jimmy Greaves.
In 1962-63 Milan finished 3rd but won the European Cup, defeating Benfica 2-1 at Wembley. Rivera played 27 league games with 10 goals (Venezia, Napoli x2, Bologna, Mantova, Venezia, Atalanta, Bologna, Mantova, SPAL) and 7 in the European Cup with 2 goals (Union Luxembourg x2).
In 1963-64 the managers were first Luis Carnaglia (1-24) and then Nils Liedholm and the Rossoneri finished 3rd. Rivera played 27 league games with 7 goals (Messina x2, Modena, Inter, Messina, Genoa, Modena), 1 game in Coppa Italia and 2 in the European Cup with 1 goal (IFK Norrköping). He scored his first goal in a derby in a 2-0 win. In attack Brazilian Amarildo arrived to partner Altafini. Milan lost the Intercontinental Cup to Santos 0-1 in a playoff.
In 1964-65 Liedholm stayed on and Milan finished 2nd after leading for most of the season but being overtaken by Inter four games from the end. Rivera played 29 league games with 2 goals (Bologna, Messina).
In 1965-66 two managers alternated in charge, Liedholm (1-17, 19-24) and Giovanni Cattozzo (18, 25-30). Milan finished 7th despite the arrival of Angelo Sormani from Sampdoria as Altafini had left for Napoli. Rivera played 31 league games with 7 goals (SPAL, Napoli x2, Roma, Bologna, Torino, SPAL) and 4 in the Fairs Cup with 1 goal (Chelsea).
In 1966-67 the manager was Arturo Silvestri and Milan finished 8th but won the Coppa Italia. Rivera had a great season playing 34 league games with 12 goals (Venezia, Napoli, Lazio, Vicenza, Foggia, Roma, Torino, Lecco, Cagliari, Napoli, Vicenza, Roma), 6 in Coppa Italia with 7 goals (Pisa, Modena x4, Torino x2) and 3 games in other lesser European tournaments (Alps and Mitropa).
In 1967-68 Milan had a successful season under Nereo Rocco who had returned. The Rossoneri won the Scudetto and the Cup Winners Cup. Rivera played 29 league games with 11 goals (Mantova x2, Inter, Bologna, SPAL, Fiorentina, Napoli, Sampdoria x2, Vicenza, Brescia), 5 in Coppa Italia with 3 goals and 10 in ECWC with 1 goal (Standard Liege). In the final Milan beat SV Hamburg 2-0. One of the forwards was Kurt Hamrin and Pierino Prati had also arrived.
In 1968-69 Milan finished 2nd but won the European Cup, defeating Ajax 4-1 in Madrid. Rivera played 28 league games with 3 goals (Verona, Vicenza, Cagliari), 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Ternana) and 7 in EC with 2 goals (Malmö home and away). Rivera won the prestigious Golden Ball.
In 1969-70 Milan finished 4th but won the Intercontinental Cup beating Estudiantes 4-2 on aggregate. This was the year Cagliari surprisingly won the Scudetto. Rivera played 25 league games with 8 goals (Brescia x4, Palermo, Roma, Napoli, Vicenza), 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Como), 3 in the EC with 2 goals (Avenir Beggen home and away) and 2 in the Intercontinental final, with 1 goal in Buenos Aires.
In 1970-71 Milan finished runners-up up both in Serie A and Coppa Italia. Rivera played 26 league games with 6 goals (Foggia, Inter, Foggia, Verona x2, Torino) and 10 in Coppa Italia with 7 goals (Varese x2, Brescia, Livorno x3, Napoli). The final Coppa Italia playoff against Torino went to penalties and Rivera took all of them, scoring three but missing two.
In 1971-72 Milan finished 2nd again but won the Coppa Italia (Napoli 2-0). They also reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup but lost to Tottenham 2-3 on aggregate. Rivera played 23 league games with 3 goals (Vicenza, Sampdoria, Inter), 6 in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Juventus x2) and 8 in the UEFA Cup with 4 goals (Digenis Akritas Morphou, Dundee, Tottenham x2). This season attacking midfielder Alberto Bigon arrived from Foggia while Giovanni Trapattoni left after 13 seasons.
