Internazionale have been lucky enough to see some very successful eras in the club’s history that have brought silverware and some of the world’s best talent. There have also been periods of suffering in between these times that have only made the successes greater. In my personal All Time Inter XI, I try to reflect on the history of the club as it is something I am passionate about, as I believe Inter’s history defines her present. The greatest times under coaches such as Armando Castellazzi, Tony Cargnelli, Helenio Herrera, Giovanni Trapattoni and Jose Mourinho, have given the club a rich legacy and some fantastic players.
I have been following Inter since 1988 and in the last 18 years I have written about them, filmed documentaries with them, worked with them in the press and I now present the Inter Podcast in English. I have also been lucky to interview players from three great eras from the 1960’s, 1980’s and the 2000’s. Perhaps some of the most famous are Mario Corso and Giuseppe Bergomi. So, this squad is personal and looks back through history. There maybe a more modern version I am sure, but they would not be here without these players who are truly Inter legends.
Goalkeeper: Walter Zenga (1978-1994)
‘The Spider’ was one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation. Zenga was born in Milan and was an avid Inter fan. He played for the Nerazzurri for 23 years and in that time he won Serie A, the UEFA Cup twice and the Italian Super Cup. His dramatic, showman like style, is why he so fondly remembered. His agility and incredible leap, meant that he would deny some if the world’s best strikers, entertaining the crowd in the process.
Left-back: Giacinto Facchetti (1960-1978)
Nobody did more to define what it means to be an Inter player than Giacinto Facchetti. The left back played under Helenio Herrera in the “Grande Inter” team, winning four Serie A titles, two European Cups, one Coppa Italia and two Inter Continental Cups. He wore the black and blue 634 times, scored 75 goals, he was a one-club man. In 2006, Inter took the decision to retire his famous number three jersey.
Centre-back: Giuseppe Bergomi (1979-1999)
If you ever interview ‘Lo Zio’, it is instantly obvious why he is a leader of men. A calm and charismatic gentleman, Bergomi, like Facchetti, is another one clubman playing over 500 league games for the Nerazzurri. The man they called ‘Uncle’ due to his incredible moustache at a young age, went on to win three UEFA Cup’s as well as a Serie A title, a Coppa Italia and a Supercoppa Italiana.
Centre-back: Armando Picchi: (1960-1967)
Captain of the Grande Inter team under Helenio Herrera. You could stop it there and he is already a legend. Picchi was a versatile defender but developed into one of the great ‘Libero’s’, the sweeper position was certainly defined by him in the 1960’s. He is regarded as one of the greatest defenders Italy have ever produced and won three Serie A titles, two European Cups and two Inter Continental Cups. He died tragically from a tumour at 36.
Right-back: Javier Zanetti (1995-2014)
‘Il Capitano’. Javier Zanetti is Mr Inter. He brought back the professionalism of the Grande Inter era and embodied what it meant to be a servant of the club. Nobody had the stamina of ‘The Tractor’ and he will always be remembered as being the captain or the great treble winning team of 2010. Zanetti holds the record for the most appearances for a foreign player in Serie A with 615, he holds the record for most appearances for Inter at 858 and he has won 16 major honours for the Nerazzurri. He was also versatile playing left back, right back and in midfield. They have retired his number four shirt.
Left Winger: Mario Corso (1957-1973)
When your nickname is ‘Gods Left Foot’, it is easy to see why Corso is classed as one of the greatest players to ever play in his position. One more member of the Grande Inter side, his technique for free kicks and crosses was key to that side. He debuted at Inter when he was 16 and amassed 413 appearances winning the same amount of honours as Facchetti. Sometimes criticised for not running enough, Corso instead was an intelligent player who preferred to move the ball.
Central Midfielder: Lothar Matthaus (1988-1992)
Lothar Matthaus won the FIFA World Player of the year at Inter and at the same time, Diego Maradona said he was the hardest opponent he ever played against. His 40 goals in 115 Serie appearances came at a time when Inter were reborn under Giovanni Trapattoni. He won Serie A in 1989, the UEFA Cup in 1991 and the Supercoppa Italiana in 1989. It was only a shame that Lothar did not stop longer in Milan.
Central Midfielder: Sandro Mazzola (1960-1977)
Being the son of Torino’s Valentino Mazzola who was tragically lost in the Superga disaster was never going to be easy. However, Mazzola became a great in his own era. In 17 years at Inter (another one-club man), he amassed 117 Serie A goals in 417 games. The attacking midfielder won the same honours as Corso and Facchetti (above) in the same Grande Inter team. He also had an infamous rivalry with Milan’s Gianni Rivera.
Right Winger: Luis Suarez (1961-1970)
Known as one of Spain’s greatest ever players, he was also the world’s most expensive when he followed Helenio Herrera to Inter from Barcelona. In the nine years that followed, Suarez would play 328 times for the Nerazzurri scoring 55 goals. An elegant winger nicknamed ‘The architect’ he also could play as a deep lying playmaker and was another very adaptable player. He amassed seven major honours in Milan.
Forward: Ronaldo (1997-2002)
‘Il Fenomeno’ broke the World transfer record for the second time when he joined Inter from Barcelona. His time was blighted by injury but in his 98 games, he scored 62 goals and left defences of Serie A trembling. One of the greatest strikers ever to play the game it is perhaps strange that he only picked up the UEFA Cup for Inter in 1998, although in the process he did have one of the games of his life in the final.
Forward: Giuseppe Meazza (1927-1940 & 1946-1947)
When Inter name the stadium after you, you know you have made an impact. Meazza played for Inter from 1927-1940 (and again in 1946/47) and in this time he became known by many as the greatest Italian sportsman of all time. His 242 league goals in 365 games was some tally and he won three Scudetti and one Coppa Italia in the process. His off the field antics often brought him as much publicity as his on field ability but that did not stop him becoming one of the best ever.