Tarcisio Burgnich

Burgnich began his career with local side Udinese, making his Serie A debut with the club on 2 June 1959, in a 7–0 away defeat to Milan. After short spells at the Friulian side, and subsequently Juventus (where he won the 1960–61 Serie A title), and Palermo, it was with Internazionale that he found his spiritual home in the 1960s, after being acquired in 1962.{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/burgnich.html|title=Burgnich, Tarcisio: la spada nella roccia|work=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=2 January 2015|archive-date=2 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102235948/http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/burgnich.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Sarti, Burgnich, Facchetti... |url=http://www.pianeta-calcio.it/?page=vedi_incontri_vip&id=110 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313004031/https://www.pianeta-calcio.it/?page=vedi_incontri_vip&id=110 |archive-date=13 March 2013 |access-date=3 December 2014 |website=Pianeta Calcio |language=it}}{{Cite web |title=Burgnich, Tarcisio |url=http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.it/Burgnich.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130819010715/http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.it/Burgnich.html |archive-date=19 August 2013 |access-date=21 December 2016 |website=enciclopediadelcalcio.it |language=it}}{{Cite web |last=Bedeschi |first=Stefano |date=25 April 2013 |title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Tarcisio BURGNICH |url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/juventus/?action=read&idnet=dHV0dG9qdXZlLmNvbS00NzYyMQ |access-date=21 December 2016 |publisher=TUTTOmercatoWEB.com |language=it |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305004754/http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/juventus/?action=read&idnet=dHV0dG9qdXZlLmNvbS00NzYyMQ |url-status=live }}

A strong, quick, energetic and versatile defender, he was effective both offensively and defensively, and formed a formidable full-back partnership with Giacinto Facchetti, both with Inter and with the Italy national side. He played 467 times for the Nerazzurri, scoring 6 goals, where his physical and tenacious playing style was ideally suited to the catenaccio system operated by Helenio Herrera throughout Inter's glory years, which relied on a strong defence and fast counter-attacks.{{Cite web |title=Il Terzino |url=http://talesoffootball.blogspot.ca/2010/09/il-terzino-r-uolo-assai-complesso.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103033130/http://talesoffootball.blogspot.com/2010/09/il-terzino-r-uolo-assai-complesso.html |archive-date=3 January 2015 |access-date=3 December 2014 |website=Tales of Football |language=it}} With Inter, Burgnich enjoyed a highly successful period of domestic, European, and international dominance, winning five Italian championships, two European Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. He was notably part of the legendary Inter lineup of the 1960s still known today as the Grande Inter.

Following his 12 seasons with Inter, he was controversially transferred to Napoli in 1974, as Inter's new president, Fraizzoli, was trying to rejuvenate the squad. Burgnich spent the final three seasons of his career with Napoli, operating as a sweeper in Luís Vinício's side, and finally won the Coppa Italia, as well as the Anglo-Italian League Cup, in 1976, before retiring in 1977. In total, he made 494 appearances in Serie A throughout his career.

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-N0619-0034, Fußball-WM, Argentinien - Italien 1-1 (cropped).jpg]]

Burgnich was also a pillar of the Italy national team for more than a decade. He represented Italy at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome,{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/26012 |title=Tarcisio Burgnich |work=Olympedia |access-date=10 December 2021}} where they finished in fourth place. He made his senior debut on 10 November 1963, in a 1–1 home draw against the Soviet Union, and subsequently became a permanent fixture in the team's line-up, wearing the number 2 shirt, and later helping the national side win their first ever European Football Championship title in 1968, on home soil. He was also on Italy's roster for the 1966 World Cup, as well at the 1970 World Cup, where they reached the final, only to lose 4–1 to Brazil. In the memorable semi-final match against West Germany, often colloquially known as the "Game of the Century", Burgnich even managed to score a goal, helping his team to overcome the Germans 4–3 following extra time.{{Cite web |last=Mariottini |first=Diego |date=17 June 2015 |title=Italia-Germania 4-3: la brutta partita che fece la storia |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/storie-che-emozionano/17-06-2015/italia-germania-4-3-brutta-partita-che-fece-storia-120203571793.shtml |access-date=7 November 2017 |website=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |archive-date=8 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108025659/http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/storie-che-emozionano/17-06-2015/italia-germania-4-3-brutta-partita-che-fece-storia-120203571793.shtml |url-status=live }} He also took part in the 1974 FIFA World Cup with Italy. In total, he represented the Azzurri 66 times between 1963 and 1974, scoring twice.{{Cite web |title=Nazionale in cifre: Burgnich, Tarcisio |url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=229&squadra=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306222203/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=229&squadra=1 |archive-date=6 March 2005 |access-date=20 April 2015 |website=FIGC.it |publisher=FIGC |language=it}}

