In the return match against Widzew Łódź in the 1982-83 European Cup, where he filled in for Bettega, Domenico Marocchino was met at the Warsaw airport by a throng of enthusiastic Polish girls holding a remarkable banner in Italian that read “Marocchino, come dance with us at the disco.” This anecdote often serves to illustrate that Domenico frequently, perhaps unconsciously, perceived football more as a pastime than a serious profession.
He shared his early steps in football: “I started just a short distance from Turin, with the local team in Tronzano. Then came a fortunate trial at Juventus, which led to progressing through all the youth levels up to the first team. I won the Italian Under-17 Championship, was a runner-up in the Primavera (youth team), and played alongside players like Rossi, Marangon, and Zanoni. Following that, I played thirty-five games in Serie C and just as many in Serie B with Cremonese, plus one in Serie A at Bergamo. Finally, in the summer of 1979, I joined Juventus. I believe that for any player, Juventus represents the ultimate ambition. Playing for Inter, Milan, or Torino is great, but Juventus possesses an intangible `something extra,` a certain mystique that comes from being the team all of Italy watches. So, it was a tremendous source of satisfaction, but simultaneously a significant burden because you carry a weight that not everyone is equipped to handle.”
Domenico Marocchino had the potential to become a Juventus legend. He had the desire, the capability, and the talent. Yet, for numerous reasons, he remained largely a promising player, one in whom many, especially Boniperti and Trapattoni, placed great faith, but who ultimately didn`t reach those heights. He is often seen as the figure of missed opportunities and dashed hopes. It`s regrettable because `Meco` possessed the natural ability to truly excel. However, he couldn`t consistently deliver on the expectations placed upon him. The reasons for this are complex, and it would be unfair to offer only negative judgments today.
My respect and fondness for Marocchino lead me to state confidently that this strong young man from Tronzano could have been a constant starter if he had tempered his character slightly and if general circumstances had been more favorable. But we are not given the chance to redo the crucial moments of our lives, whether in personal relationships, work, or sport. And so it is. We must move forward, learning from past experiences.
So, who was Marocchino? Was he the inconsistent, sometimes lackluster player who often frustrated Boniperti, Trapattoni, and the fans? Or was he an excellent footballer who simply had the misfortune of not grasping that Juve offers few second chances and cannot afford to indefinitely wait for a young player`s full potential to emerge?
“For the young players,” Trapattoni once explained to me after training, away from prying ears, “Juve requires gradual and steady growth. It doesn`t demand overnight sensations or shooting stars. It`s enough to mature day by day.”
For Marocchino, it didn`t unfold that way, and I reiterate my regret, shared at the time by those in football who look beyond the immediate result. This isn`t to say that Marocchino lacked intelligence, either on or off the field. On the contrary. My intention is to recount the story of a player whom fate granted less than he deserved. And anyone familiar with Marocchino knows the man is admirable, the footballer was of good quality, and the outward appearance certainly differed from the inner substance.
One thing is beyond doubt: Beppe Furino was a keen judge of footballing talent. `Il Capataz` (The Boss) had complete confidence in `Meco`s` abilities and would have bet fearlessly on his career. Even today, he recalls the promising glimpses shown by his former young teammate.
Born in Tronzano (Vercelli) on May 5, 1957, Marocchino came up through the Juventus youth system. He then gained experience in provincial clubs, ascending through the leagues: Casale in Serie C, Cremonese in Serie B, and Atalanta in Serie A. He earned praise and public approval everywhere he played. In 1979, he was brought back to Juventus. The club`s intention was for him to eventually become Causio`s successor. Fanna was also brought in as another potential alternative. The plan partially succeeded for both players, although neither Fanna nor Marocchino managed to permanently establish themselves as the new Causio.
Nevertheless, Marocchino added the 1981 and 1982 Scudetti and the 1983 Coppa Italia to his trophy cabinet. A respectable haul achieved over four years, marked by 137 total appearances (ninety-nine in the league, twenty-two in the Coppa Italia, and sixteen in European competitions) and twelve goals (nine, two, and one respectively). Possessing good physical attributes, decent dribbling skill, and sharp footballing intelligence, Marocchino`s game always lacked explosive acceleration and shooting power – a valuable tool he inexplicably used sparingly. Among his achievements was a single appearance for the Italian national team against Luxembourg in Naples – a contribution considered far too brief.
