Inzaghi- Il vero Rossonero

“It's a dream since I was a child to score twice in the final, and the ones I scored yesterday evening were the most important in my life. It was an unforgettable game. It's something that will stay with me all my life and two goals in the final speaks for itself,” the words of Filippo Inzaghi, in May 24 2007, expressing his utter joy in sealing Milan’s seventh and- to date- last Champions League trophy.

Having scored twice, in the revenge match against Liverpool in Athens, the first a lucky deflection off his shoulder from an Andrea Pirlo free-kick, the second a diagonal slip-through ball by Riccardo Kaka, to slice under Pepe Reina and roll into the back of the net.

His reaction? A state of pure uncontrollable ecstasy.

Although, that may have been his last great season to date, with injuries and fitter, younger players having seen him dropped down the pecking. Pippo or rather ‘SuperPippo’ still holds a certain section in every Milanista’s heart that gives the sensation of fragile butterflies, every time he walks onto the field for those brief, yet, concluding minutes of the game.

Labeled as the man who was ‘born in an offside position’ by none other than Sir Alex Ferguson, Inzaghi was loathed by his rivals, loved by his teammates, adored by the fans and respected by all.

After all, who could not love the lanky, crouched over, six-yard goal-poacher who celebrates even more wildly with every passing goal he nets?

Though for one person in particular, Pippo left chills running down his spine every time…

“Look, he can’t play football at all, he just knows how to get in the right place” – Johan Cruyf.

While this could be the case on often an occasion, that ‘right place’ saw him break records on numerous junctures.

 Winning the Capocannoniere crown with Atalanta, saw him earn big money moves to Juventus and then to Milan, thanks to his striking prowess, while at the same time haunting Italian and European defences alike.  Inzaghi also holds the record as the player to score the most hat-tricks; topping the likes of Guiseppe Signori, Hernan Crespo, Roberto Biaggio, Marco van Basten and many more.

While in European club competitions, Inzaghi is the second highest goal-scorer of all time, having netted 70 times on the big stage with Raul topping him by just four strikes.

Giovanni Trapattoni- a fond admirer of his work- describing him as: “an enormous pain in the neck for every defender: he is always there, gets ruled offside dozens of times, but in the end he always manages to punish you”.

So much so, Inzaghi made Bayern Munich his personal play toy where he netted over a decade of goals against them; seeing him haunt the goalposts of Oliver Kahn like a ghost with unfinished business.

For the Azzurri the push for international success so often left a sour taste in the mouths of the players and the nation. However, in June/July 2006 Inzaghi formed part of a successful story in hunt of international glory as he was selected in the final 23-man squad of Marcello Lippi’s Italy.

The goal poaching merchant was the oldest outfield player selected in the squad, edging out Marco Materazzi by 10 days and Captain Fabio Cannavaro by 43. Nevertheless, despite the ongoing questioning of his inclusion in the squad, Inzaghi played a colossal role in ensuring qualification for the final 16, with his goal against the Czech Republic.

 

However, despite the accumulated success he has enjoyed, the 38-year-old has recently found himself become more of bench warmer than a first team player under Massimiliano Allegri.

Always been a player to practically breathe down the neck of every defender, there almost came a time in which the number 9 nearly waved goodbye to Milanello and move to Siena in order to have one last shot of regular game time.

But it was his undying love for the team, his teammates and the fans that set him above the rest of so many footballers, as he opted to stay at Milan for the remainder of his final six months as a player.

"I did not do it, it was tough to leave this environment, leaving my team-mates and fans in two hours without saying goodbye, to the San Siro stadium as it should be and how will I do so in May. So I decided to stay.”

As June fast approaches little can prepare the Rossoneri faithful for the tearful and heartfelt goodbye that will emanate around the San Siro. His extreme, yet catchy, goal celebrations will surely missed, whilst the whispers of ‘Oi oi oi Pippo Inzaghi segna per noi’ will remain deeply embedded in the crevices of the historic San Siro.

As a banner in the Curva Sud recently read, “Senza Pippo non siamo Allegri”, a play on words directed at the coach, but that is the inevitable truth that will last for years to come.