The thought of watching a football World Cup winner playing in India would have been dismissed as an insane delusion a couple of years ago. But the Indian Super League proved that World Cup winners could indeed be lured to the country’s playing fields. More than anything else, the ISL has been a hands-down winner in changing perceptions.
No big name from abroad was as prominent as Chennaiyin FC’s player/manager Marco Materazzi in the inaugural season. His towering presence on the sidelines lifted his team to the top of the table after the league stage. The Italian didn’t hesitate to strip down and enter the field when his services were needed.
As the ISL enters its second season next month, Chennaiyin would be keen to emulate their inaugural season’s performance. The first season was a memorable one in many ways for the team from Chennai. Many wondered how a cricket-mad city would welcome a football team but Materazzi’s men disproved doubters as they attracted fans in droves to the Nehru Stadium. The Italian’s winning mentality rubbed off on his team who were efficient and entertaining in equal measure.
While the spectators had their share of fun, Materazzi, too, enjoyed playing in the country. “It has been an amazing experience both as a person and a professional. I’m glad to be back this year,” he said.
Indian football has taken a special place in Materazzi’s heart. “Football in the country has all the qualities to succeed. All the players have good physical and technical skills and the society is well-organised but in order to come out big, it is important to start from the management of the academies. For this reason, young players should approach the world of football in Europe and learn from those who know it,” he said.
The Italian played a pivotal role in the triumph of the Azzurri in the final of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The final belonged to the Italian in all ways as he gave away a penalty to France, scored the equaliser, provoked Zinedane Zidane to be at the receiving end of the famous head-butt and then scored in the shootout to enable Italy win their fourth World Cup.
The former Inter player was also an achiever at the club level. Inter fans still hold him in high esteem, for he symbolised the club’s ambitions in his heyday. Materazzi would not be himself without his willingness to fight until the end. He takes immense pride from turning out for the triumphant Inter in the final of the 2010 Champions League against Bayern Munich.
The 42-year-old who sports his tattoes with pride also has a wife Daniela who loves inking her body too. The father of three regards winning the league, the domestic cup and the Cha-mpions League in a single season as another highlight of his career.
While millions look up to Materazzi as a role model, the Italian rates compatriot Alessandro Nesta as one of the best players in the world and a role model. The camaraderie was evident in the ISL last year when Materazzi sent an SOS to Nesta, who was holidaying on the beaches of Miami, to join the Chennai team.
While Materazzi shouldered the responsibilities of a player-manager last season, this year would see him entirely on the sidelines. He has an enormous task at hand to regroup the team and would be keen to go all the way. A positive for Materazzi would be that the team’s bosses, Abhishek Bachchan, MS Dhoni and
Vita Dani, do not interfere in the technicalities of the game, giving him a free hand.
Chennaiyin, who went down to Kerala Blasters in the semi-final last season, are currently on a pre-season tour in Italy.