A friendly and amusing character, known as a ladies` man, fond of stylish clothes and cars, Marocchino seemed like the right person in the wrong era, including his time at Sampdoria in 1983 and later at Bologna. A significant resurgence was expected at Bologna, but instead, he found himself without a contract. The harsh reality of being released and specific tactical decisions by Bologna meant it was a difficult summer for the player from Vercelli. The hope was that he would find a new team; he certainly had the capability and deserved the chance. Even if not, Marocchino would always have opportunities outside of football and a treasury of memories and Juventus victories that could never be erased.
Reflecting on his time at Juve, Domenico Marocchino is a character you can`t help but be fond of. He`s funny, outgoing, and sharp. A natural source of brilliance, with a childlike spirit – though he`s far from having any Peter Pan-like syndromes. `Marocco` is a genuinely healthy person, a successful entrepreneur, a keen commentator, and a family man. He doesn`t use computers, but only out of laziness. He`s an intelligent person who has maintained a cheerful outlook on life – a disposition he`s cherished since he first entered the incredible world of Juventus at fourteen. He remembers everything, particularly his first black and white jersey: “Woolen, with short sleeves and the number eight: beautiful.”
His successful trial led Italo Allodi, then Juventus`s General Manager, to summon him to the headquarters to sign his registration. It marked the beginning of a fairy tale featuring a genuine player, a talented dribbler, and a kind of `bourgeois anarchist` on the field. With a big heart and infectious charm, he reached the peak in the early eighties, winning two Scudetti with Juventus.
How was that possible? “You`re surprised, right?” he laughs. “I really did win them. Twenty-four appearances and five goals in 1980-81. Twenty-nine games and one goal the following year. I scored less, but I played with more consistency. That was my perfect season. I had never felt so confident in my abilities or had such complete trust from the club environment.”
Which of the two Scudetti means more to you?
“There`s no difference. When you win, especially with the team you love, all successes feel wonderful. Your heart races, you`re incredibly happy. There are just slight differences in the details between them.”
For example?
“We won the first Scudetto at the Comunale on the final day against Fiorentina. Cabrini scored with a flying left-foot shot, but I deserve credit because I provided him with a perfect assist. It was a determined play; the ball seemed lost. I recovered it, protected it, and then crossed it into the box. But the best moment was after the game.”
And that was?
“After showering, I went back alone to the locker room where I had my first trial and smoked a fantastic Marlboro, my mind light with the memory of that day ten years earlier.”
Ah yes, cigarettes: how many did you smoke?
“I used to! It could be three a day or fifteen. Trap [Trapattoni] was ferocious about it. Zoff once told me: `Moderate yourself`.”
Did you?
“Yes, specifically during that first Scudetto year. When Trapattoni started playing me as a starter, I had a realization. I began napping for an hour in the afternoon and gradually cut down on cigarettes.”
Speaking of which, how did Trap end up playing you?
“We weren`t performing well initially. Brady hadn`t fully integrated yet. The team was a bit light in attack, and Trapattoni considered me. But it wasn`t just about my physical presence. I was tactically useful to him.”
In what way?
“Meaning I could play all three attacking positions. Even center forward, because I was good at holding up the ball. And there`s another thing: I started pressing. It came naturally, instinctively; it was my own initiative. I remember Trap saying later, `We did pressing for the first time with Marocchino`.”
And meanwhile, Causio was simmering on the bench?
“Causio was a club institution and an exemplary professional. He treated me very well. Of course, losing his spot annoyed him considerably. But I had already played quite a few games the year before. I often played on the left, sometimes alongside Causio himself. Don`t forget Fanna was also there, a player who could take corners equally well with both feet, a great guy too.”
What about you, what were you like?
“Do you have another question?”
No.
“I was young, I couldn`t just focus on football. I tried to enjoy myself, but I rarely got away with it. Boniperti knew me very well, since I was a child. As soon as I returned, he had me followed. He had a network of people, mostly retired military personnel, whom he paid to monitor the players, especially at night. But I only found this out much later.”
