Inter great Facchetti passes away

FC Internazionale Milano president Giacinto Facchetti, one of the Nerazzurri's all-time great players, died today of cancer at the age of 64.

Glory years
Born in Treviglio, near Bergamo in 1942, he played for CS Trevigliese before joining Inter where he revolutionised full-back play in the early 1960s after being converted from a centre-forward by coach Helenio Herrera. Inter's man-to-man marking system allowed Facchetti to attack at will and he scored 60 league goals, a record for a Serie A full-back. A key member of 'la grande Inter' that won the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1964 and 1965 – still their only triumphs – Facchetti also featured in four Serie A-winning sides and lifted the Coppa Italia.

Italy captain
Facchetti made his Italy debut in 1963 and earned a then-record 94 caps, 70 as captain, including the 1968 UEFA European Championship final victory against Yugoslavia and FIFA World Cup final loss to Brazil two years later. His international career ended in disappointment as he was injured shortly before the 1978 World Cup, although his influence was such that he travelled to Argentina as a non-playing squad member.

Zoff honour
Facchetti's former team-mate Dino Zoff, the man who collected the World Cup as Azzurri captain in 1982, said: "I have great memories of Giacinto. We played together for the national team for a long time and he was an extraordinary friend - it was impossible not to love him. Without a shadow of doubt he was a fantastic person both on and off the pitch. Italian football has lost one of the best characters in its history."

President
He had replaced Massimo Moratti as Inter president in January 2004 having previously been vice-president, and also worked on various UEFA committees. He leaves a wife, Giovanna, and four children.