Il Grande Torino & Superga
In football many events replace the sport itself in terms of their importance, significance and consequence – The Superga Air Disaster is one of these.
When we think about all the tragedies of football our thoughts at instantly thrown back to the Munich Air Disaster, Heysel, Hillsborough to mention just a few but rarely this one catastrophe that so rocked, not just Turin but the whole it Italy, is mentioned.
Il Grande Torino dominated Italian football in the 1940’s as they accomplished no less than 23 separate records in this decade – not to
Il Grande Torino
mention the 5 Serie A league titles and a Coppa Italia as well. However, sadly, they are perhaps most remembered for the events of the 4th of May 1949.
On their way home from a match in Lisbon the Torino team were in jubilant mood; they led and had already won Serie A with four games remaining. The low cloud, poor visibility and approaching thunderstorm did little to dampen their spirits as another year of success seemed inevitable. With visibility at only 40m the plane descended, seemingly to land in Turin, but instead disastrously crashed into a church on top of Superga Hill.
31 were killed – 18 players, among them.
For football fans who are maybe not educated on Serie A or football history in general it is hard to explain this exceptional Torino side. They simply were the best. Valentino Mazzola, Romeo Menti, Guglielmo Gabetto, to name just 3
An artist's interpretation of the crash in La Domenica del Corriere.
were simple divine. Further to their football skills and dominance on the pitch they absorbed and became immersed in Turin life, indulging in its little peculiarities and customs.
In 1947 in an international friendly against Hungary, the Azzuri side consisted of no less than 10 Torino players.
While an entire post could be dedicated to Il Grande Torino team, and there shall be one, I want the tragedy of this event to resonate; not be overshadowed as we reminisce about the greatness of the team.
Torino never really recovered from the Superga Disaster, however their memory lives on in the hearts and minds of all Italian football fans for they were more than just another team – they were Il Grande Torino.
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