Simone Inzaghi has cemented his spot in the Inter Milan “Pantheon of Legends.”
This is the contention in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. The newspaper exalt the Nerazzurri coach as he guides the team to the Champions League final for the first time in thirteen years.
Simone Inzaghi will be the fourth ever coach to be in charge of Inter in a European Cup or Champions League final.
The first of the quartet is iconic former coach Helenio Herrera. The Argentine-French coach was at the helm of the “Grande Inter” team who won the European Cup twice in 1964 and 1966.
The second was Giovanni Invernizzi. The Italian took the Nerazzurri to the European Cup final in 1972, although on that occasion they lost out to the iconic Ajax team of Rinus Michels, Johan Cruyff, and Johan Neeskens.
It would be nearly four decades before Inter were in another final, of the now-rebranded Champions League.
Portuguese icon and current Roma coach Jose Mourinho gave Inter one of their most memorable seasons in the club’s history during the 2009-10 campaign.
Having already won Serie A and the Champions League, Mourinho won the Champions League to complete the European Treble.
Simone Inzaghi In Inter Milan Pantheon Along With Herrera, Invernizzi & Mourinho
Now, Simone Inzaghi has Inter in the final. The Nerazzurri will have a chance at European glory facing either Manchester City or Real Madrid.
Even if the Nerazzurri are not able to go all the way, however, the Gazzetta argue that Inzaghi has already done something truly special.
This is unexpected in many ways, considering the criticism that the 47-year-old has faced all season. It is something of an odd coincidence that Inter are on the verge of European triumph after having lost eleven matches in the league.
However, Inzaghi has responded to his critics. In the eyes of the Gazzetta, the former Lazio coach has already cemented a great legacy for himself at the Nerazzurri.
Nerazzurri President Steven Zhang has confirmed that Inzaghi will stay as coach next season despite speculation about a potential sacking.
Moreover, the coach himself has suggested that he wants to stay at Inter for a good long while.
