Serie A is well known for having a number of colourful characters and on his 85th birthday, today seems like the perfect time to remember Carlo Mazzone’s famous taunt to the Atalanta ultras.
On September 30 2001, Mazzone was overseeing a Roberto Baggio-led Brescia side in their local derby against rivals Atalanta. The Italian coach was subject to personal insults for the entire match and so when an equaliser was scored in the dying minutes of the match, he charged over 70 metres in order to taunt and shout at the Atalanta ultras, much to the displeasure of referee Pierluigi Collina.
The following year Mazzone was awarded the Panchina d’Oro award, in honour of his long and storied career in Italian football. Baggio often called him one of the best coaches he had the pleasure of working under during his career and the Italian coach oversaw over 1000 professional matches, appearing on the sidelines of 792 Serie A matches over the years.