Two significant figures in Azzurri history were born on 1st April.

In 1954, Giancarlo Antognoni was born in Marsciano, in the province of Perugia. He’s a true icon of Florentine football who played for the Viola for 15 seasons setting the appearances record as well as winning the Coppa Italia in 1975. While it could be said that he deserved more at club level, his greatest success was achieved with the National Team. The ex-attacking midfielder, in fact, was one of the key players in the World Cup winning side in Spain ’82, although sadly he missed out on the final in Madrid against Germany due to injury. In his nine years with the Azzurri, he made 73 appearances and scored seven goals. After having also been Head of the Under-21s, he currently holds the position of Club Director at Fiorentina.

Eight years earlier, in 1946, Arrigo Sacchi was born in Fusignano, in the province of Ravenna. He’s considered one of the best coaches in the history of football, and while coaching ‘The Immortals’ AC Milan side he won a Scudetto, an Italian Super Cup, two Champions’ Cups, two European Super Cups and two Intercontinental Cups, which made him one of the most decorated coaches in history as well as being considered the final piece of the jigsaw in evolving football at a tactical level. At an international level, however, the coach from Romagna was just twelve yards from glory when, at the ’94 World Cup in the USA, the lottery that is penalties awarded Brazil the trophy in the final. Sacchi returned to the FIGC from 2010 to 2014 to play the role of technical director of all the youth national teams, and in 2011 he joined the Italian Football Hall of Fame.