One
of the most indelible images of the 1982 World Cup and in fact of Post-War
Italian Football is the sight of Marco Tardelli’s screaming celebration
following his goal vs. West Germany in the Final in Madrid.
Perhaps
no player exemplified Giovanni Trapattoni’s ethos of grit, hard work and rugged
determination than his able lieutenant on the field and eventually by his side
as Assistant Manager.
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 36 Suppplement,
November-December 2000
(Marco Tardelli’s scream after scoring, July 11,
1982, World Cup, Italy 3-West Germany 1) |
Tardelli
would go on to earn many titles, as well as nicknames such as ‘Schizzo’ and
‘Coyote’ along the way. As a player He would have a Jeckyl and Hyde
personality. He would be just as feared for his defensive individual marking
(sometimes to the limits of legality) as he was admired for his organizational
play in midfield.
His
story begins in Northern Tuscany, where he was born on September 24, 1954, at a
village called Capanne in Careggine, in the province of Luca.
He
grew up with three brothers and was football mad from a young age.
As
a fiftteen-year old, he recalled watching the famous Italy-West Germany
semifinal of 1970 and being captivated and overcome by all the emotion of it.
After
that he knew that he wanted to become a Footballer.
Little
did he know that he would also mark history against the same opponent in 12
years time.
But
before that he had to begin his Footballing journey.
As
a young player he was a good runner, which would serve him well in the future
in midfield. His Idol around this time was Luigi Riva and was inspired to
emulate him.
At
school, he established himself on the Left Wing and was obsessed with dribbling
and attacking the opposition goal.
However,
at the age of 17 was asked by his Manager to play in defense and he could not
refuse.
He
was still very slim in his teens and as a result he was discarded by the likes
of AC Milan, Bologna and Fiorentina.
Pisa,
then at Serie C, would take a gamble on the 18 year-old and acquired him for
Seventy Thousand Lire.
He
would play two seasons at Pisa (1972/73 and 1973/74). He would play in 41
matches and score 4 goals along the way. In his first season he only played
eight matches and scored two goals. He established himself in the second season
and played 33 matches (and scored two goals.).
His
strong running caught the attention of Serie B’s Como and he made the jump to
the Division above in the summer of 1974 at the age of 20 at the behest of
Technical Director Giancarlo Beltrami.
He
would gain the trust of Pippo Marchioro, his Manager at Como, who would have a
strong influence on him as a player.
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 36 Suppplement,
November-December 2000
(Marco Tardelli at Como, 1974/75)
|
He
would consider Marchioro, as a second father. As soon he felt Tardelli was
homesick, Marchioro would put him on a train and send him home so that he would
recharge and be ready.
He
repaid him with solid performances in his solitary season there and made 36
appearances and scored two goals.
Due
to his strong running, he earned his nickname of ‘Schizzo’ there and his
success at Como, paved the way for him to bigger and better things.
Interest
for the youngster was growing from the Serie A’s top clubs.
Fiorentina
showed interest, but it was believed that he would be on his way to
Internazionale Milano. In fact Inter President Ivanoe Fraizzoli had arranged a
deal worth 700 Million Lire (800 Million in some sources) and was even
photographed with the player.
However,
Juventus Director Giampiero Boniperti wanted him at all cost and acquired him
under the nose of Inter for 950 Million Lire.
His
first Manager at Juventus, Carlo Parola, would deploy him as a defender. After
some early difficulty he established himself in the squad and managed to play
in 26 matches (and score two goals). He scored his first goal in the Serie A on
December 14, 1975 against Inter, the team he had almost joined.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 5, May 1976
(Marco
Tardelli, Juventus 1975/76)
|
Juventus
did not manage to win the Scudetto that season, as their neighbors Torino were
victorious.
Tardelli
did enough to catch the eye of the National team selectors and earned his first
cap in a friendly vs. Portugal on April 7, 1976 in Turin (playing in defense in
a 3-1 win).
He
would go on to become a fundamental part of the National Team into the next
decade.
At
the time, Enzo Bearzot was the Manager of the National Team with Fulvio
Bernardini acting as Technical Director.
 |
Photo
From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978
(Tardelli in his International debut, He is standing,
the third from the left, Italy squad, April 7, 1976, Italy 3-Portugal 1)
|
From
the Fall of 1977, Bearzot would become the sole selector and Tardelli would
remain one of his most loyal players.
An
important event occurred in that summer of 1976 that would have profound
effects on Tardelli’s career.
