Gianni Rivera

Gianni Rivera is a former football player and Italian politician. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1969. He was also named to the FIFA 100 in 2004, compiled by Pele. The biggest chunk of his professional career was played with AC Milan.

Player Profile, Personal Life, Political Career

Giovanni "Gianni" Rivera was born on August 18, 1943, in Alessandria, Italy. His parents were Tersio and Edera. He started playing football when he was a kid and joined his local club ASD Don Bosco.

He is married to Laura Marconi and they have two kids together. He also has a daughter with Elisabetta Viviani.

He started his political career in 1986 and was a Member of the European Parliament from 2005 to 2009.

Professional Career

He was scouted by Franco Pedroni and moved from US Alessandria to play for AC Milan in 1960. In total, he made 501 appearances with Milan, scoring 122 goals for the team. He also helped them win three Serie A titles and four Coppa Italia titles.

While representing Italy, he helped the National team win the 1968 UEFA European Championship. In 1970, he was also on the team that came in second at the FIFA World Cup.

In 1969, he helped Milan win the Intercontinental Cup. That year, he was also awarded the Ballon d’Or. He played with Milan through to 1979.

In his retirement, he served as the vice president for Milan for seven seasons. This was after Silvio Berlusconi bought the Italian club. In 2013, the Italian Football Federation appointed him the President of the Technical Sector.

Career Highlights:

AC Milan

• 1961–62, 1967–68, 1978–79 - Serie A
• 1966–67, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1976–77 -

Coppa Italia

• 1962–63, 1968–69 - European Cup
• 1967–68, 1972–73 - UEFA Cup Winners

Cup

• 1969 - Intercontinental Cup

Italy

• 1970 - FIFA World Cup runner-up
• 1968 - UEFA European Championship

Individual

• 1966–67, 1970–71 - Coppa Italia top

scorer

• 1969 - Ballon d'Or
• 1963 - Ballon d'Or runner-up
• 1967 - FIFA XI
• 1972–73 - Serie A Top-scorer (shared

with Giuseppe Savoldi and Paolino
Pulici)

• 1999 - IFFHS Italian Player of the

20th Century

• 1999 - IFFHS European Player of the

20th Century (12th)

• IFFHS World Player of the 20th

Century

• 1999 - AC Milan Player of the 20th

Century

• 2003 - Golden Foot "Football Legenda
• FIFA 100
• AC Milan Hall of Fame
• 2011 - UEFA President's Award
• 2013 - Inducted into the Italian

Football Hall of Fame

• Inducted into the Walk of Fame of

Italian sport: 2015

Team History:

National Team

• 1962–1974 - Italy