In 1972-73 Milan battled with Lazio and Juventus for the Scudetto but threw it away in the last match losing 3-5 in “fatal Verona". Juventus won, Milan came second and Lazio 3rd. Milan however won the European Cup Winners Cup (Leeds United 1-0) and the Coppa Italia (Juventus on penalties). Rivera played 28 league games and it was his most prolific with 17 goals (Palermo x2, Atalanta x2, Juventus, Vicenza, Torino, Bologna, Palermo, Ternana, Juventus, Vicenza, Roma x2, Sampdoria, Cagliari, Lazio) plus 6 games in Coppa Italia with 3 goals (Cagliari, Napoli x2) plus 9 games in the CWC. This year striker Luciano Chiarugi arrived from Fiorentina but Prati left for Roma.
In 1973-74 Cesare Madini started as manager but was replaced by Giovanni Trapattoni in December. Milan finished 7th and lost the final of the Cup Winners Cup (Magdeburg 0-2) and the new European Super Cup (Ajax 1-6 on aggregate). Rivera played 26 league games with 6 goals (Sampdoria, Juventus x2, Genoa, Bologna, Roma), 5 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Atalanta), 6 in the CWC plus the two Super Cup games. This of course was the season Lazio won their first historic title.
In 1974-75 Gustavo Giagnoni was manager and Milan finished 5th (UEFA Cup) and were runners-up in Coppa Italia (Fiorentina 2-3). Rivera played 27 league games with 3 goals (Bologna, Varese, Sampdoria) and 4 games in Coppa Italia. This season striker Egidio Calloni arrived from Verona and it was also defender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger's last year after nine seasons.
The 1975-76 season was a difficult one for Milan. Rivera had clashes with President Albino Buticchi over a possible sale of the Golden Boy. In September River himself became the majority shareholder of the Rossoneri, only to sell them in February. On the field Milan finished 3rd under three different managers, Giagnoni, Trapattoni and then Paolo Barison. Rivera played 14 league games with 1 goal (Lazio), 5 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Sampdoria) and 3 games in the UEFA Cup.
In 1976-77 Milan started with Giuseppe Marchioro but he was replaced by Nereo Rocco in February. Milan finished 10th but won the Coppa Italia, beating Inter 2-0. Rivera played 27 league games with 4 goals (Perugia, Lazio, Cesena x2), 7 games in Coppa Italia and 4 in the UEFA Cup.
In 1977-78 Liedholm returned and Milan finished 4th (UEFA Cup). Rivera played 30 league games with 6 goals (Genoa, Foggia, Inter, Bologna, Perugia, Atalanta), 5 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Juventus) and 1 game in the ECWC.
The 1978-79 season was his last but it was triumphant as Milan won the Scudetto. Rivera, at 35, played less, 13 league games with 1 goal (Verona), 4 games in Coppa Italia (Lecce) and 5 in the UEFA Cup. His last game was against Lazio on May 13 as the Rossoneri celebrated the title. The end of a wonderful career.
At international level he won 60 caps for Italy, 4 as captain, with 14 goals. He took part in four World Cups and one European Championship. Italy won the 1968 European Championship and were runners-up up in the Mexico World Cup of 1970. His winning goal in the epic 4-3 semi-final victory in 1970 is part of Italian folklore. In this period his rivalry with Inter's Sandro Mazzola reached its peak as the players were alternated on the pitch. Rivera's omission from the starting line-up against Brazil in the final caused a lot of controversy in Italy (he only played the last six minutes).
After retiring he went into politics and has held various parliamentary and governmental roles. He has also collaborated with the Italian Football Federation as an educator.
Rivera is considered one of the greatest Italian players ever. He was an attacking midfielder. He was a superb assist man but scored goals too. He was elegant, creative, skilful, intelligent and also possessed leadership qualities. He was known for his correct behaviour and was never sent off although, especially the early 70's, he did have some run-ins with the referees.
He won 3 Serie A titles, 4 Italian Cups, 2 European Cups, 2 Cup Winners Cups, and an Intercontinental Cup all with Milan. A European Championship with Italy and, at individual level, the Ballon d'or. He played 527 league games with 128 goals, plus countless assists, and a total of 684 professional games.
When talking about great Italian players his name immediately comes to mind along with Silvio Piola, Giacinto Facchetti, Roberto Baggio, Gigi Riva, Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini to name a few.
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