A
then-young Manager named Giovanni Trapattoni was appointed to lead the
Bianconeri.
Trapattoni
would change Tardelli’s position by placing him in midfield. It would be there
that his qualities would shine through.
Trapattoni
would entrust him in a pivotal position and make him Juventus’ enforcer in
midfield. His tireless running would enable him not only to mark out opponents
with ruthless efficiency but also be active in creating chances and joining in
the attack. He was the link between the defense and the attack.
 |
Photo
From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo,
1910-1983
(Marco
Tardelli, November 17, 1976, World Cup Qualifier, Italy 2-England 0)
|
He
would be part of a formidable midfield that season along with Beppe Furino,
Franco Causio and Romeo Benetti.
Juventus
were neck to neck with Torino that season (1976/77) and in the end triumphed
with 51 points to 50 (out of a possible 60).
Tardelli
would score four goals in that successful and career changing season.
Juventus
would also go on and triumph in the UEFA Cup by defeating Spain’s Athletic
Bilbao.
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, Old Series, Issue 5, June 1977
(Marco
Tardelli, May 4, 1977, UEFA Cup, Juventus 1-Athletic Bilbao 0)
|
This
was Juventus’ first ever trophy on the European Stage.
Tardelli
and Juventus were on the verge of writing some of the best pages of the club’s
History.
By
now he was also a fixture in Bearzot’s National Team and with virtually all of
his Juventus teammates helped Italy qualify for the 1978 World Cup.
The
following season (1977/78), Juventus and Tardelli would once again be
victorious in the Serie A by losing only once during the season.
Tardelli
played his part in the triumph and supplied four goals from midfield.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 27, March 1978
(Marco
Tardelli, Juventus 1977/78)
|
 |
Photo
From: I Calciatori 1977/78
(Marco
Tardelli, Juventus 1977/78)
|
Juventus
would fail in their bid to win the Champions Cup and would be eliminated by
Club Brugge in the Semifinals.
He
would also have a memorable season with the National Team.
His
importance to the National was none more apparent than in Italy’s World Cup
qualifier vs. England at Wembley on November 25, 1977.
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, December 1977
(Marco Tardelli and Trevor
Brooking , November 16, 1977, World Cup Qualifier, England 2-Italy 0))
|
After
25 minutes into the match, Bearzot relieved Renato Zaccarelli from man-marking
England’s most dangerous player Kevin Keegan. He instead decided to assign
Tardelli to mark Keegan.
Tardelli
would waste no time in making his presence felt and showed his ruthless side by
elbowing Keegan. He would be a thorn in the side of Keegan during the entire
night. This would not be the last time that Tardelli would be assigned to guard
the most dangerous weapon of the opposition (nor the last time with Keegan for
that matter…)
This
match showed both the positive and negative sides of Tardelli, but it was clear
as far as Bearzot was concerned he was indispensable as he could perform many
different tasks and play in many positions in an efficient manner.
 |
Photo
From: Panini, World Cup, 1978
(Marco
Tardelli)
|
Just
like Trapattoni, Bearzot could count upon him and expect maximum efficiency.
That
summer of 1978, Tardelli participated in his first ever World Cup with Italy in
Argentina.
Juventus
were virtually selected en bloc as in all Tardelli and eight of his teammates
made the Finals squad. These included goalkeeper and Captain Dino Zoff, young
emerging defender Antonio Cabrini, Gaetano Scirea, Claudio Gentile, Antonello
Cucureddu, Romeo Benetti, Franco Causio and Roberto Bettega.
From
the opening match, Tardelli would be visible, as he would be tasked with
marking France’s Michel Platini, a future teammate at Juventus.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 30, June 1978
(Marco
Tardelli, June 10, 1978, World Cup, Argentina 0-Italy 1)
|
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 30, June 1978
(Marco
Tardelli marking Michel Platini, June 2, 1978, World Cup, Italy 2-France 1)
|
Italy
would have a positive campaign and would finish fourth.
Upon
returning from Argentina and after two complete seasons, perhaps it was
inevitable that Juventus and Tardelli would need a period to decompress.
The
post World Cup season (1978/79) was disappointing by Juventus’ standards and
the team finished Third in the Serie A, behind Champions AC Milan and Perugia.
A
first round exit in the Champions Cup vs. Scottish side Rangers Glasgow only
confirmed their difficulties that season.
 |
Photo
From: Calciatori, edis-78-79
(Marco
Tardelli, Juventus 1978/79)
|
Juverntus’
only consolation was in winning the Coppa Italia (Tardelli’s first) by
defeating Palermo (2-1) in the Final.
