The
1988/89 season started with Red and Black and especially Orange being the
colors of choice. AC Milan President’s gamble on visionary Manager Arrigo
Sacchi seemed to have been vindicated. Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten had
just capped off a dream season by helping their Nation triumph in the UEFA
European Championship.
This
was the first season that Three Foreign Imports were authorized and AC Milan,
already more than satisfied with two Dutchmen, added a third.
The
excellent Franck Rijkaard arrived due to insistence of Arrigo Sacchi.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 103, October 1988
(AC
Milan’s Dutch trio: Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Franck Rijkaard)
|
It
must be remembered that Argentinean Claudio Borghi had been waiting in the
wings for two years now to join Milan and Silvio Berlusconi himself was very
eager for Borghi’s presence. Sacchi was less convinced, as Borghi’s stock had
considerably dropped in these two years and his previous season on loan at Como
had been disastrous.
A
fully fit van Basten may as well have been a new recruit; therefore Daniele
Massaro was loaned for one season at AS Roma.
This
was also the first season in over two decades that the Serie A represented
Eighteen Teams (Two extra teams were added).
This
was also the first full season that the serious preparation for the 1990 World
Cup started (with respect to the national Team), due to take place in Italy.
Due
to the 1988 Seoul Olympics that were to take place in September, the Serie A
season was actually postponed until October, but there were many talking points
until then.
Naturally
Diego Maradona was at the center of every controversy. Napoli had self
destructed on their way to a seemingly won Scudetto with a number of senior
players leading a mutiny against Manager Ottavio Bianchi.
Those
players involved such as Salvatore Bagni, Bruno Giordano, Moreno Ferrario and
Claudio Garella were all cleared out.
They were replaced with goalkeeper Giuallino
Giulliani (Verona), International midfielder Luca Fusi (Sampdoria) and the
Torino pair of defender Giancarlo Corradini and near future International
midfielder Massimo Crippa.
As
their third foreigner, Napoli also acquired Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Alemao
from Atletico Madrid.
As
early as July Maradona publicly criticized the team’s transfer policy and the
Manager.
He
stated that instead of Alemao he would have liked his Argentina teammate Sergio
Batista. He also would have liked to retain Bagni, with whom he was very close.
The
following day, Ottavio Bianchi replied that if Maradona thought he was the Club
President, he should just come down and give him his dismissal papers and
furthermore when speaking about him should refer to him as ‘Signor.’
The
next day Maradona said that he believed Bianchi would have been dismissed given
the events of the end of the previous season, but Club President Corrado
Ferlaino must have his reasons for retaining him.
At
this point President Ferlaino must have intervened behind the scenes, as the
following day (still in July), Maradona publicly apologized to Bianchi and
welcomed at the chance for his new partnership with Alemao.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 103, October 1988
(Napoli’s
foreign trio: Antonio Careca , Diego Maradona and Ricardo Alemao)
|
Juventus,
still struggling from Michel Platini’s retirement and the Ian Rush fiasco were
busy on their quest to get back to the glory days.
Former
Star goalkeeper Dino Zoff was appointed as Manager with the task of rebuilding.
Initially, Bologna’s Luigi Maifredi had been approached. He was looked upon as
a ‘new Arrigo Sacchi’. Maifredi declined
since he did not feel yet ready for a team of Juventus’ level.
The
Soviet Union was in the middle of the Perestroika movement. This led to the
authorization to transfer players abroad. Juventus were one of the first to
exploit this avenue. They were able to obtain Alexander Zavarov from Dinamo
Kiev. They were also linked with his Kiev and USSR teammate Oleg Protassov, but
that deal did not materialize.
Since
Dutch players were in fashion, Juventus were also linked with PSV Eindhoven
pair of Ronald Koeman and Gerald Vanenburg, but PSV would not release either.
Juventus
instead signed Porto’s star on the rise, midfielder Rui Barros.
With
four foreigners on board, Juventus initially released Danish Michael Laudrup to
make way. However, they recalled him within a week after Ian Rush jumped at the
chance to rejoin Liverpool and salvage his career.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 103, October 1988
(Juventus’ new foreign trio: Alexander Zavarov,
Rui barros and Michael Laudrup) |
Other
new recruits included soon to be International midfielder Giancarlo Marocchi
from Bologna, Roberto Galia (Verona) and Inter’s discarded veteran, former
Italian International striker Alessandro Altobelli.
