Il Grande Torino, as they were affectionately known, where undoubtedly the best side in Italy, in Europe and arguably, in the world. Torino were light years ahead of their time, playing with a 4-2-4 formation a decade before Brazil came up with the idea.  In addition, their style partly inspired Holland’s Total Football of the 70’s. They were the defining team of the 1940’s and, essentially, an all-star team. In an average match for the Italian national side at the time, at least 9 players in the starting 11 would be on the books at Torino. In May 1947, 10 Torino players lined up for the Azzurri against Hungary. Manager Vittorio Pozzo rested his usual starting goalkeeper, Valerio Bacigalupo that day. If he had played, it would have been the entire Grande Torino team playing for Italy. In essence, Grande Torino were the Italian national team.

 

Each individual in the side was a star in his right. The aforementioned goalie was one of the first to come of his line and dominate the entire penalty area, Castigliano possessed an exquisite touch, Menti had lighting pace and flair, Grazar was a leader who organised his team mates well, Rigamonti was a wall at the back, Ozzola was a tricky winger who the fans adored, Gabetto was an acrobatic goalscoring supremo and then of course was their inspirational captain and all-time football legend, Valentino Mazzola – his son Sandro also became a football icon. Torino won the last Serie A title before league play was interrupted by World War II. They then proceeded to win four titles in a row, including a league and cup double, when play resumed following the hostilities.

​

But then came May 4th, 1949. This date resonates with followers of Italian football across the globe as the date that the world was robbed of one of the greatest football teams it had ever seen. It was a grey, bleak day in Turin and thunder echoed around the hilltops. Despite the depressing weather, the people of the city were joyous as they anticipated the return of their beloved team after yet another victory in Lisbon. Torino had travelled there for a testimonial match, and were, at the time, on the verge of winning their 5th Scudetto in a row. As the Fiat G-212 aircraft bringing the team home from Portugal approached Turin, the vastly experienced pilot became disoriented in the thick clouds. The plane descended far too rapidly, and then smashed with terrifying ferocity into a wall at the rear of a basilica on the Superga hillside, exploding into flames.

 

Former Italy manager Vittorio Pozzo, who was now a journalist in Turin, was one of the first to arrive at the crash site. Knowing the players well, the grim task of identifying victims lay on his shoulders. Many were so badly burnt, the only way they could be identified was through documents or jewellery on their person. By nightfall, the shattering realisation that all 18 players of the Gran Torino squad, along with their trainers, accompanying staff members and journalists and the planes entire crew were dead, became apparent. Italy went into a state of mourning. This was at a time when the nation was coming to terms with defeat in the war and the evils of its fascist past. As such, Torino were more than just a team to the people of Italy, the young side represented hope for the future. With their deaths, that hope was gone.

 

The catastrophe united the nation, and over half a million people lined Turin’s streets to witness a glimpse of the passing funeral procession. The tragic irony is that the team only agreed to travel to Lisbon if they did not lose their last match against Inter. The sides drew 0-0. If the score went Inters way, Torino would not have travelled and would have lived on. Gran Torino were so special, that it’s conceivable that it would have been them, and not Real Madrid, who would have gone on to dominate European football in the 1950’s and become one of the world’s leading clubs today. But fate can be cruel – the disaster left Italian football in ruins and changed the European footballing landscape forever.

Achievements: Italian Football Championship – Champions x5
                              Coppa Italia – Winners x1

Star player: Valentino Mazzola, DOB 26 January 1919, Cassano D’Adda, Italy, nickname: Tulen

Mazzola was destined to become a legend of Italian football, and achieved this status despite never appearing in the World Cup due to the war. The Grande Torino captain could play brilliantly in any position on the pitch. He had a humble background, working at a bakery from 11 years old, then finding jobs at a factory and the Alfa Romeo plant. He played for a marine commando team during the war, and an officer told him to try out for Venezia. He showed up to the trial with bare feet, leaving his boots at home because he couldn’t afford a new pair if they wore out. He spent 2 years with the Venice club, before Torino paid him 1.25 million Lira, a record fee at the time, to join them. The team ruled supreme throughout the 40’s, and every year Mazzola played even better than the last, finishing 1947 as top scorer. Despite being sick, he insisted on making the trip to Lisbon, that led to the Superga distaster. The people of Turin had some consolation in the belief that he wasn’t on the plane, but later discovered that he was. He perished with the rest of his team on that fateful day.