Thread by @FootballChat555, Here is my thread where I will be covering footballers active before [...]

Here is my thread where I will be covering footballers active before the Second World War!

This is all based off my own knowledge and research, and I want to give these players the credit they deserve as they’re so underappreciated today.

#Football #Threads #PreWarPlayers

1. Giuseppe #Meazza

I’m sure many of you know Milan’s cathedral of football as the San Siro. But it also goes by another name - Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. In my opinion, Meazza is the greatest footballer in the history of Serie A, because his legacy and talent are unrivalled.

AC Milan originally turned Meazza down as he was considered too thin - a grave mistake that benefitted their greatest rivals greatly. Meazza signed for Inter in 1927 and scored his first professional goals in September of that year, just after his 17th birthday

#Meazza #Football

He dealt with hardship early on in his life, losing his father in the First World War, and grew up with his mother whom he helped to sell fruit at the market. He played football barefoot from age six and played for a team called Gloria FC from age twelve.

#Meazza #Football

After Gloria FC came his trial with AC Milan at fourteen, but as mentioned he was rejected due to his small physique - overshadowing the technical ability that became synonymous with his game. It would eventually go on to become AC Milan’s biggest mistake.

#Meazza #Football

In 1929, Serie A became what it is today as it adopted a round-robin format, and Meazza exploded into life. He scored 31 goals that season - a record that stands to this day as the highest ever goal tally for a player in their debut Serie A season.

#Meazza #Football

But this was just the tip of the iceberg for Meazza. Inter’s first ever meeting with AS Roma in Milan occurred in April 1930 - Meazza scored a hattrick in the opening three minutes of the game before later adding a fourth. Inter went on to win 6-0.

#Meazza #Football #Inter

And in terms of international success, Meazza spearheaded arguably the best period in the history of the Italian national team. He starred as they won the 1934 and 1938 World Cups, and was the undisputed poster boy of Italian football.

#Meazza #Football #Inter

Such was Meazza’s impact that his success was exploited by the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. He was everywhere, used as a propaganda tool for the fascist regime as he featured on advertisements and newspapers across the country.

#Inter #Meazza #Football

In 1933, he became the youngest player ever to score 100 goals in Serie A, which he managed just after his 23rd birthday - another record that still stands to this day. Remarkably though he only won Serie A top scorer three times while at the Nerazzurri.

#Inter #Meazza #Football

He won three Scudetti and one Coppa Italia by the time he left Inter, with three of those trophies coming between 1938 and 1940. He struggled with injuries during that period though, and left Inter in 1940 having spent thirteen years with them.

#Inter #Meazza #Football

During wartime, he played for AC Milan (the only blight on his record in the eyes of Inter fans), Juventus, Varese Calcio and Atalanta, before returning briefly to Inter in the role of player-coach. He retired from football in 1947.

#Meazza #Inter #Football

He is the joint fourth-highest goalscorer in the history of Serie A - level with José Altafini and only behind Gunnar Nordahl, Francesco Totti and Silvio Piola. He is the second highest goalscorer for the Italian National Team behind only Gigi Riva.

#Meazza #Football

He had a coaching career, managing both at home and abroad with Beşiktaş. He had a spell in charge of the Italian National Team in 1952 but only lasted a year in the role. He also had a huge influence over fellow Inter icon Sandro Mazzola while a coach at Inter

#Meazza #Football

Meazza is most remembered as a player though. His excellent technical ability was unheard of at the time, and he combined that with a fantastic goal record, tactical versatility and two World Cups too. He is, in my view, the greatest Italian footballer ever.

#Meazza #Football

It is clear in the aftermath of his death in 1979 why they named the San Siro after him. He is not only a great of the game - he’s arguably the most important player in the history of Italian football too. His legacy is clear, he’s an undisputed icon.

#Meazza #Inter #Football

So that therefore concludes part one of this series - stay tuned tomorrow for coverage of another pre-war icon, and let me know your thoughts and opinions below! All likes and RT’s appreciated!

#Meazza #Football #FootballChatters #Threads

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