For
his third season in charge of Inter, it was make or break time for Giovanni
Trapattoni. They were busy in the transfer market that off-season.
Aging
veterans such as Altobelli and Argentinean Daniel Passarella had been
offloaded. Belgian star Enzo Scifo was loaned to France’s Bordeaux after a
difficult first season.
Young
Italian midfielders Alessandro Bianchi (Cesena) and soon-to-be International
Nicola Berti (Fiorentina) came on board, along with West German stars and
Bayern Munich teammates Lothar Matthaus and Andreas Brehme.
For
a while it seemed like Algeria’s Rabah Madjer would be their third foreigner.
However, medical exams showed him to be injury prone and most likely in need of
surgery. Inter did not sign him and for some time were eyeing Benfica and
Portuguese striker Rui Aguas as a potential replacement. In the end Aguas
joined Porto and instead Inter signed Argentinean striker Ramon Diaz from
Fiorentina (In Italy since 1982, which included spells with Napoli and Avellino
as well).
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 103, October 1988
(Inter
Milan’s Andreas Brehme, Lothar Matthaus and Walter Zenga)
|
Some
of the other new arrivals included Belgian defender Stephane Demol at Bologna,
Brazil’s Carlos Dunga at Fiorentina (after a one year loan at Pisa), Uruguay’s
Ruben Sosa at Lazio along with compatriot Nelson Guttierez and Argentinean
striker Gustavo Dezotti, Dutchman Mario Been (from Feyenoord) and Belgian
striker Francis Severyns (from Antwerp) at Pisa, Swedish midfielder Robert
Prytz at Atalanta (joining his compatriot Glenn Stromberg) young Argentinean
duo of Claudio Caniggia and Pedro Troglio at Verona, Brazilians Luis Muller and
Edu at Torino, along with Yugoslavia’s Haris Skoro, rising young Italian
striker Ruggiero Rizzitelli (from Cesena) and Brazilian duo of Renato and
Andrade at AS Roma.
Photo
From: Mondial, new series, issue 104, October-November 1988
(Torino’s
Luis Muller)
|
Sampdoria
registered the arrival of Italian veteran Giuseppe Dossena and Barcelona’s
Spanish veteran Victor.
USSR
star and former European Player of the Year Igor Belanov was also pursued for
some time by newly promoted Atalanta, but when that did not materialize they
signed Brazilian striker Evair from Guarani.
With
all the transfers out of the way (as well as the Olympics), the Serie A got
underway in October.
As
for myself, my print press information was restricted to ‘Soccer America’
magazine. The previous year I had stumbled upon the RAI America broadcast of
lives matches , as well as the superb highlight program ‘Novantesimo Minuto’.
This routine would stay with for at least the following seven years or so.
In
the first few weeks on all the big guns seemed in form. But as early as the
Fifth Matchday (November 6th), Inter gained sole command by
defeating Sampdoria (1-0) from a goal by Berti. From the beginning Inter seemed
formidable with all the new arrivals fully integrated including the foreigners.
The
following Matchday (November 20th) was significant as it set the
pace for the rest of the season. Inter naturally defeated Como away (2-1) to
maintain its lead, but two other results spoke volumes. Juventus, at home, were
heavily defeated (3-5) by Napoli. Clearly, Juventus were not Scudetto ready and
their results in the following weeks confirmed that. Zavarov would turn out to
be just as disappointing as Rush and a pale shadow of his Kiev self. This
Napoli was scoring at will and just a
few weeks before that they had defeated Pescara (8-2). With Giordano out,
Andrea Carnevalle was back in as a starter and he would go on to score many
goals with Careca and Maradona that season.
AC
Milan also showed signs of stuttering and were defeated at home by Atalanta.
Their
problems were further compounded the following week (November 27th),
when Napoli heavily defeated them (4-1). Their title defense already looked in
tatters. By now Napoli were the closest challengers to a seemingly unbeatable
Inter.
By
Matchday 9 (December 11), AC Milan’s title hopes were over after losing the
Milan derby to League leaders Inter from an Aldo Serena goal.
Serena
seemed to be having his best season ever and his goalscoring exploits earned
him a way back to the National team.
