During 1970–71 season Inter competed in Serie A, Coppa Italia and Fairs' Cup.
Summary Following the golden era of the 1960s, Inter managed to win their eleventh league title in 1971. The second season of Heriberto Herrera is opened with the transfer out of Luis Suárez to Sampdoria, after nine years in Milan. The fans of Inter Milan were shocked with initial results, with Inter out in Coppa Italia and eliminated by Newcastle United in Fairs Cup.
President Ivanoe Fraizzoli, who at the time also made it clear that he was willing to sell the club if the right offer was tabled, fired Herrera after a 0–3 loss with city rivals Milan and handed control of the side to youth team boss Giovanni Invernizzi. A former Inter player, Invernizzi was initially appointed on a temporary basis yet ended the campaign by making Italian football history.
Invernizzi rejuvenated a tactically exhausted and an under-performing squad. He turned Tarcisio Burgnich into a sweeper, played the young Mauro Bellugi at right-back, reintegrated Jair into the team, replaced summer signing Mario Frustalupi with Mario Bertini and asked the club's senators – Giacinto Facchetti, Sandro Mazzola, Mario Corso and Boninsegna – to perform to their status.
The turning point in their season came after a defeat to Napoli in week 7. On the flight home, Invernizzi and some of the side's more experienced elements sat down with a fixture list to hand. Together they plotted their path to what many perceived as unlikely title glory and the tabella, as it was known, became part of Inter folklore.
Following defeat at the San Paolo, they went on an unbeaten run which saw them take 21 points from a possible 24. The Nerazzurri won the return derby, wiped out a significant point gap that winter champions Milan had over them and netted the championship with two games to spare. This is the first and only time in history that a Serie A team changed Coach mid-season and gone on to be crowned champions of Italy.
Squad
Transfers Source: In Pos. Name from Type GK Massimo Cacciatori Cagliari loan ended GK Luigi Reali Voghera loan ended GK Walter Zenga Macallesi 1927 DF Bernardino Fabbian Primavera – DF Mario Giubertoni Palermo DF Mario Nadin Primavera – DF Oscar Righetti SPAL MF Marco Achilli Monza loan ended MF Mario Frustalupi Sampdoria loan ended MF Tiziano Manfrin U.S. Azzurra MF Gabriele Oriali Primavera – MF Luigi Plutino Primavera – MF Sergio Brunetta Brescia loan ended FW Sergio Pellizzaro Palermo FW Raffaele Pinton primavera – FW Massimo Silva Monza loan ended
Out Pos. Name To Type GK Sergio Girardi Palermo GK Luigi Reali Savoia loan DF Aristide Guarneri Cremonese DF Enzo Vecchiè SPAL DF Mario Nadin VJS Velletri loan MF Luigi Plutino Anconitana loan MF Luis Suarez Sampdoria MF Sandro Vanello Palermo MF Sergio Brunetta Udinese FW Raffaele Pinton Potenza FW Massimo Silva Rovereto loan
Competitions Serie A
League table
Matches
Coppa Italia
First round Group 3
Fairs Cup
First round
Statistics
Competition. Points Home Away Total DR Serie A 46 15 12 2 1 30 12 15 7 6 2 20 14 30 19 8 3 50 26 24 Coppa Italia – 1 0 0 1 1 2 2 1 1 0 5 1 3 1 1 1 6 3 3 Fairs Cup – 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 1 1 1 3 −2 Total – 17 12 3 2 32 15 18 8 7 2 25 15 35 20 10 5 57 32 25
References
See also