Goodbye to the wall Mazzarano, the last man to distinguish Van Basten

A guard in the truest sense of the word, one who attached himself to his attackers and never let go. This was Salvatore Mazzarano, who passed away yesterday in Taranto at the age of only 58. A career in the third division of Massafra, where he was born, then wearing the shirts of Fasano and Casarano before the big move to Ancona in the summer of 1991 that sporting director Italo Castellani and coach Vincenzo Guerini wanted.

the beginning

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Ancona was born to win promotion to Serie A for the first time, the team needed a quick and powerful goalscorer, and Mazzarano had those qualities and with the talent of Andrea Brunera, he formed an unassailable pairing at centre-back. Toto (as his teammates called him) was a winger in a team of promising young players such as Lorenzini and Bertarelli, skilled midfielders such as Jada and Ermini and the tenacious striker Sandro Tovaleri. A triumphant season that culminated in promotion, then relegation the following year, and a shock Italian Cup final in 1994.

Historical marker

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With Ancona, Mazzarano made 92 appearances in three seasons (two in Serie B and one in Serie A). It was his turn to notice Van Basten in the last match played by the Dutch champion, on May 9, 1993, at the Stadio del Conero in the match between Ancona and Milan that ended 3-1 for Capello's team, the farewell song of the Milan swan. Utrecht has ankle problems and once the Ancona tournament ended, Mazzarano moved to Taranto and then finished his career with Castrovillari and Fasano, and in recent years he has been a commentator for Antennasud and Bluenote. He left behind his wife Gianna and three children Lucia, Fabiana and Luigi.