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 157, January 1989
(Inter’s
Alessandro Bianchi between AC Milan’s Alberigo Evani, Carlo Ancelotti, Franco
Baresi and Franck Rijkaard, December
11, 1989, Inter 1-AC Milan 0)
|
Photo
From: Onze, Issue 157, January 1989
(Inter’s
Giuseppe Bergomi and AC Milan’s Paolo
Virdis, December 11, 1989, Inter 1-AC
Milan 0)
|
By
now Arrigo Sacchi’s job seemed in jeopardy. Ruud Gullit’s early season injury
had disrupted the team’s play. In addition Sacchi could not decide on
Rijkaard’s true position and he was shuffled between defense and midfield.
He
finally decided to use his talents in midfield (too late to salvage the current
League season) but as the season wore on , Milan’s play improved.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 4, May 1989
(Arrigo Sacchi) |
The
only result that saved Sacchi from the sack was Milan’s qualification to the
quarterfinals of the Champions Cup. This was achieved after two difficult
matches vs. Red Star Belgrade. In fact AC Milan seemed to be headed for a
defeat in the return leg, when heavy fog stopped the play and the match was
replayed the following day. A much more determined Milan held off Red Star in
Belgrade and narrowly won a penalty kick shoot-out. In fact just about
all-Italian squads advanced to the quarterfinals of European Cups, except
surprisingly Inter who were eliminated in the UEFA Cup by Bayern Munich at
home.
As
far as Sacchi, the fog seemed to have saved his job. It was even reported that
Berlusconi had contacted Johann Cruyff on more than one occasion to manage the
team. It was not just the bad results, some believed Cruyff’s arrival would
make it easier to keep van Basten at Milan.
Sacchi
and Milan would concentrate on the Champions Cup with the Scudetto looking week
after week Inter’s to take.
By
Matchday 11 (December 31), AS Roma with a goal from the much-improved West
German striker Rudi Voeller defeated Napoli and Inter’s away win at Lecce (3-0)
gave them a three-point lead.
The
top two teams played one another on Matchday 13 (January 15) at Naples. Inter,
under true Trapattoni fashion, did what it was required to hold on for a
scoreless tie against Maradona’s rampant Napoli and maintain its lead.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 4, May 1989
(Diego Maradona and Giuseppe Baresi, January 15,
1989, Napoli 0-Inter 0) |
Inter
held onto to its lead until the last day of the first round of matches
(Matchday 17, February 12) when they visited Fiorentina. Fiorentina was having
a strong season, with Roberto Baggio having come of age and scoring a glut of
goals with his striking partner Stefano Borgonovo (who was actually on loan
from AC Milan). They both gained International recognition that season, with
Baggio headed for superstardom. Fiorentina defeated Inter (4-3) and Napoli’s
win vs. Como (3-2) cut Inter’s lead to a solitary point.
However,
this was a minor hiccup in Inter’s quest for the Scudetto and they would
continue the second half of the season in record-breaking fashion when most
rivals were concentrating on European glory.
Photo
From: Guerin Sportivo, April 26-May 2,
1989
(Fiorentina’s
Roberto Baggio)
|
While
Napoli were doing good on the field, matters off the field were as poor as last
season. On February 15th, Napoli President Corrado Ferlaino deemed
it necessary to impose fines on both Maradona and Manager Ottavio Bianchi,
after both had been critical of one another in the newspapers.
With
Napoli also concentrating in the UEFA Cup (defeating Juventus in the
quarterfinals, after overtime), they also seemed to give up on the Scudetto by
Matchday 23 (April 2) after losing vs. Juventus at home (2-4), with Inter
winning as usual vs. Como (4-0). Their lead was now a seemingly unassailable
six points.
In
the following month, AC Milan’s European dynasty in Europe was being born by
defeating Real Madrid (5-0) (in the semifinals) and ultimate triumph vs. Steaua
Bucharest (4-0) in the Final.
Similarly,
Maradona finally triumphed in Europe by helping Napoli triumph in the UEFA Cup
by defeating Bayern Munich in the semifinals and Jurgen Klinnsman’s Stuttgart
in the Final.
Only
Sampdoria failed to make it a clean sweep for Italy, after losing the Cup
Winners Cup vs. Barcelona.
Inter
just kept on winning in the League and racked up points and goals.
On
Matchday 30 (May 28), Inter were to host the new UEFA Cup winners Napoli and a
win would ensure them the title with four matches to go.
Napoli
scored first through Careca, but an own goal by Luca Fusi, early in the second
half evened the score. With seven minutes remaining, Lothar Matthaus scored
from a powerful free kick to give Inter the win and the Scudetto with a
nine-point lead. This was their 13th Scudetto and their first since
1980.
