Armando Picchi

Armando Picchi (Italian pronunciation: [arˈmando ˈpikki]; 20 June 1935 – 27 May 1971) was an Italian football player and coach. Regularly positioned as a sweeper, he captained the Internazionale side known as "La Grande Inter".

Early career

Born in Livorno, Picchi started his by career playing for A.S. Livorno Calcio. In 1959 he moved to SPAL, before later at the peak of his time, and most of his career, at Milanese powerhouse F.C. Internazionale Milano.

Captain of Grande Inter

A versatile defender, Picchi started to play in Internazionale as a right back, a role he previously held at SPAL. During the course of 1961–62 season, the legendary Grande Inter coach Helenio Herrera experimented by placing him as a libero. The new position was successful; he became an important figure in the team's strong defence, and indirectly set examples for teammates Tarcisio Burgnich and Giacinto Facchetti with his leadership. During that time, Internazionale was still captained by Bruno Bolchi.

When Bolchi moved to Verona, Picchi was then selected as team captain. It was in his captaincy that Internazionale evolved into the era famously known as Grande Inter, when they won three scudetti, two European Champions Cups and two Intercontinental Cups in the 1960s.

Later career

After his time at Inter, he played for two seasons at Varese before retiring at the age of 34.

He made his debut for Italy several months after becoming Intercontinental champion with Internazionale, in a 6–1 victory over Finland in November 1964. However, Italy coach at that time, Edmondo Fabbri, deemed him unsuitable for the team's scheme, and subsequently left him out of the squad for 1966 World Cup in England.

Under the management of Ferruccio Valcareggi, he was regularly called for the qualifying matches of Euro 1968. Yet a fractured pelvis injury in a match against Bulgaria in April 1968, ruled him out of the competition, which concluded his last match with the Azzurri, totalling 12 international appearances.

A versatile defender, Picchi began his career as a right back, but later came into his own in the libero role. Picchi was primarily an old-fashioned sweeper, who was mainly known for his defensive skills, and ability to win back, intercept and clear loose balls as a last man; despite his more traditional interpretation of the role, he was, however, also capable of carrying the ball out into midfield or starting plays from the back-line. Regarded as one of Italy's greatest defenders, he was highly regarded for his tactical intelligence, tenacity, and vocal leadership on the pitch, and was known for his ability to organise and motivate his team-mates.

After his playing career was over, he went on to coach Varese, Livorno, and then Juventus, but he died early because of cancer.

The football stadium of Livorno is named after him.

After his death in 1971, a memorial tournament, Memorial Armando Picchi, was played in his honour.

Club

Internazionale

• Serie A: 1962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66
• European Cup: 1963–64, 1964–65
• Intercontinental Cup: 1964, 1965