OSM - Lucio Keeps Italian Tradition

Italian Teams have traditionally done well at the Santiago Bernabeu over the decades – except when they were drawn against the landlords, Real Madrid, which happened to AC Fiorentina in 1957 in the old European Cup when the Madrid team emerged victorious by 2 goals to nil. The stadium hosted the 1969 final and on that night AC Milan beat the rising stars of AFC Ajax which included the rising star, Johan Cruyff by 4-1.

In 1982 Italy won the World Cup Final against Germany at the same venue with the winning goal scored that evening by Marco Tardelli the current Republic of Ireland Assistant Manager. For the German sides, the experiences at the Bernabeu have been less fortunate and as visitors they have fared less well.

Just ask Paul Breitner, 1974 World Cup Winner with Germany, currently an adviser to Bayern Munich, as he lost that same final in ’82 final in Madrid - despite scoring another penalty matching the one scored in 1974 against Holland. Any hope that nostalgia might play a role and lighten the burden for currently Bayern Manager Louis Van Gaal were dashed last Saturday night.

In 1981 Kevin Keegan and Hamburg SV came with a talented and powerful team but lost to a single goal from Nottingham Forest’s John Robertson in what was an unusually scrappy final for a Brian Clough team. If last weekend Bayern Munich were hoping to reverse the history of the last German visit which was laid out before them and make amends for misfortunes of previous matches - it was not to be as the Bavarian side suffered defeat Internazionale of Milan.

For the players there were some mixed memories on both teams and one has to go no further than Arjen Robben who after an unsettled period at Real Madrid with manager at the time, Bernd Schuster, there was no place in the first team so Robben then moved to Bayern Munich last season. But for this Dutchman the sight of Mourinho on the sidelines must have been a flashback to those heady days at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea one back to back Premier League titles with Jose Mourinho at the helm in 2005 and 2006.

Similarly Wesley Sneijder, on the foot of his EURO 2008 campaign with Holland, found his talent in demand and moved to the Madrid club joining a growing Dutch contingent of Van Nistelrooy; Drenthe and Huntelaar. However in time he didn’t fit into the jigsaw once Club President Florentino Perez decided to sign Brazilian Kaka leaving Sneijder little choice but to pack his bags and accept a move to Italy.

At least for Wesley Sneijder the return to Madrid was a memorable one last weekend.

The imminent arrival of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid should be enough for club officials to rush out and find a new house for the Sneijder family as the Dutchman proved a vital cog in the Inter machine all season. It would be no surprise therefore to find Sneijder back in the Bernabeu fulltime next season.

Others on the Inter side who were ex employees of Real Madrid included Argentinian duo of Walter Samuel and Esteban Cambiasso with neither player leaving Madrid in a blaze of glory. But any emotions or anger must have been erased when they sat in the dressing rooms after English referee, Howard Webb, finally blew his whistle after 3 minutes of added time.

For the Inter manager, Jose Mourinho, the result truly cements the self imposed monocle of “The Special One" by winning another Champions League and garnishing his already cluttered trophy cabinet with the cup. For Inter the past twenty one days have seen the club secure three major titles with Mourinho achieving in eighteen months what has not been seen in a generation of the Moratti family’s time at the helm – the owners of the famous club.

An Italian Cup, the Serie A Scudetto and the Champions League last Saturday has brought success to the Milan club unknown in over twenty years. Not unlike what was achieved by Mourinho at Chelsea Football club where Mourinho won the Premier League for the first time in four decades..

For the Bayern Club President, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge there too must have been some mixed emotions given he was an Inter player alongside Liam Brady in the mid eighties. Indeed in the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup in 1985/86 season Inter were drawn against Real Madrid, with Brady and Rummenigge on the losing side that night.

In the team that Forest team that won the Champions League a young Martin O’Neill and his assistant John Robertson were key players and as legend has it the team went out for a few beers the night before the big match in Madrid. On the opposite side the Hamburg Manager, Günter Netzer undoubtedly had all his team tucked up in bed early hoping to seek every advantage.

History records that Kenny Burns and Larry Lloyd neutralised the speed of Keegan and one low driven shot was enough to settle the final in favour of the English team that year. For Günter Netzer the return to the club where he was a player for three years in the mid seventies was of no benefit either.

The German midfield international spent three years at Madrid arriving after a successful European Championship in 1972 where he decided to capitalise on his profile and risk the wrath of the national manger, Helmut Schoen, and play abroad. In fairness Netzer knew that Wolfgang Overath was the Hamburg SV General Manager.

Eto'o there must also have been mixed memories of Real Madrid as soon after he was signed it was found he was too young to play in the League. After playing some time in the B team he was loaned to a few clubs including Real Mallorca as the club had exceeded their quota of international players. When Eto'o finally joined Barcelona he would come to the Bernabeu and strike fear into Real Madrid defenders given his sheer speed and athleticism.

However the ultimate irony about the two teams meeting last Saturday must rest with Brazilian defender, Lucio, who reached the final with Bayern Leverkusen in Hampden Park in 2001 against Real Madrid. Just before half time a magnificent left foot volley by genius Zinedine Zidane settled the match and Lucio lost out. Having joined Bayern Munich soon afterwards he became surplus to their needs last season and moved to Inter when the opportunity arose.

On Saturday he faced his former team mates committed to proving his former club wrong -  ensuring that yet again an Italian side won at the Bernabeu. Indeed that's the way it all ended with Lucio getting a winners medal - playing for the Italian side - and a German team leaving the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid empty handed – once again.

© Rossa McDermott