by Fiorenzo Dosso
That ‘flat’ will be forever. Even if Gigi Maggioni was much more. Intelligent and tactical midfielder. Reaching Serie A at 20 years old with Palermo (16 appearances and 1 goal against Milan) is no small feat. He arrived in the red and white in the summer of ’64: he provided a substantial contribution to the cause and in the second cadet championship he was among the last to surrender (5 goals) to the painful relegation of ’66. Radice confirms his full trust in him and Gigi – despite having to deal with some muscular problems – guarantees lifeblood to the nerve center that will indicate the path to promotion.
That ‘flat’ will be forever. Even if Gigi Maggioni was much more. Serious, competent manager and in love with ‘his’ Monza. Valentino Giambelli’s essential right-hand man. Who – like Radice – totally trusts the technical and human judgments of ‘Gigi’. That he was a personal friend of Adriano Galliani. I remember that he confided to me – at his time – that he had provided largely positive reviews to the then AC Milan CEO about Gianluca Gaudenzi.
That ‘flat’ will be forever. Bergamo, 4 June 1967. Monza-Como, play-off for promotion to Serie B. 32nd minute: Vivarelli’s corner, Prato’s shot from the melee, Carmignani’s rebound and – indeed – Maggioni’s ‘flat shot’. In modern football it would be called ‘tap-in’. We who feed on the history of Monza will keep – forever – that ‘big plate’ coined at the time by Giancarlo Besana.
We who honor the great protagonists of Monza’s history today remember Gigi Maggioni with tears in our eyes. The large red and white family joins in the pain of his family.
