Gabriele Oriali turns 67 today, a part of Italy’s World Cup success back in 1982 and current Team Manager for the Italian National Team. Born in Como on 25 November 1952, much of his career has been spent in Inter colours, his debut for the Nerazzurri club coming back in the 1970/71 season. He won two league titles and two Coppe Italia across his 13 seasons with Inter, then moving to Fiorentina in 1983. He brought his playing career to a close with the side in purple four years later aged 35. Oriali made his National Team debut in December 1978 against Spain, going on to take part in the Euros in Italy in 1980, and then hitting the peak of his career aged 29 in 1982 as he was part of Italy’s World Cup winning squad in Spain that year.

After a remarkable career on the pitch, Oriali then moved into sporting directorship in the early ‘90s. He started with Solbiatese, an amateur side, before seeing Bologna win back-to-back promotions in his tenure with the Rossoblù. He was also a General Director for Serie A before moving to Parma with whom he reached the very top of European football, finally rounding things off with his return to Inter in 1999 as part of the club’s management team, his time at the Nerazzurri club culminating as they won the famous treble in 2010. He then made his move to Coverciano to become Team Manager for the National Team in 2014, a role that he has held under three coaches: Conte, Ventura and now Mancini.

Happy birthday Gabriele and best wishes from the Azzurri family!