Enzo Bearzot

Vincenzo "Enzo" Bearzot (Italian pronunciation: [ˈɛntso bearˈtsɔt]; 26 September 1927 – 21 December 2010) was an Italian professional football manager and former footballer, who played as a defender or midfielder. He led the Italian national team to a triumph in the 1982 FIFA World Cup.

Nicknamed Vecio (vecchio, 'old man'), he holds the record for appearances on the bench of the Italian national team, ahead of another historical Italian coach of the national team, Vittorio Pozzo, stopped at 97 appearances: Bearzot led Italy 104 times from 27 September 1975 to 18 June 1986.

He died on 21 December 2010 in Milan at the age of 83, exactly 42 years after Vittorio Pozzo; he was buried in the family tomb in the cemetery of Paderno d'Adda.

Club career

Born in Aiello del Friuli, in the friulian Province of Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Bearzot had a moderately successful playing career as a centre back. He made his debut in professional football with Pro Gorizia in 1946, a team he left in 1948 to join Internazionale. After three seasons with the Nerazzurri, Bearzot moved to Sicily and joined Catania for three more seasons.