In Turin it says 183.”Derby della Mole“. After many years he wants to FC Torino finally another success against juventus. For the still numerous fans of “il toro” Juve’s current form crisis gives hope. Hope for a small moment of happiness in the history of FC Torino, which is rich in unfortunate times.
T like Torino. T like title. T for tragedies. T for loyalty Tifosi. No football club Series A is as legendary as that FC Torinoin Italy “il Torino” or short “il toro“. In the upcoming derby, the seven-time champion does not necessarily want to write another chapter for the history book. For the “only true club in Turin”, as the fans think, a win against Juventus would simply be enough again.
The opportunity seems good. Local rivals Juve is in the deepest crisis since the forced relegation in 1996. Italy’s record champions lost in the week Champions League even against Maccabi Haifa. When, if not now, would it be time for a derby success again? Torino has not won 14 times in a row in the so-called “Derby of the Mole”.
Stingy club owner?
The hopes of FC Torino resting on better times among others on Ivan Juric. The Croatian has been for a good year Torinotrainer and is considered one of the most innovative trainers in the world Series A. he preaches pressingthe FC Torino was the team with the most ball possession in the opponent’s half last season. But Juric is out too Torino have not yet been able to form a top team again. Also because the president and club owner Umberto Cairo is rather stingy when it comes to signing players.
With national striker Andrea Belotti and Brazilian top defender Bremer, the FC Torino gave up his two top players this summer. The now little-known team (which includes ex-Wolfsburg player Ricardo Rodriguez and former Gladbach and Hertha player Valentino Lazaro), like Juventus, is not currently on its best run. After a good start but the last four games without a win, Torino has settled into the middle of the table. As so often in recent years.
Myth FC Torino
There were times when it was different. The myth FC Torino was born in the 40’s. More precisely: the myth “il Grande Torino”. At that time, ten of Italy’s eleven internationals wore the garnet-red jersey with the bull (Italian: toro) in the coat of arms, Torino became champion five times in a row. Then came May 4, 1949.
The team was returning from a friendly match at Benfica Lisbon. It was foggy, the altimeter on the plane was defective and the pilot steered the machine against the outer walls of the Basilica of Superga, 900 meters above Turin. 31 people died, including ten Torino-Player.
Also the captain Valentino Mazzolo, father of the later Inter player Sandro, who was worshiped by the people in Italy like Fritz Walter in Germany. Half a million people came to the funeral.
The George Best of Italy
“The day Italy football died“, the “Neue Züricher Zeitung” headlined an article on the anniversary of the tragedy. “superga” and the story of Valentino Mazzola’s team are still burned into the country’s memories. A multi-part television film of the “RAI” above “Il Grande Torino” In 2005 achieved audience ratings like an international football match. The Olympic Stadium, which the FC Torino has been using as its home arena for 15 years, is officially called “Stadium Olimpico Grande Torino“.
“superga” but it’s not the only incredible moment in Torino history. Because there’s Gigi Meroni. “Like a butterfly“, wrote a sports journalist at the time, the technically elegant winger fluttered away from his opponents in the 1970s. Italy’s George Best. Meroni played six times in the national team and scored two goals.
His career and life ended on October 15, 1967 at a zebra crossing in downtown Turin. Driven to death by a 19 year old Torino-Followers, Attilio Romero. A real goosebumps story: This Attilio Romero became 33 years later Torino-President. The accident car driver and later journalist worked hard to save the financially troubled club, was not always so precise with the bookkeeping and had to file for bankruptcy in 2005 torino Sign in.
Deeply rooted in Turin
Immediately afterwards, Umberto Cairo founded the newly founded FC Torino accepted. The 65-year-old businessman is the owner of the RCS newspaper group and thus also the “Gazzetta dello Sport“. Italy’s largest sports newspaper, with its headquarters in Milan traditionally more Inter and Milan-oriented, now reports in detail every day about the FC Torino. the TorinoSupporters, however, would not only wish for more newspaper articles from Cairo, but also for more investment in the team.
Since the superga-disaster and the tragic end of what is perhaps the best team Italian football has ever had “Il Grande Torino” seldom exceeded mediocrity. Only in 1976 did the Garnet-Reds manage to win a championship title again. In Turin, however, identification with the club is still deeply rooted. While juventus (for Toro fans only the “Fiat company team”) has millions of fans worldwide, the numbers of Torino and Juventus supporters are balanced in the city of Turin.
The nucleus of the Italian ultras
The fans of FC Torino are not only considered loyal, but also innovative, as a kind avant-garde in Italy. Many innovations in the fan scene have in the Torino-curve its origin. Founded in 1951, the “Fedelissimi Granata” are considered to be the nucleus of the Italian ultra movement. The Torino fans were the first to carry out organized trips away. And in 1970 they pulled off the first choreography of a fan curve.
Traditionally they apply Torino-Fans as political left. local rival juventus has had many Fiat workers and thus also union members among its supporters for decades, but the Juve fan clubs in the city are predominantly right-wing.