He may best be remembered for his quote about Brazilian star Pelé's headed goal against him, following Italy's 4–1 defeat to Brazil in the 1970 World Cup Final (Burgnich had been assigned to man-mark the Brazilian during the final, but was beaten by him in the air):{{Cite web |last=Mura |first=Gianni |date=7 April 2014 |title=Tarcisio Burgnich, la Roccia che saltò con Pelé: "Il mio calcio senza creste" |url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/nazionale/2014/04/07/news/tarcisio_burgnich_la_roccia_che_salt_con_pel_il_mio_calcio_senza_creste-82949604/ |access-date=2 January 2015 |website=la Repubblica |language=it |archive-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103015140/http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/nazionale/2014/04/07/news/tarcisio_burgnich_la_roccia_che_salt_con_pel_il_mio_calcio_senza_creste-82949604/ |url-status=live }}

{{blockquote|"I told myself before the game, 'he's made of skin and bones just like everyone else' — but I was wrong."{{cite web

|url = https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/Pele.html

|title = Pelé, King of futbol

|publisher = ESPN

|first = Gentry

|last = Kirby

|access-date = 5 February 2009

|archive-date = 5 June 2016

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160605121930/http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/Pele.html

|url-status = live

}}}}

He later said of the same goal:{{Cite web |date=2022-12-29 |title=Pele was the benchmark against whom all other great players are measured |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/brazil-bra/story/4838375/pele-was-the-benchmark-against-whom-all-other-great-players-are-measured |first=Gabriele |last=Marcotti |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

"The cross came in and we both leapt as high as we could. Then I came down to Earth where I belong. And he stayed up there, where he belongs, and scored."

After his retirement, Burgnich worked as a manager on and off for nearly twenty years, with little success. During this time he managed Catanzaro, Bologna, Como, Livorno, Foggia, Lucchese, Cremonese, Genoa, Ternana and Vicenza.

Burgnich died on 26 May 2021 at the age of 82. He died at the San Camillo hospital in Forte dei Marmi, where he had been taken following a stroke.{{Cite web |title=Tarcisio Burgnich, the defender of Herrera's Grande Inter and the Mexico '70 national team has died |author=Carla |work=Italy24 News English |quote=Tarcisio Burgnich died last night at the San Camillo hospital in Forte di Marmi, after he had been hospitalized for a stroke |date=26 May 2021 |access-date=26 May 2021 |url=https://www.italy24news.com/News/66423.html |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526111540/https://www.italy24news.com/News/66423.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Inter, Italy defender Tarcisio Burgnich dies, aged 82 |author= |work=The Malta Independent |date=26 May 2021 |access-date=26 May 2021 |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2021-05-26/football/Inter-Italy-defender-Tarcisio-Burgnich-dies-aged-82-6736233792 |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526111551/https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2021-05-26/football/Inter-Italy-defender-Tarcisio-Burgnich-dies-aged-82-6736233792 |url-status=live }}