How?
“One Sunday, before a match against Napoli, I asked De Maria (the masseur) for some tape to hold up my socks. Boniperti and Giuliano were standing nearby. De Maria gave me the tape and said, `Go warm up.` And Boniperti piped up, `But he warms up with brunettes.` I widened my eyes and said, `But my girlfriend is blonde!` Devil of a president, he had caught me.”
But it doesn`t sound like you stopped going out at night.
“Once they saw me out at three in the morning. I claimed it was the president`s fault. He wanted players to breathe fresh air, and I was just following his instruction literally. And then came the fines.”
How many did you pay?
“So many that we`d already write the amount into the contract, it was such a sure thing.”
The most expensive one?
“The time I overslept and had to chase the team bus.”
Detailed story, please.
“We were supposed to go play in Verona. The usual meeting point was at the Comunale stadium. My alarm didn`t go off. Trapattoni didn`t see me arrive, he swore, he got angry. It was late, so he told the driver to swing by my place.”
Did they know exactly where you lived?
“Exactly, no. Never give clues to the enemy! They knew the neighborhood. Imagine the scene: the Juve bus wandering around Turin to pick up a player. But I was still asleep, so the team got on the highway for Verona.”
And you?
“Meanwhile, I woke up, realized I was late, and rushed to the stadium. I found no one, only the groundskeeper who told me, `You have to get to Verona by any means necessary.` I took the highway and after a while, I caught up to the bus. The funny part was that my teammates in the back row (the older players were properly seated at the front) were making hand gestures indicating numbers.”
Indicating what?
“The millions for the fine. Some were signaling eight, others five, others three. In the end, it was five million lire, without an invoice. A massive amount. Boniperti just said to me, `You haven`t shaved.` He was fond of me. I only got slightly angry with the club on one occasion.”
When was that?
“After the final in Athens [the 1983 European Cup Final].”
Excuse the interruption, but why did Juve lose that match?
“Because I only played half an hour (laughs). I was a bit disappointed, as I thought I`d start. In any case, there were three real reasons. First: arriving at the final undefeated actually hurt us. We weren`t accustomed to defeat. Second: too many days passed between the last league game and the final, we lost our edge. Third: we played a lackluster game, whereas that was a match that needed to be attacked fiercely. We needed someone aggressive, someone like Furino, who ironically didn`t play.”
What was your relationship with him like?
(laughs) “I know what you`re getting at. Let`s just say: in training, I wasn`t the most committed. He, on the other hand, never gave up. In practice matches, if he could, he wanted me on the opposing side. What great times: before the matches, there was a real `transfer market.` The senior players ran it: Bettega, Furino, Zoff. There was a bit of `nonnismo` [seniority hazing], but it was healthy and positive. We younger players were secondary.”
Prandelli was among the younger players too, right?
“Cesare was with me at Cremona and Bergamo. A serious, thoughtful guy, but also a prankster. One evening we were in retreat, eating. Next to me and him was Roberto Tavola. We were talking about ghosts. Tavola preferred to change the subject after a while. We went to sleep. Roberto and I were in the same room. During the night, he woke me up and said, `Domenico, stop pinching my arm.` But I was sleeping. He didn`t believe me, so I showed him my hands. At that very moment, his arm was pinched again. He screamed, turned pale, and got scared, just as Prandelli appeared from under the bed where he had hidden to scare him. Great Cesare, you could tell he was destined to be a coach. He was attentive, absorbed things, and learned.”
And in practice matches, I bet Furino wanted him on his team.
“Definitely. But you should know that the best part of those competitive matches was what happened afterward.”
Which was?
“The report cards with Carlo Osti`s ratings. They were dreaded. There was a bulletin board in the locker room. He would write the scores with a marker. He was incredibly strict. Some players would go and correct them, others would erase them.”
What did you do?
“Nothing, I always got high marks. Osti was my roommate.”
Alright, let`s return to being angry after Athens.