Tardelli
would contribute his average of four goals in the season.
He
would also manage to score his first goals for the National team that season.
He scored vs. Spain in a friendly in December 1978 (1-2 loss) and also vs.
Holland (3-0) in another friendly in February 1979.
At
the end of that season on June 25th, 1979, Tardelli was selected as
part of a FIFA World Stars side to play Argentina at Buenos Aires for the one
year Anniversary of Argentina’s World Cup win.
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, August 1979
(World XI squad selected for the match commemorating the one
year anniversary of Argentina’s triumph, June 25, 1979, Argenntina 1-FIFA World
Stars 2, Top, left to right: Delgado (doctor), Manfred Kaltz, Marco
Tardelli, Juan Manuel Asensi,Bruno
Pezzey, Friedrich Koncilia, Antonio Cabrini, Wolff (Physio), Middle, left to
right: Vantaggiato (staff), Zbigniew Boniek, Luigi Peronace (Manager), Rudi
Krol, Enzo Bearzot (Manager), Michel Platini, Pereda (Coach), Bottom, left to
right: Franco Causio, Paolo Rossi, Simon Tahamata)
|
His
National Team Manager Enzo Bearzot had been chosen as the Manager of the FIFA
team and he naturally called upon one of his most trusted players.
Despite
the friendly and relatively non-competitive nature of this match, Tardelli
remained competitive as ever and played the match with the intensity of a World
Cup Final. He was tasked with marking Argentina’s new sensation Diego Maradona.
He once again showed the negative aspects of his game by taking to the role
with the utmost seriousness. He shadowed and constantly fouled Maradona. He
would be booked and eventually sent off in the 76th minute after
repeated brutality against Maradona.
 |
Photo
From: EL GRAFICO Nº3116 (June 26, 1979)
(Marco
Tardelli and Diego Maradona, June 25, 1979, Argentina 1-FIFA World Stars 2)
|
The
following season (1979/80) would be another difficult season for Tardelli and
Juventus.
Juventus
would finish runner-up behind Internazionale Milano.
Tardelli
would be out for much of the season and would only make 18 appearances due to
injury. Despite this, he did manage to score his customary four goals per
season.
Juventus
reached the semifinals of the Cup Winners Cup but were eliminated by Arsenal.
Meanwhile,
at the International Level, Italy had been designated as the hosts of the 1980
Euros. They had been playing in friendlies for about two years as part of their
preparation, but their results had been unimpressive. They suffered a blow
prior to the Tournament, when Italy striker Paolo Rossi was suspended as a result
of the ‘Totonero’ Match fixing scandal.
Italy
struggled in the absence of Rossi during these Euros.
Tardelli
renewed his rivalry with Keegan by marking him in the match vs. England in
these Euros. He also scored Italy’s winner in this match, though it was to no
avail as Italy were eliminated in the First Round at the expense of surprise
team Belgium.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, Issue 1976, February 21, 1984
(Kevin Keegan and
Marco Tardelli, June 15, 1980, European Championship, Italy 1-England 0) |
 |
Photo
From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo,
1910-1983
(Marco Tardelli’s goal, June 15, 1980, UEFA
European Championships, Italy 1-England 0) |
The following season (1980/81) would mark the return to
prominence of Trappatoni’s Juventus with an ever impressive Tardelli.
Juventus would reclaim the Scudetto after three years (just
edging out AS Roma) and Tardelli would go on to score a career high of seven
goals in the season.
 |
Photo
From: GUERIN SPORTIVO, 1980-1981 – CALCIOITALIA
(Marco
Tardelli and Giovanni Trappatoni, 1980/81)
|
Internationally the season started well, as Italy posted four
straight victories in its World Cup qualifying Group with wins over Yugoslavia,
Denmark, Greece and Yugoslavia.
The wins placed Italy in an ideal position to qualify from
the Group.
The following season (1981/82) would be the most memorable of
his career.
In the Serie A, Juventus repeated as Serie A Champions. The
title was secured with a win in the very last match of the season that kept
them one point ahead of Fiorentina (Tardelli would score three goals in the
campaign).
However, the greatest prize of all lay jut ahead.
Internationally, Italy had struggled all season and had been largely
unimpressive in obtaining World Cup qualification after a bright start to the
qualifiers.
 |
Photo
From: Panini, World Cup, 1982
(Marco
Tardelli)
|
Their friendlies prior to the World Cup had also been below
par. In fact, the first round of the World Cup had also been disappointing.
