Inter-spective: 20 years of Moratti

Date: 18th February 2015 at 10:00am
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Twenty years ago on this day, Massimo Moratti took over as president of Inter from Ernesto Pellegrini, and led the club on one of their most turbulent, but successful eras in their rich history.

Massimo Moratti Inter

February 18 1995. The day Moratti officially seized the majority stake of the Nerazzurri, and set up about restoring them to the pinnacle of European and Italian football.

A boyhood fan, being the son of former Inter owner Angelo Moratti — who himself had led the club to their own ‘golden age’ from 1955-1968 — Massimo Moratti had a burning desire, or responsibility even, to follow in his father’s footsteps and lead the club back to the top.

It was almost destiny that Moratti would regain control of the Nerazzurri, and spearhead — or bankroll — Inter’s return to the top, despite a few early stutters in his sovereignty.

Massimo Moratti Inter

Moratti’s first few years brought high-profile signings, and thus high expectations. Any coaches that didn’t meet his requirements (winning the Scudetto) were quickly shown the door.

Ottavio Bianchi, Roy Hodgson, Luigi Simoni, Mircea Lucescu, Marcello Lippi and Marco Tardelli were swiftly relieved of their duties after barely a year in the hot-seat, as Moratti was becoming notoriously known as trigger-happy finger.

A solitary UEFA Cup — under the guidance of Simoni — was the only trophy Moratti got to taste in his first nine years in charge.

Extravagant signings such as Ronaldo, Christian Vieri, Paul Ince and Roberto Baggio to name a few were brought in to huge fanfare, but they could not inspire the Nerazzurri to break their trophy drought.

Ronaldo & Vieri Inter

There were a few close-calls and second placed finishes though. Most notably the infamous Vrtatislav Gresko-inspired collapse against Lazio on the final match-day, which surrendered the league title to Juventus in 2002 under Hector Cuper. As such, Moratti’s trophy cabinet remained as empty and dusty as when he had first arrived.

That soon changed however in 2004. Under Roberto Mancini, and then Jose Mourinho, the club achieved great success, winning a total of five consecutive Serie A titles, four Coppa Italia’s and of course, the holy grail of club football: the UEFA Champions League.

Massimo Moratti Inter

It was no surprise that these success-laden years came in the midst of the Calciopoli scandal (that saw Juventus stripped of their titles and relegated), and during the most stable years of the chairman’s tenure; but Moratti had at last achieved what he had set out to do.

To say the reign of Moratti was eventful would be an understatement. There was often this picture of Moratti being depicted as this irritated and impatient oil tycoon. A sugar-daddy who was just bankrolling these lavish signings to appease the club’s fans and give himself something to do with all his wealth.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact is that Moratti loved Inter — perhaps a little too much. This was a man who invested nearly €1.5 billion of his own personal fortune to try and change the fortunes of the club he so dearly treasured. He was not seen as an outspoken, tyrannical monarch around the club, but rather a father figure that players looked up to.

Ronaldo+Moratti

He had held off selling the club for a number of years, insisting that the new owner would not have Inter’s best interests at heart, and would use the club for their own personal interests instead. No moment came closer than when the Calciopoli scandal hit Serie A in 2006.

“I could see a wall in front of me which was impenetrable. I wanted to get rid of the club in 2006, but then I had a sense of responsibility and respect for what I had taken on,” said Moratti.

He eventually found that person in Erick Thohir, and sold his majority stake to the Indonesian businessman in November 2013. Despite holding an ‘honorary chairman’ role for a year, Moratti then stepped down from it in October last year, and is now content just being a passionate fan of the club.

Erick Thohir Massimo Moratti Inter

A man that barely missed a match at the San Siro, and always put the club first before anything else; Moratti had become symbolic with the Nerazzurri.

He left behind a legacy full of wonderful moments that no Nerazzurri fan will ever forget and will always cherish. Moratti’s first purchase, and certainly his most important, was Inter’s legendary captain and now current vice-president Javier Zanetti. The Argentinian put it perfectly when speaking about Moratti’s exit as president of the Nerazzurri.

“Moratti will always remain a very important person for Inter. I admire him so much and he’s like a father to me. He will always be a part of Inter,” said Zanetti.

Zanetti+Moratti Inter

 

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