“What happened was that on the return flight, I came across a newspaper. On the front page, there were photos, including mine, with a cross over them. It was essentially signaling: these players will be sold. I went to Dr. Giuliano [club doctor]. `They are just rumors,` he said. A lie: they had already sold me.”
But you still had the Coppa Italia to play?
“Which at that point had become our only remaining goal. I got injured, a muscle strain. Boniperti let me go on vacation early. I was relaxing when a call came from the club headquarters. `Come back, you have to play the final`.”
And you?
“I thought they had all gone mad. I was injured, not fit, couldn`t stand properly, and I was supposed to play? Especially after Verona had won the first leg 2-0.”
How was the situation resolved?
“Boniperti told me not to worry. `Marangon will mark you, you know him. He`ll come at you, you just shrug him off with an arm and burst past him.` I made a bet with the president: double the amount if we won. The agreement was that I would play the first half. So, at halftime, I put a cigarette in my mouth and started getting undressed. Trapattoni came over and absolutely lambasted me: `You have to go back out there.` `I`m not even considering it,` I replied. Cabrini convinced me. And we won the Cup.”
But in the meantime, you had made Trap angry?
“Well, that was nothing new! I made him angry from the first day of pre-season training to the last. I would arrive at Villar Perosa [the training ground] for preparation in desperate condition. For holidays, he would give us a note with the work we had to do. I never did any of it. The first week, I wouldn`t talk to anyone; I just suffered in silence, without the energy to do anything.”
Not even a water balloon fight?
“There was always energy for those! Too bad that once I hit Trap`s wife. But the Mister had a soft spot for me. The night before a game, he`d come up to the room, show a tennis ball, and say, `See this thing here? You have to catch it on the fly.` He`d bounce it and catch it immediately. And then, before leaving, he`d say menacingly, `And that other thing over there, that bites`.”
Does it really bite?
“Let me tell you this: after the end of the 1980-81 championship, there was still the Coppa Italia to play. I decided to experiment: make love every day. In the last game, after seventy minutes, I collapsed on the ground from exhaustion.”
So Trap was right, then?
“Trapattoni is a truly great manager, I mean it. A master, especially of technique. He was fitter than many of us. He believed in what he was doing. The Juve team that won my two Scudetti really reflected him. There`s one game that I think embodies that team`s strength and refusal to give up: Juventus vs. Perugia in 1981. With ten minutes left, we were losing 1-0. In the end, we won 2-1, and I scored the winning goal with my shin in the 89th minute.”
But that was a controversial match; Bettega was even disqualified for comments to [referee] Pin. What do you remember?
“Bettega was someone who would become a beast if you provoked him. I don`t know if he ever told Pin to let him score. I do know that that Juve team had such a fierce desire to win and so many champions that it could overcome any obstacle. Trapattoni was excellent in this regard, especially with the young players. He was always on your case. Although sometimes he bordered on paranoia.”
What are you referring to?
“Before every game, I would put on my boots without socks. It was my ritual, a tic, my way of concentrating. I did it every time. And he would yell at me to put my socks on immediately because he worried I might play without them.”
Did that ever happen?
“No, but it did happen that I played an entire season with a boot torn at the toe, from which my white sock poked out. So, every so often, I had to bend down to tuck it back in. It was just another way to catch my breath. The truth is, I`m lazy. In Cremona, I slept for a year with a case of mineral water under the bed because it had broken in half.”
I remember the story about the shoes in the fridge.
“That`s true too. A teammate I had lent the house to discovered them. He thought, this guy will surely have something cold to drink. He found two loafers.”
Did you ever do anything bizarre on the field?
“In no particular order: once I shot the ball very hard towards the goal, the ball went wide, but my boot hit the crossbar; I scored a diving header against Catanzaro (Ranieri was marking me), which was unusual for me as I rarely headed the ball; I did seventeen consecutive keep-ups at San Siro against Milan; and I ended up in the film `Eccezziunale Veramente`.”
Do you have any regrets?
“I spent four years at Juve. With the perspective I have today, I would have stayed at least double that time. I lacked consistency. When you climb the mountain, you need the courage to descend. But I lived football as a sport, not a job. And I am a happy man.”