Pippo and Simone Inzaghi discuss what it’s like to be brothers who both made it to Serie A, the Italy squad and now face off in the top flight as coaches.
The pair were interviewed together at the Festival dello Sport event, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport, and looked back over their many years of parallel lives.
“I am very fortunate, as I had a brother who set the example for me, not just on the pitch,” said Lazio coach Simone.
Pippo and Simone Inzaghi discuss what it’s like to be brothers who both made it to Serie A, the Italy squad and now face off in the top flight as coaches.
The pair were interviewed together at the Festival dello Sport event, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport, and looked back over their many years of parallel lives.
“I am very fortunate, as I had a brother who set the example for me, not just on the pitch,” said Lazio coach Simone.
“Pippo is a winner in life too, but perhaps he didn’t always get the credit he deserved. If there’s a goal of his I wish I’d scored, it’d be in a Champions League Final.”
As for Benevento tactician and former Milan star Pippo, he credits their father for passing on the love of football and even lying about their age so they could get into the youth academy.
“Simone was more unlucky than I was when it came to injuries, as the back pain really limited his ability to train. If he had been in good shape physically, he would’ve scored more than me, because in terms of technique and skill, he really is better.”
Simone Inzaghi did famously set a record by scoring four goals in a single Champions League game for Lazio.
“I went close, though, but the ball hit the crossbar and then bounced off the line. I’ve had a lot of hat-tricks, but never four.”
There was only one game when the Inzaghi brothers played together for Italy, a 1-0 victory over England thanks to a goal from another player turned coach, Gennaro Gattuso, in November 2000, albeit for only 11 minutes.
While 44-year-old Simone only ever got three senior caps, 47-year-old Pippo had 57 and won the 2006 World Cup.
“The memory of us meeting up together at the Italy training camp will remain indelible in my memory,” smiled Pippo.
“I’d love to go back in time so we could at least play a full half together. It was hugely satisfying for our parents, too.”