MILAN – The story goes that it was Armando Picchi who gave Tarcisio Burgnich his nickname. After watching his team-mate unceremoniously put Carlo Novelli on the floor, the Grande Inter captain looked down at Novelli and explained, "You got hit by a rock." It stuck and the no-nonsense full-back became known as 'Il Roccia' for the rest of his career.
Burgnich joined Inter in 1962, two years after Helenio Herrera had taken over the helm. It was the period in which Angelo Moratti's Nerazzurri were running through the dress rehearsals before claiming three league titles, two European Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. The Rock had already won a Scudetto with Juventus and he later secured a fourth championship with Inter in 1970/71, before moving to Napoli following 12 seasons in black and blue. In 1968 he won the European Championship with Italy. He hung up his boots in 1977 after a playing career spanning 19 years, then worked as a coach for a while and now he's a scout for Inter.
Today he turns 74. We all wish him a very happy birthday.