A strong, large, quick, and energetic player, Burgnich is regarded as one of the greatest Italian defenders of all-time; his ability in the air, imposing physique, consistency, and his aggressive yet fair, and efficient playing style earned him the nickname "La Roccia" (The Rock), despite not being particularly tall. A former offensive, central midfielder, he was a tactically versatile, intelligent, and hard-working footballer who was adept at aiding his team both offensively and defensively; he was capable of playing in several defensive positions, and throughout his career, he was deployed as a man-marking centre-back (or "stopper"), as a sweeper (in particular in his later career), and in particular as a right-sided full-back or wing-back, where he particularly excelled in Herrera's catenaccio system, due to his pace, stamina, physicality, and tenacity. He formed an important partnership with the more offensive minded left-back Facchetti during his career, which is regarded as one of the greatest full-back pairings in football history; although he was less adept at starting attacking plays from the back-line than Facchetti, and initially less likely to push forward during his time at Inter, the more defensive minded Burgnich was an "old-fashioned defender", being an excellent man-marker and a hard tackler, who was difficult to beat in one on one situations. He was also known for his anticipation and reactions, as well as his concentration, leadership, and discipline both on and off the pitch, despite his reserved character.{{Cite web |last=Sconcerti |first=Mario |date=23 November 2016 |title=Il volo di Bonucci e la classifica degli 8 migliori difensori italiani di sempre – 2. Primo: Burgnich |url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/2016-2017/cards/volo-bonucci-classifica-8-migliori-difensori-italiani-sempre/primo-burgnich.shtml |access-date=21 December 2016 |website=Il Corriere della Sera |language=it |archive-date=25 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125090908/http://www.corriere.it/sport/calcio/serie-a/2016-2017/cards/volo-bonucci-classifica-8-migliori-difensori-italiani-sempre/primo-burgnich.shtml |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/altre-notizie/claudio-nassi-tarcisio-leader-silenzioso-1541056 |title=Claudio Nassi: "Tarcisio, leader silenzioso" - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com |publisher=www.tuttomercatoweb.com |language=it |date=30 May 2021 |access-date=16 March 2022 }} However, he was also known for his experience and organisational abilities as a defender, as well as his ability to play the offside trap, and even excelled as an offensive sweeper or central defender at Napoli during his later career in manager Luís Vinício's zonal marking system, where he was also tasked with advancing into midfield to start offensive plays, and to push forward and contribute to his team's attacks, in addition to his defensive duties.{{cite news |url=https://www.ilmattino.it/sport/calcio/morto_burgnich_napoli-5984467.html |title=Morto Burgnich, al Mattino disse: "Napoli, la mia seconda vita" |work=www.ilmattino.it |language=it |last1=Taormina |first1=Pino |date=26 May 2021 |access-date=6 November 2021 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.gazzettadinapoli.it/sport-2/lutto-nel-calcio-morto-a-82-anni-tarcisio-burgnich-terzino-destro-della-grande-inter-e-della-nazionale-chiuse-la-carriera-nel-napoli-di-vinicio/ |title=Lutto nel calcio, morto a 82 anni Tarcisio Burgnich, terzino destro della grande Inter e della nazionale, chiuse la carriera nel Napoli di Vinicio. |work=La Gazzetta di Napoli |language=it-IT|date=26 May 2021 |access-date=6 November 2021 }}

{{notelist}}

:Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Burgnich goal.

Inter

• Serie A: 1962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1970–71
• European Cup: 1964, 1965
• Intercontinental Cup: 1964, 1965

Napoli

• Anglo-Italian Cup: 1976
• Coppa Italia: 1975–76

Juventus

• Serie A: 1960–61

Italy

• UEFA European Championship: 1968
• FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1970

Individual

• World Soccer World XI: 1964{{cite web|url=https://beyondthelastman.com/2013/04/29/eric-battys-world-xis-the-sixties/|title=Eric Batty's World XI – The Sixties|publisher=Beyond the Last Man|date=29 April 2013|access-date=26 November 2015}}
• FUWO European Team of the Season: 1970{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201971/FUWO%201971%2002.pdf |website=FCC-Wiki|title=FUWO 1971|access-date=23 April 2024 }}

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