Italy had qualified to the second round after three straight ties and had only
qualified at the expense of Cameroon only on goal difference.
The Italian Media naturally criticized the team with some
commentary that the players deemed unfair and unjustified. The Team voted for a
Press Blackout for the remainder of the Tournament.
 |
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 31, October 1982
(Marco Tardelli during the 1982 World Cup) |
This was the turning point and afterwards the Team found a
new lease on life.
It was during the Tournament, that Bearzot also gave Tardelli
the nickname of ‘Coyote’ because he could not go to sleep at night.
Tardelli would spark Italy’s renewal by scoring Italy’s first
goal in the second Round Group phase match vs. Argentina en route to a (2-1)
win.
 |
Photo
From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo,
1910-1983
(Marco
Tardelli scoring against Argentina, June 29, 1982, World Cup, Italy 2-Argentina
1)
|
This was followed by a memorable encounter and win over the
favorites Brazil (3-2).
Italy would reach the Final by defeating Poland (2-0) in the
semifinals to face West Germany.
Italy would win in the Final vs. the West Germans (3-1) to
claim their first Post-War World Cup.
 |
Photo
From: Spain '82, The Winning of the World Cup, Authors Phil Soar and Richard
Widdows
(Marco Tardelli, July 11, 1982, World Cup,
Italy 3-West Germany 1)
|
It is Tardelli’s scream after scoring Italy’s second goal
that will live in the memories as the most memorable and talked out event of
the match.
In the 69th minute (Italy already 1-0 up), after a
series of passes, Tardelli received the ball just outside of the box and from a
distance took a shot with his left foot to Harald Schumacher’s lower left
corner.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 79, July 1982
(Marco Tardelli’s scoring, July 11, 1982,
World Cup, Italy 3-West Germany 1)
|
Afterwards, Tardelli celebrated by running and screaming with
rage with his fists clenched. Many years later Tardelli would say: "After I saw my whole
life pass by, I felt the same feeling that, It is said, it is when you are about
to die. The joy of scoring in a World Cup finals was immense, something I
dreamed of as a child, and my exultation was a kind of liberation for
accomplishing that dream. I was born with that cry inside me, and that was the
exact moment she came out of”.
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 36 Suppplement, November-December 2000
(Marco Tardelli with the World Cup trophy,
July 11, 1982, World Cup, Italy 3-West Germany 1)
|
This
goal and celebration is often voted amongst the best World Cup goals in various
polls.
The
World Cup also changed observers’ perception of Tardelli. Until then, Tardelli
had the reputation of a tough man-marker of the adversary, however, the World Cup
showed that he was the complete player, a tireless runner who could also be
creative if given the freedom.
He
believed that he had not changed; he just had ben given the opportunity to do
something other than individual marking. He was able to show his worth and
display that he could actually be creative and not just be restricted to
defensive duties.
Upon
his return, the returning Hero caused some controversy by refusing to sign his
new Juventus contract along with Claudio Gentile and Beppe Furino.
Juventus
had just signed France’s Michel Platini and Poland’s Zbigniew Boniek to big
contracts.
The
trio felt that they should be paid along the same terms.
In
fact it was said Tardelli had been opposed to Platini’s signing as he felt the
Irishman Liam Brady (who had to make way for Platini) had been mistreated.
He
also indicated that he was a World Champion and the Italians should not be
playing second fiddle to the foreign signings.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 84, December 1982
(Marco
Tardelli)
|
After
a difficult start to the season (1982/83), Juventus somewhat regained form
after the foreign players had been integrated. However, they had to be
satisfied with a runner-up position as AS Roma won the Scudetto.
Tardelli
had contributed five goals in the campaign.
Juventus
also failed in its quest to win the Champions Cup as they lost to West
Germany’s SV Hamburg in the Final.
Tardelli
and Juventus’ consolation remained the Coppa Italia that they won at the
expense of Hellas Verona (Tardelli’s second Coppa Italia).
In
an interview during the season, he indicated that when he retired he would not
stay in the game, as he did not like that milieu. As long as he was still
playing he would support it but not afterwards. He wanted to try something else
and perhaps start a business.
The
following season (1983/84) despite not scoring a single goal in the season for
the first time, Tardelli had nevertheless an excellent campaign, as Juventus
triumphed in the League (Tardelli’s fifth overall and last).
Juventus
also triumphed in the Cup Winners Cup by defeating Portugal’s Porto.
Tardelli
therefore won his second European Cup after winning the 1977 UEFA Cup.
