The last of Italy's "Bandiere"

Giuseppe "Beppe" Bergomi looks back on his long career with Milan's Internazionale

The new Italian soccer season got underway last weekend with far less fanfare than the previous ones. After a summer of discontent, fans are left wondering whether they should be relieved to see Serie A clubs launching their battle for another Scudetto.
The grief caused by the elimination of Italy from the 2002 World Cup quarter finals paled in comparison to what has gone on in the three months since. Financial woes of the majority of professional clubs, a never-ending bickering over TV contracts along with the baffling saga of Ronaldo and his departure from Internazionale kept the beleaguered fans frustrated throughout the summer.
The game has changed drastically over the last decade. Fans are disillusioned and they can no longer identify with their clubs they so dearly love. It is not just superstars like Ronaldo who change colours at will. Not long ago, club loyalty was a virtue not scarce. But, like everything else this aspect of the game has gone.
One of the last players in Italian soccer that remained loyal to a single club over two decades was Internazionale's Giuseppe Bergomi. As a rugged, no-nonsense defender with both Internazionale and the Italian national team, looking good for the cameras was the last thing on Giuseppe his mind.
But since hanging up his boots in 1999, Bergomi has become a respected soccer analyst co-commentator for Italian television channel, Telepiu.
"I could have continued playing for a few more years because I was still in good shape. But I wasn't given the chance to stay at Inter and I didn't want to play for anybody else. I preferred to finish my career at a great club and not go anywhere else," said Giuseppe Bergomi of his rational behind his retirement three years ago.
Inter and their city rivals Milan share a museum at the San Siro. It displays no end of memorabilia belonging to some of the great names to have represented the clubs down the years. But only one player has a whole section to himself - and that's "Beppe" Bergomi.
There is an award from the president of the republic, and his shirt that he wore in the 1982 World Cup final. There's also a signed shirt from Bergomi's testimonial match in which many great players, past and present, from Inter and the Italian national team, played.
Bergomi is the proud holder of the appearance record for Inter. A product of their youth system, he went on to play more than 700 first-team games over 20 seasons.
Such loyalty earns respect, a fact underlined by the prestigious line-up for his testimonial back in October '99.
Bergomi feels he was lucky to make his first team debut aged just 17, and he never looked back. There were offers from other clubs for him, but leaving Inter was to be very difficult. "I'm very proud of having spent my entire career at this great club and I'm very happy," added Bergomi.
"I think 'Beppe' Bergomi is a fantastic guy, a very serious professional. He played so many games for the national team and Inter, although he didn't win as many trophies as a man of his talents deserved. We really enjoyed our time together at the world cup in Italy in 1990," said Franco Baresi.
"He was a magnificent defender. In his first few years especially, he played as a right back. As he became more experienced, he was able to play as a centre-half as well. It was always difficult facing him because he was quick, good in the air and technically sound. So he made it very, very difficult for you," added another former Italian international Roberto Mancini.
Bergomi played 81 times for Italy, including World Cups in '82, '86 and '90. He wasn't picked for USA '94, a fact that would prevent him joining a select band of players who've been to five Finals.
Still, the veteran did return to the fold at France '98 for his fourth Finals. Even for a man of such vast experience, it was just like starting over.
"I'd compare that World Cup with the one in '82. I was never expecting to play again for the national team, but I was lucky enough to be chosen. The World Cup in '98 will always bring back special memories for me, because it was the conclusion of my career. To be there at the age of 35 was fantastic," said Bergomi.
The highlight of Bergomi's outstanding career came as a moustachioed 18 year-old at the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
He played in the final - Italy's memorable 3-1 victory over Germany - as well as the semi-final against Poland. And that after making his World Cup debut as a substitute in their second-round thriller with Brazil. Not bad for someone who was only in the squad to gain experience.
"At that time I wasn't thinking about anything - you're just so happy you can't focus on anything specific. At the back of my mind I was probably thinking about my late father, who had given me the strength to play, my family, my friends. In fact, everyone who had always been close to me and to whom I owed this achievement. Of course, I was ecstatic about winning the World Cup," added Bergomi.
The youngster's displays earned him rave reviews. As for the moustache? It was rumoured that coach Enzo Bearzot told him to grow it so their opponents would forget he was so young.
"A month after the World Cup, I suddenly decided to shave it off. It wasn't to show I was older. It grew, I let it grow, and that's all there was to it," explained Bergomi.
He graced the San Siro as a player, and his talents are still on show there today, albeit in the commentary box.
He co-commentates on both Inter and Milan games, providing expert analysis and opinion.
And he should know what he's talking about. After all, he was part of the last Inter team to win the Scudetto, back in 1989. He also lifted the UEFA Cup three times in the 90s.
"I like working as a commentator. I'm enthusiastic about it. I work hard at it. The feedback I receive is positive and I'm doing well at it. Let's see what happens in the future. I'm taking a coaching course and we'll see what I do in the near future," Bergomi said of his future plans.
Italian soccer is very strict when it comes to coaching qualifications, and if Bergomi is successful, one suspects there'd be no shortage of offers for a man with such an impressive resume. But after three years out of the game, and seemingly settled in his position in the commentary box, would he swap it all for one last outing as a player?
"Enough is enough. I've retired. I don't regret finishing my playing career when I was 36. I've played so many games I don't have any desire to put my boots back on. I'm happy commentating because now it's me casting a critical eye over my ex-colleagues," concluded Bergomi.
Giuseppe Bergomi is known as a "Bandiera" in Italy - that's a one-club man to you and me - very much a soccer rarity nowadays.

Publication Date: 2002-09-22
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1780