Valentino Mazzola was the captain and heartbeat of Il Grande Torino, the dominant Italian side of the 1940s widely regarded as one of the greatest teams of its age. A versatile, driving inside-forward who could seemingly do everything, he inspired his team-mates and led Italy’s national side.
His life and the team’s reign were cut short by the Superga air disaster of 1949, which claimed almost the entire squad. He remains a legendary, tragic figure, and was the father of the future star Sandro Mazzola.