That
year of 1984 would the beginning of the end of his Juventus adventure.
He
had created some controversy by once again criticizing foreign players. He felt
they were overpaid in comparison to Italian players.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 114, June 1985
(Diego Maradona and Marco Tardelli, May 5, 1985, Napoli
0-Juventus 0)
|
This
further increased his rift with Platini.
The
season (1984/85) he would also have problems with his Manager Giovanni
Trapattoni. In April 1985, he declared that he had problems with someone
important in the team (assumed to be Trappatoni) and that he did not know if
the issue could be resolved.
That
season Juventus would struggle in the League and finish sixth.
 |
Photo
From: France Football, April 9, 1985
(Juventus players playing pool, left to right: Paolo Rossi,
Marco Tardelli, Antonio Cabrini, Gaetano Scirea and Michel Platini)
|
At
the end of that season, Juventus reached its goal of winning the much-coveted
Champions Cup by defeating Liverpool (1-0).
However,
the win was tarnished due to the Heysel disaster that claimed the lives of 39
fans (of mostly Juventus).
He
would later publicly express shame for having played that match. He said that
the players had not known the extent of the Tragedy at the time and felt they
could not pull out after it had been decided to play. He had only learned the
extent of the tragedy pn the following day.
This
would be his last match with Juventus after a decade of mostly glory and
trophies.
His
problems with Trapattoni as well as his advancing age had convinced the
Juventus hierarchy that changes were needed.
Tardelli,
along with Paolo Rossi and Zbigniew Boniek were transferred out to be replaced
with younger talent.
Tardelli
was transferred to Internazionale Milano (with Aldo Serena going in the
opposite direction on loan as part of the deal).
His
first season at Inter (1985/86) was marred by a hand injury and he missed many
months. He would make 19 appearances during the season. He would have two
managers that season. He started the season with Ilario Castagner, who was then replaced with Mario Corso.
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 36 Suppplement, November-December 2000
(Marco Tardelli at Inter)
|
Inter finished sixth in the season. They did
reach the semifinals of the UEFA Cup but were eliminated by Real Madrid.
Tardelli would be perceived as one of the
scapegoats of Inter’s season.
His personal life also suffered as he
separated from his wife during the season.
 |
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 118, October 1985
(Marco Tardelli at Inter)
|
His
adventure with the Azzurri was also slowly coming to an end. He played his last
match for Italy on September 25, 1985 in a friendly vs. Norway (1-2) at
Lecce. It would be his 81st
and Final cap (scoring 6 goals for the National team along the way).
He
would make Italy’s squad for the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico, but he did
not play a single minute in his Third and Final World Cup.
 |
Photo
From: Panini, World Cup, 1986
(Marco
Tardelli)
|
It
was also the end of the road for Enzo Bearzot and their mutual association
ended at that summer of 1986. Tardelli had only known Bearzot as coach in
National Team colors.
The
following season (1986/87), appeared troublesome for him from the onset as his
old boss Giovanni Trappatoni was appointed as Internazionale Milano’s new
Manager.
This
did not help his cause as his problems from the tail end of his career at
Juventus with Trapattoni still lingered.
Tardelli
had no significant impact on the Team in another difficult season for him.
During
the season, Tardelli had verbally made an agreement with Inter President
Ernesto Pellegrini that he would renew his contract at June 1987. Pellegrini
had assured him that his salary would remain at the same level and would also have
the option to be trained in a future career in management.
However,
Pellegrini went back on his word (many feel at the behest of Trappatoni) to
force Tardelli out. The terms of the new contract were significantly less than
promised. The reason given was that other players in the first team were
earning less.
He
had no choice but to leave and later felt betrayed when Pellegrini criticized
his behavior in a newspaper interview.
In
that offseason of 1987, no other Serie A squad came calling as he was seen as
an ageing player (32 years old) with somewhat of a bad reputation (given the
last episode with Pellegrini and recent past with Trappatoni).
Given
his standing, he could not envision a return to the Serie B. It appeared that
he might retire until Swiss club St. Gallen made an offer.
His
salary would be less than at Inter, but he would have the option to study a
course in Management.
At
the end of that season (1987/88) in Switzerland, he ended his distinguished
playing career.
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 36 Suppplement, November-December 2000
(Marco Tardelli at St Gallen, 1987/88)
|
He
had been ravaged by time and many injuries in his latter years.
At
first he worked in the Media and was a pundit for ’La Domenica Sportiva’ during
the 1988/89 season.
