He is considered one of the strongest Italian players but above all among the most famous in the world. And today it reaches the milestone of 77 years. We are talking about Gianni Rivera, the golden boy, loved by all and known above all for being one of the players to have achieved success in Milan. On this day, as some newspapers report, he is spending his birthday in Calabria in Amantea.
Likeable and great company, many met him on the street to take a selfie with him. But you know everything about his life, made not only of sports but also of commitment in politics? We will tell you about it.
Gianni Rivera, his football career from the beginning
Born in Alexandria on August 18, 1943. When he was very young he wore the jersey of team of his hometown and made his Serie A debut just over sixteen. Then the debut in Milan where he reached 501 appearances and scored 122 goals. And according to the statistics concerning the players, Gianni Rivera, at the end of the 2018/19 season is eleventh in the "all time" league table of appearances in Serie A and forty-second in that of scorers with 128 goals. His greatest successes in the sixties and seventies, becoming one of the most important Italian players to have worn the number 10. Nineteen championships with the Rossoneri shirt. He scored 164 goals in 658 appearances with AC Milan.
And these are the years in which Milan won three league titles, four Italian Cups, two European Cups, two Cups' Cups and an Intercontinental Cup. But Gianni Rivera also wore the blue shirt. In fact, at the age of 18, his debut in the national team. And in those years he made 60 appearances with 14 goals. With him the national team became vice world champion in 1970 and European champion in 1968.
The goal of the golden ball for Gianni Rivera and then the commitment in politics
And these are also the years of international successes. In fact, in 1969 he won the Golden Ball. And he was the first Italian to reach this important milestone. Gianni Rivera got the award after winning the European Cup by beating young Johan Cruijff's Ajax. Instead in 2004 included in the FIFA 100, the list of the 125 best living players, selected by Pele.
From 1987 he entered politics, becoming a deputy for four legislatures and also undersecretary of defense from 1996 to 2001 with Massimo D'Alema. There is also a curious anecdote about Rivera. Il fan Rossonero and above all actor Diego Abatantuono told how his passion for Milan was born. "I became a Milanista because as a child I found my grandfather's wallet lying on the floor. I opened it and saw the yellowed photos of Padre Pio and Gianni Rivera, whom I didn't know, I didn't know who they were. I asked my grandfather and he explained to me: one works miracles, the other is a popular Apulian friar".
The memory and best wishes of Franco Baresi
And on this day there were many who remembered Gianni Rivera. One of all Franco Baresi who dedicated a post on his Twitter profile to the "Golden Boy": "To Gianni Rivera my captain, best wishes for a happy birthday".
