THE LIVE – Piacenza celebrates Simone Inzaghi, the meeting open to the public at Palazzo Gotico – On Tuesday 14 May at 11.30, in the setting of Palazzo Gotico, the mayor Katia Tarasconi presents Inter coach Simone Inzaghi with an award as the first coach from Piacenza to win the men’s football championship on a Serie A bench. Simone has arrived alongside his parents Giancarlo and Marina.
“For me it is a source of great pride to be here – said Simone Inzaghi – it is a heartfelt award, I was born and raised here. I have many memories that come to mind seeing Piacenza, today I saw many childhood friends. My family has a strong bond with the territory, in particular with Ferriere. When we were little we liked to go there on weekends, and even now my father often goes there. But also to us (Filippo and I, ed.) when we come back we like to take walks in the woods and go mushroom picking.” Inzaghi was rewarded by the club Piacenza Football, a club where he took his first steps in professional football. “I hope that Piacenza returns to the professional ranks” – said the Nerazzurri coach.
Photo galleryThe party for Simone Inzaghi
During the meeting, conducted by journalists Paolo Gentilotti and Giorgio Lambri, a photographic overview of Simone’s career was presented. He recalled the period from 1999 to 2001 at Lazio Sven-Göran Eriksson: “Eriksson had an education and technical-tactical preparation like few others. We won a scudetto and an Italian Cup, we probably could have won more.” Inzaghi recalled the role of his coaches, first of all Beppe Materazzi (at Piacenza in the 1998-99 season), who he defined as “the most important coach because, after three years of Serie C, he believed in me for Piacenza in Serie A. We hit it off straight away, and we were also lucky: scoring a goal on our debut was an excellent sign, the coach invested in me all year. I’m still friends with his children.” And then Mister Ferri, who coached him when he took his first steps in the red and white youth sector.
To the question “one thing that you and Pippo have in common”, Simone responded like this: “The work and attention to detail, which is important. He was there as a footballer and he is there as a coach. In a collective you have to respect the rules.” And one thing that makes you different? “I would not know. He has always been a point of reference for me, a great stimulus and help to me. Now, having three sons, I hope that the older ones will be an example to the younger ones as Pippo was for me.” When the photographic overview reached current events, Mister Inzaghi did not hide his satisfaction with the goal achieved with Inter. “The scudetto was a great joy – he said – it was expected by the environment, and then there were several coincidences that led us to win it. A journey like the one we have made this year will be difficult to repeat.”
“An achievement that made the city proud, regardless of one’s footballing faith – underlined the mayor Tarasconi – and that we think it is important to celebrate everyone together as it deserves, to pay homage to a champion of our home”. The meeting, open to the public and hosted by the journalist Giorgio Lambri, was an opportunity to retrace the stages of Simone Inzaghi’s professional career, but also the passion and talent that since he was a child, on the pitches of San Nicolò and Piacenza, they foreshadowed a path full of successes and satisfactions.