On
September 21st, 1989, he began his coaching career as he was
appointed Italy’s Under-16 National
Team Coach.
Less
than a year later, on August 1st, 1990, he was elevated to be Cesare
Maldini’s Assistant for Italy’s Under-21 squad.
He
remained in his post until the summer of 1993, when he left to become the new
Como Manager in Serie C1 for the (1993/94) season. He gained promotion to the
Serie B and managed Como in the new season (1994/95).
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 36 Suppplement, November-December 2000
(Marco Tardelli celebrating Promotion to Seri
B with Como)
|
Como
was relegated that season and Tardelli took the failure very hard. He declared
“For the first time in my life I have to lower my head.”
He
was appointed as Cesena Manager for the following season (1995/96). He lasted
one full season but was ousted early in the following season (1996/97) after
the fans turned on him.
In
December 1996, he rejoined the National Team program by becoming Cesare
Maldini’s Assistant for the senior squad. He would lead the Under-23’s in the
Mediterranean Games of 1997 and would by the end of the year be appointed as
the Under-21 coach. He would lead the Under-21’s to the European title in
Bratislava (on June 4, 2000, by defeating the Czech Republic (2-1)) with a team
containing the likes of Pirlo, Gattuso and Baronio.
As
the Under-21 boss, he would lament how young Italian players opportunities were
restricted by foreign players of the same age.
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 36 Suppplement, November-December 2000
(Marco Tardelli managing the Under-21 and
Olympics squad)
|
It
seemed that the under-appreciation of Italian talent at the expense of foreign
expensive talent was a running theme from his playing into his Management days.
Following
the 2000 Euro title in Slovakia, he led Italy to the 2000 Olympic Games in
Sydney.
Upon
his return he was ready for club Management at the highest level.
Internazionale Milano President Massimo Moratti had just fired Marcelo Lippi
after the very first League match of the (2000/01) season.
Moratti
appointed Tardelli as the new Inter Manager on October 7th, 2000.
He
was unable to make a positive impression and was dismissed at the end of the
season. His lowest point was the (0-6) drubbing at the hands of AC Milan.
He
later had a stint at Bari (2002/03) before managing the Egyptian National Team
in 2004, and also had a very short time at Arezzo (2005).
He
joined Juventus’ board of Directors in 2006 but left after a year in 2007.
In
2008, Giovanni Trappatoni, newly appointed as the new Manager of Republic of
Ireland called upon his former charge to become his Assistant.
Time
had been a conytributing factor in ending their rift and who better to carry
out his plans with than Tardelli.
He
would remain Trap’s Assistant until September 2013, when Trappatoni resigned.
This
has been his last Management post to date and he can look back upon a
successful career topped off by the greatest prize of all, the World Cup.
His
career in Management has not been as successful as one might have hoped for,
his greatest achievement perhaps has been with the Under-21’s.
As
a player his achievements seem unequalled and he was one of the best Italian
players of his Generation. He was fortunate to have been led with two Managers
at club and International level who exploited his playing ad running abilities
to the maximum.
They
entrusted him with responsibilities and could expect total devotion and
professionalism to the task assigned.
His
era would be synonymous with the successes of these two managers Trappatoni and
Bearzot
 |
Photo
From: Calcio 2000, Issue 40, April 2001
(Enzo
Bearzot)
|
He
is forever linked to the 1982 World Cup and that scream. Another image of him
from that World Cup that remains, is the still photograph of him holding a
water bottle over his head with his arms raised in triumph.
He
was ruthless when needed to be but also useful upfront when the tactical
shackles were removed.
During
the (1992/93) season, Roberto Baggio’s commitment at Juventus and was being
questioned as he appeared to be coasting along and picking his matches. His
Manager at Juventus, Trappatoni put Baggio’s performances in perspective by
comparing him to Tardelli and said: “Tardelli would bite people’s ankles.”
This
was perhaps the greatest compliment given to a player that gave it all for his
Manager(s).
 |
Photo
From: World Soccer, September 2000
(Marco
Tardelli)
|
References:
Il Libro Azzuro, Author Walter Perosino, 1998
Guerin
Sportivo, Issue 521 (Number 1), December 25, 1984-January 8, 1985
Onze-Mondial,
Issue 133, February 2000
Mondial,
new series, issue 31, October 1982
World
Soccer, September 2000
Calcio
2000, Issue 26, January 2000
Calcio
2000, Issue 36 Suppplement, November-December 2000
World
Soccer, January 1988
Onze,
Issue 84, December 1982
