Azeglio Vicini
Italian footballer who proved a fatherly manager of the national squad at the 1990 World Cup
AZEGLIO VICINI, who has died aged 84, managed Italy at the 1990 World Cup, when as hosts they enjoyed a memorable run to the semi-final before securing third place at the expense of Bobby Robson’s England.
Four years before, Vicini had succeeded Enzo Bearzot – a World Cup winner in 1982 – on the strength of a decade of promise with Italy’s youth teams. His style of management was fatherly and in 1988 he steered Italy to the semi-final of the European championship.
There was thus much expectation from home fans for the World Cup which, with its Three Tenors concert and modern stadiums, became a showcase for Italian flair. In a tournament diminished by defensive tactics, the same was true of Vicini’s side. Particularly notable was his brilliant gamble in favouring the striker Totò Schillaci, who had almost no international caps but was to finish as winner of the Golden Boot for most goals. Roberto Baggio and Paolo Maldini were others Vicini brought through.
With each “magic night”, as the side’s victories became known, hope soared among Italian fans, but the semi-final against the holders Argentina in Naples finished 1-1. The atmosphere was soured by locals who cheered for their hero Diego Maradona, the Argentine captain, who played for Napoli, rather than support the national team, which some viewed as the emblem of the mistrusted state. Italy then lost on penalties.
The match remains the most-watched programme in Italian television history, and there was then some consolation when Italy defeated England 2-1 to gain third place. Vicini remained as manager for another year until failure to qualify for Euro 92 saw him replaced by Arrigo Sacchi.
The youngest of seven children, Azeglio Vicini was born into a family of farmers on March 20 1933 at San Vittore di Cesena, in Romagna. His father died when Azeglio was five and he grew up in the Adriatic resort of Cesenatico.
As a boy, his idols were the great Torino team which was to perish in the Superga air disaster of 1949. Not long after, Vicini began to play at a semi-professional level for his home-town side Cesena. A left-sided midfielder, with an eye for a pass and a powerful shot from distance, he soon came to the notice of bigger clubs and in 1952 joined Vicenza.
After winning promotion from Serie B, he moved to Sampdoria, for whom he would play for seven seasons. In 1958 he was called up to the national side but had to drop out with a knee injury. He finished his footballing days at Brescia, with whom in 1964 he again secured promotion to the top flight. Vicini hung up his boots having scored 16 goals in 299 matches in his career – never once having been booked.
He became manager of Brescia immediately, but although the season ended in relegation his ability had been noticed and, aged 35, he was invited to become coach to the national Under-23 side. He then took charge of the Under-21s, whom he steered to the semi-finals of the European youth championship in 1984 and to second place two years later.
After stepping down from the Italy job, Vicini surprised everyone in 1993 by taking charge for sentimental reasons of lowly Cesena, who had latterly enjoyed a brief first stay in Serie A but were then threatened with falling into the third tier. In a dozen games, he did enough to save them from the drop.
He then agreed to go to Udine but after six matches realised that his heart was not in it. Subsequently he became president of the Italian managers’ association and, from 2004 to 2010, president of the technical department of the Italian FA.
He is survived by his wife Ines, and by two sons and a daughter.
Azeglio Vicini, born March 20 1933, died January 30 2018