The day Paolo Rossi told me of his magic wand moment
NI photographer recalls interviewing football legend in a Tuscan olive grove
A BELFAST photographer who interviewed the late Paolo Rossi has recalled how the Italian forward told him he had been “touched by a magic wand” when he scored a hat-trick against Brazil in 1982 World Cup.
The 64-year-old, who played for AC Milan, Juventus and more, passed away yesterday.
Italian media reported he had been ill for some time.
Rossi became a household name after leading the Azzurri to victory at the 1982 World Cup, finishing as the top scorer on six goals and being named the tournament’s best player.
He scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for Italy and more than 100 Serie A goals during spells with Vicenza, Perugia, Juventus, Milan and Verona.
The forward was awarded the Ballon d’or following his World Cup performances.
Belfast photographer Michael Donald (54) said Rossi was an incredibly humble man who was thankful to former Italy manager Enzo Bearzot.
Prior to the World Cup, Rossi had become embroiled in match-fixing allegations and had not played a professional game of football in two years.
Although he maintained his innocence, he was banned for three years following the 1980 Totonero scandal. The suspension was reduced to two on appeal, meaning he was available to play Spain’s 1982 World Cup.
Mr Donald, who lives close to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in north London, met Rossi through his work on the ESPN documentary I Scored a Goal in the Fifa World Cup Final.
Originally intended to be a book, which it eventually became, the documentary took Mr Donald across the world, interviewing every living footballer who had scored in the most famous game of all.
His interview with Mr Rossi was held in the player’s olive grove and vineyard in Tuscany in September 2009.
Mr Donald said the World Cup star could not have been more hospitable towards him and his camera crew. “We went out and he put us up in a house on the vineyard,” explained Mr Donald, the brother of Pedro Donald, who owns the Sunflower and The American Bar in Belfast.
“We arranged to do the interview the next day and he came over the night before to make sure we had enough to eat. He was absolutely delightful.
“His backstory in terms of the World Cup is odd because when the Italian manager Bearzot took him to the 1982 World Cup, he hadn’t played a football match for two years because he had been banned.
“In many respects, he was a disgrace. He was a scrawny little thing and he knew himself he wasn’t match-fit. Obviously, he was desperate to go to the
World Cup, but he thought that he shouldn’t be there. Bearzot saw something in him.”
Rossi had a slow start, failing to score in the opening group stage. In the second group stage game against Brazil, however, he scored a hat-trick, sending the Azzurri to the semi-final.
He later scored goals against Poland and another in the 2-1 win over West Germany in the final.
Marco Tardelli netted the other goal, leading to arguably the most famous World Cup celebration of all time.
“He (Rossi) said that when that first goal went in against Brazil, it was like he was touched by a magic wand,” said Mr Donald.
“From that point on, he became a different person and a different player. He was integral to them going on to win it.”