Armando Picchi, the class turns 90

Livorno, 215 June 2025 – The 18th May 1969 is played Fiorentina - Varese, last match of the championship. The Viola celebrate the scudetto mathematically won the previous Sunday, on the Juventus pitch; the Lombards need points to save themselves. Fiorentina wins 3-1, Varese is relegated to Serie B. The fans' invasion of the pitch ends the match early and the Varese managers are thinking of an appeal. The captain-coach of the guests, however, with great sportsmanship, says that the match was regular: it is Armando Picchi, a champion on and off the pitch, an example of loyalty and fairness. 

Peaks, captain of the great Inter of the sixties, it is born on June 20, 1935 exactly 90 years ago in Livorno, city ​​to which he remained very attached throughout his short life after his passing away 27 May 1971, still 36 years old. 

Protagonist in Livorno, where he played from 1954 to 1959 as a full-back, after a year at Spal Picchi he arrived in Milan in the 1960-61 season. Herrera transformed him into a libero and in this role he became the leader and captain of the team. During his stay in Milan (he left in 1967 due to disagreements with Herrera) Inter won three league titles, two Champions Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. With Picchi, the Inter of the Sixties became more than important, it became “Great”. 

After Inter he went to Varese and in 1968 he married the beautiful Frances Fusco, model of “Grazia“. It is an overwhelming and deep love from which Leo and Gianmarco are born. Picchi remains very attached to Livorno where he returns every summer. He returns as a coach (also at the urging of his older brother Leo, with whom he has a very close relationship) saving the Amaranto from relegation to C. Then Juve is betting on him and his technical skills clearly emerge, but the progression of his illness forces him to leave the bench halfway through the season, until the dramatic epilogue.

Great footballer and great man: only after Picchi's disappearance did they come out countless gestures of concrete generosity: donations to an orphanage, support for the families of prisoners, money for expensive operations abroad for needy children, aid to people in economic difficulty.