At the Buffalora Theater in Brescia, Stefano Tacconi`s book, `The Art of Saving,` was recently presented. The former Juventus goalkeeper spoke at length from the stage. Here are his words, as reported by a TMW correspondent:
Regarding when you risked your life and about the coma:
“I was pulled back by the hair to stay alive. I went through a very delicate period, and it was the same for my family. My wife was told every day that I could die. My best cure was my family. After two years in hospitals, I couldn`t wait to return home. My son was with me the morning it happened. I woke up with a headache. It was a significant warning about what could happen to me. I fell into a coma, and my son saved me with first aid, pulling my tongue out of my mouth. Then they took me to the hospital, but there was no one who could treat my head there. Later, they transferred me to a professor who saved my life.”
Since you are religious, what do you think of the new Pope?
“I was fortunate enough to meet John Paul II. I believe they are two different Popes, but when you look at them, they give you incredible serenity. I think this new Pope is important in many aspects. I hope he works for peace. I believe he has started in the right way. I hope he lasts a long time; he`s already given someone a telling-off (laughs).”
You went to San Giovanni Rotondo to learn about the cult of Padre Pio. Can you tell us about that period?
“My wife had the number of this person, Father Carlo, who told her that when I was better, he would welcome me with open arms. They rented a house for me for 8 months so I could move there with my whole family, and they welcomed me with open arms. I had to start over. I was lucky because they treated me in an extraordinary way.”
Did you feel the warmth of the fans during the difficult time?
“I must thank them because they were close to me during that delicate time and were also helpful to my family. Hundreds of people called me. I also have saved video calls with many former teammates, including Schillaci and Vialli, who are sadly no longer with us today.”
Are you afraid it might happen again?
“I`ve been through everything now. After the head surgery, I came home calm, but then I had gallstone surgery and then for a thrombosis. I think the Lord doesn`t want me anymore now (laughs).”
Was it hard to leave the hospital room?
“I wanted to tell everyone to bugger off (laughs). Once I ended up on the fourth floor of the hospital. I`d go out and escape in the wheelchair. My wife arrived once and found me tied to the bed because I kept going out, and they had to tie me down.”
About Beccalossi:
“We shared many things together. The only flaw in my life is that unfortunately, I was born an Inter fan, but then they didn`t understand anything, as usual. Zenga`s luck was me, as I refused Inter in `82. Thank goodness Juventus called me a month later.”
About the period at Genoa?
“It was the only team Boniperti wanted to send me to. Milan wanted me, Berlusconi wanted me at all costs, but Boniperti was afraid I`d win something in Milan. I told everyone to bugger off there too (laughs). They made me live next door to Spinelli.”
About what happened at Brescia?
“It`s not the first time for Cellino… But I`ve already had problems seeing what they did with Juventus. These presidents or pseudo-presidents of the League, the ones who make these decisions, have had their time; they should go dig the land.”
You wrote: `My body is not my slave, to be used at my pleasure,` something you realized in the hospital.
“I did a job where I needed both body and mind. The mind to anticipate the action, the body to execute what the mind said. Sometimes you don`t think of doing important things, but even small good habits can be.”
About the good habits you had as a footballer?
“When I stopped playing football, I never went to the gym even once. I completely stopped training, and maybe that was the biggest mistake because it would have allowed me to recover sooner.”
About the Heysel tragedy.
“40 years have passed since that cursed day. A dark page for Italian and world football. Since that day, they still don`t understand today what happened, because I still see specific incidents. As long as ignorance is stronger than intelligence, we won`t get out of this.”
Did you recover memory or physical strength better?
“The book helped me a lot in remembering everything. I put things that were a bit particular in order. Whoever reads the book reads my life and gets to know me. I told my life story without holding back.”
Still on Heysel: how was it possible to play in those conditions?
“We know perfectly well that not playing would have been better, but after playing it, I think we saved many other people, because you could already feel that the Juventus curva wanted to go towards the opposing one for revenge. Scirea, Cabrini, Platini, and I managed to contain them. We were criticized when we came out with the cup, but the armed forces present told us that thanks to that, they were slowly letting everyone out.”
About violence in stadiums.
“There are imbeciles who go to the stadium to cause trouble. Those 39 deaths in Brussels, how many sacrifices had they made to be there? Surely such violence shouldn`t happen.”
The joke about Maradona? Can you tell us?
“One of the many fines Boniperti gave me. I saw they were bothering everyone about Maradona in the papers all week, but we were on a good winning streak. I said to a journalist: `Maradona? He shouldn`t play Jesus Christ; there are many others working around him.` But damn, he scored against me. Then there was some unrest among the fans, but I had a couple of friends who had just gotten out of prison. We landed with the plane, and 5,000 people were waiting for me. My friends grabbed me and took me through this crowd of people spitting on me, with others insulting me. Someone tried to punch me, but my friends saved me.”
How does one become Stefano Tacconi?
“You shouldn`t look at the wrong role models, but at those who can give you a real lesson. There are good role models. Always dream, knowing that one in a thousand makes it.”
About Maifredi?
“I read that he was supposed to be here today (he`s not present at the event due to a trip abroad). Maifredi is the only one who spoke badly about the book. He started off badly with me because I was on vacation, I bought the newspaper, we had come from the World Cup… I read: `Tacconi will never be captain with me.` I told him: `Next time, maybe you could tell me things to my face.` And he said: `Prove to me you are the captain.` Then I called Agnelli and told him: `This guy is annoying me.` And he said: `Put him on.` I passed the phone to him pretending nothing was wrong, and I saw him getting agitated on the phone. Then, after the dressing-down, I told him: `Did I prove to you I am the captain, or not?`”
The three strongest players you encountered?
“I was lucky enough to play in the 80s when all the best players were around. There was Maradona. It`s already a lot that Platini played alongside me. Then Matthaus, Socrates, Zico. Just naming a few is scary. But I think they were also a bit scared of me.”
About match-fixing?
“I didn`t gamble. At most, there was the football pools back then. As I said about the fans before, there are some imbeciles among the footballers too.”
What was your best season?
“In `90, but unfortunately Zenga played in the World Cup…”
How many fines did you get?
“Better not say. But quite a few million lire.”
How hard is a footballer`s life?
“Being a professional is very tough; you have to follow the rules. There are more rules in football than in the Bible.”
Did you ever argue with Zenga?
“No, we respected each other. Respect is the best thing. But he knew I was stronger than him (laughs).”
The pressure in Serie A, what`s it like?
“It`s high. More than the match itself, the pressure rises the night before. I`d wake up early in the morning, already having the right adrenaline. I`d have 4-5 coffees and I was ready.”