By
Matchday 32 (June 11), Inter’s win over Atalanta (4-2) coupled with Napoli’s
loss at Ascoli (0-2) gave Inter an unbelievable 12-point lead.
A
bizarre incident at Napoli’s loss vs. Ascoli somewhat undermined their positive
campaign. When Careca was injured, reserve goalkeeper Raffaele Di Fusco
replaced him. Bianchi blamed the fact that he had no choice since as much as
six first teamers were missing. The Federation even reported Napoli to the
disciplinary commission for not fielding a strong enough team
An
angry Careca declared that besides the UEFA Cup, the entire Napoli season had
been a disappointment (off the field that is).
A
disinterested Napoli also lost the final of Coppa Italia to Sampdoria, who
retained the title.
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 5, June 1989
(Careca
scoring vs. Stuttgart, May 17, 1989, UEFA Cup, Stuttgart 3-Napoli 3)
|
Inter
suffered their second defeat of the season on Matchday 33 (June 19) vs. Torino
(0-2). The once powerful Torino would suffer relegation, along with Pescara,
Pisa and Como.
On
the last day of matches (Matchday 34, June 25), Inter defeated Fiorentina (2-0)
to win with a record breaking 58 points (beating Juventus’ record dating back
to 1960). They had only dropped 10 points all season and won 26 of their 34
matches. They won with an 11-point lead over Napoli, who just edged out a
resurgent AC Milan by one point. Juventus finished three points behind Milan.
They were an improvement on the previous season but clearly did not have the
potential to win a League title.
Aldo
Serena was Capocannoniere with 22 goals, ahead of Careca and van Basten.
Giovanni Trapattoni won the Scudetto with a second team, after having won the
previous six (1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1984 and 1986) with Juventus. This would
be his last Scudetto win. Inter’s departing veteran Pietro Fanna (due to rejoin
former club Verona) became only the fourth player in Serie A history to win the
Scudetto with three different teams (Juventus (1978, 1981, 1982) and Verona
(1985)).
Aldo
Serena would become the fifth in 1992 after winning the title with AC Milan.
All
that remained was a final playoff between AS Roma and Fiorentina for the final
UEFA Cup qualifying place. Fiorentina’s Veteran striker Roberto Pruzzo ended
his Serie A career by scoring the winner vs. the club with which he had spent
his best years.
In
addition to Pruzzo many others bid farewell as well. While Antonio Cabrini
still remained in the Serie A (joining Bologna), he waved goodbye to his
beloved Juventus after over a decade.
Fiorentina
Manager, the Swedish Sven-Goran Eriksson left Italy after five years and
rejoined one of his former clubs, Portugal’s Benfica.
Roma’s
Brazilian pair of Andrade and Renato left after a disappointing season.
Brazilian
Junior left Italian Football and returned to Flamengo after five years and one
final season with Pescara.
Ramon
Diaz signed off his Italian career after his most successful season (12 goals)
and signed for AS Monaco. He was to be replaced by the much younger and West
German striker Jurgen Klinnsman.
Alessandro
Altobelli left Juventus and the Serie A, to play one final season as a
professional with Brescia in the Serie B.
Ottavio
Bianchi finally left Napoli after years of disputes and tension.
Paolo
Virdis left AC Milan to play out his final few seasons at Lecce.
Michael
Laudrup left the Serie A and joined Barcelona.
Inter’s
breathtaking title win seemed unbelievable in a League used to close and tight
races. The addition of Klinnsman appeared to make them even stronger. No one
would have believed at this point that Inter would not win another title for
the next 17 years. Until the Calciopoli Scandal of 2006 awarded them the title
and they would go on to win another four in a row.
But as always while Maradona was around,
controversy was around the corner and similarly the off-season of 1989 would be
dominated with his off the field antics (1989/90 season, to be continued…..)
Photo
From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 6, July 1989
(Internazionale
Milano Manager Giovanni Trapattoni)
|
I saw the last twenty minutes of bologna-inter 0-6 that year (italian stadiums used to open the gates at the end of the game). boy, that team was relentless - perfect chemistry. in '89 they surely were helped by that early european loss to Bayer, and they focused on the league with a great intensity. 2nd in '91 and UEFA cup - a great achievement overall.
ReplyDeleteEverything jut clicked in that team and they would just win no matter what
Deletegood good blogger
ReplyDelete====================
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