Paolo Mazza

Paolo Mazza

Mazza in the 1960s
Personal information
Date of birth	(1901-07-21)21 July 1901
Place of birth	Vigarano Mainarda, Italy
Date of death	31 December 1981(1981-12-31) (aged 80)
Place of death	Ferrara, Italy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
	Portuense
Managerial career
1933–1936	Portuense
1936–1937	SPAL
1937–1938	Molinella
1938–1939	Portuense
1939–1942	Ferrara
1962	Italy
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paolo Mazza (21 July 1901 – 31 December 1981) was an Italian football manager. He was co-manager of the Italy national team at the 1962 FIFA World Cup, together with Giovanni Ferrari.

Mazza career as a footballer was served entirely in the lower divisions, he became first manager and then sporting director of SPAL, the main club in Ferrara.

In 1946, he became President of the club and pioneered the idea of training centres at youth level, opening the Centro Giovanile di Addestramento. Nicknamed Il Rabdomante (the Diviner) by journalist Gianni Brera due to his skill for talent-spotting, he helped SPAL reach Serie A, well above the level expected from such a small club.

In 1962, despite being out of management and coaching for nearly 25 years, the Italian FA asked him to act as Assistant Manager of the 1962 World Cup squad in Chile. Italy was knocked out at the first round stage. However, just a few days after his return, he made one of his most notable signings when picking up Fabio Capello from Pieris for two million Lira (around £500).

External links

• Article on Mazza in La Nuova Ferrara (in Italian)