Sandro Salvadore

Sandro Salvadore

220px Salvadore in 1966 wearing Juventus's shirt
Personal information
Full name	Sandro Salvadore
Date of birth	(1939-11-29)29 November 1939
Place of birth	Milan, Italy
Date of death
Place of death	Castiglione d'Asti, Italy
Position(s)	Libero/Central Defender
Youth career
1955–1958	A.C. Milan
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1958–1962	A.C. Milan	72	(1)
1962–1974	Juventus	331	(15)
Total		403	(16)
International career
1960–1970	Italy	36	(0)
Medal record Representing Italy Football (soccer) UEFA European Football Championship Italy 1968
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Sandro Salvadore (29 November 1939 – 4 January 2007) was an Italian footballer who played as a defender.

Club career

Born Milan, Lombardy, Sandro Salvadore was picked up by A.C. Milan’s scouts when he was 15, and played in their junior team until he made his debut in Serie A in the 1958/59 season aged 20. While wearing AC Milan’s number 6 shirt he won 2 League titles (1958–59 and 1961–62). He left Milan after 72 league matches.

In 1962 Salvadore was purchased by Juventus and became soon a pillar of their defence. After only a few games he fully established himself as a first choice Libero, winning three more League titles (1966–67, 1971–72 and 1972–73) and one Italy’s Cup (1964–65). Salvadore was also the captain of Juventus when they finished as runners-up in the 1972–73 European Cup final and the 1973 Intercontinental Cup final.

He retired in 1974 and was replaced by Gaetano Scirea in the famous Libero role.

International career

From 1960 to 1970 Salvadore won 36 full caps for Italy at international level. He was part of the teams that played both at the 1962 and 1966 FIFA World Cups; he was also a part of the team that won the country's first ever European Championship on home soil in 1968, and at the 1960 Summer Olympics.

Salvadore missed the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico because of two unfortunate own goals scored in a single match in Madrid, Spain (21 February 1970, Spain - Italy 2–2). This was to be the last of Salvadore's international caps, as the Italian national team’s manager Ferruccio Valcareggi decided that at 31, Salvadore was no longer at his best. It could be said, however, that Ferruccio Valcareggi was proved wrong, as an Italian defence which did not feature Salvadore was beaten 4–1 in the final by Brazil.

After retirement

After retiring, Salvadore spent a small period as trainer of a Juventus's youth squad, but left soon and established a small farm in Asti. His last public appearance was the 1 November 2006, invited by Juventus to the celebrations of the club’s 109th anniversary. On that occasion Salvadore received the number six shirt with his name printed.

Sandro Salvadore died of a heart attack on 4 January 2007, aged 67, in Castiglione d'Asti, in the Italian province of Asti.

Honours

Club

A.C. Milan

• Serie A Winner in 1958–59, 1961–62; Runner-up in 1960–61.

Juventus

• Serie A Winner in 1966–67, 1971–72, 1972–73; Runner-up in 1962–63, 1973–74.
• Coppa Italia Winner in 1964–65; Runner-up in 1972–73.
• European Cup Runner-up in 1972–73.
• Intercontinental Cup Runner-up in 1973.

International

Italy

• UEFA European Championship: 1968

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Ernesto Càstano	Juventus F.C. captains 1970-1974	Succeeded by Giuseppe Furino