The 124 year history of Serie A contains much glamour, controversy and logic-defying drama but the events of 5th May, 2002 transcend any other day in the storied past of this great league. The day began with three teams competing for the title and, at the other end of the table, four teams trying to retain their status in what was unquestionably the best league in the world.
The sun rose on 5th May 2002 with an Inter side managed by Hector Cuper, containing Ronaldo, Christian Vieri and Clarence Seedorf top of the table on 69 points. Club owner Massimo Moratti had broken the world transfer record twice since taking over in 1995 but his vast investment had yet to herald a league title, could 2002 finally be their year? As with all things Inter, their 14th Scudetto was not going to be an easy task. Despite the galaxy of stars who donned the Nerrazzurri shirt, a genuine three-way title race was still in action. Marcello Lippi’s Juventus, in their first season without Zinedine Zidane, are led by the formidable strike partnership of David Trezeguet and Del Piero and sit in second place with 68 points and Fabio Capello’s defending champions AS Roma, who had only lost twice in the league all season were in third, with 67.
The extraordinary galaxy of stars were not simply reserved for the title race. Brescia began 5th May two points adrift on 37 points in the relegation zone despite the presence of Il Divin Codino, Roby Baggio. Alongside the Tuscan born superstar, was Luca Toni with whom he formed many an enjoyable combination. Just above them on 39 points were Piacenza who contained what would normally be the story of the season. Trieste born, Dario Hubner, who was 35 years old come the end of the campaign, was perhaps best known for his benchside cigarettes and after game fondness for grappa. In 2001/02, however, he found himself beneath Trezeguet in second place in the top scoring chart going into the last match day. Could he break the record for the oldest capocannoniere whilst securing his team’s top flight status? Also threatened by relegation from the then eighteen team league were Adrian Mutu’s Hellas Verona side and Roy Hodgson managed Udinese.
All three title contending sides came into matchday 34 in impressive form, Trezeguet and Del Piero helping themselves to all five in a 5-0 demolition of Brescia, whilst Ronaldo and underrated Inter legend Alvaro Recoba were on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win over Piacenza. The wealth of Italian attacking talent found in Roma’s ranks draws the Italian national team’s current struggles into stark relief, with a Francesco Totti-less Roma putting five past the season’s surprise package Chievo – a Vincenzo Montella hattrick garnished by an Antonio Cassano 81st minute fifth.
A potential complication for this trio of challengers was the fact that all were playing their final game of the season away from home: Inter visited Lazio, Juventus were away at Udinese and Roma were hosted by Torino. In the relegation zone, Brescia fans could at least breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of a returning Baggio on their team sheet whilst the Piacenza fans had their attention split between their league fortunes and Trezeguet’s goal scoring touch: Hubner’s only obstacle to sporting immortality. The fact he is up against fellow relegation strugglers Hellas Verona gives Brescia further hope, Hubner couldn’t have any more motivation to dominate the game.
Kick Off
As the teams make their way onto the pitch in the variety of locations across the peninsula, there is an ominous focus to Juventus which is augmented by their all black shirt. The perfect blue sky of an early summer’s day in Udine is accompanied by a noisy sea of travelling fans, all holding up black and white signs with ‘JUVE’ printed on them. Inter march out to a Stadio Olimpico which looks and sounds more like the San Siro, a vast mass of away support is chanting and lighting black and blue flares.
As they line up before kick off, little emotion crosses the faces of the Juve lineup, established winners such as Edgar Davids, Antonio Conte, Ciro Ferrara and Lilian Thuram look ready to get the job done. Two minutes in and they are 1-0 up. Conte bursts into a channel on the right, delivers a perfect cross which is headed into the bottom right hand corner with ease by David Trezeguet. The already noisy Stadio Friuli almost lifts off. Miles away in Piacenza, is Dario Hubner’s capocannoniere dream over?
In Rome, Ronaldo tests his newly constructed knee with a noticeably slower sprint and a snatched long range shot that passes wide of Angelo Perruzzi’s goal.
Back to Udine and the Juve juggernaut continues to move. Trezeguet finds Del Piero with an excellently weighted cross-field pass and his strike partner’s deft first touch takes him into the penalty area. One touch and in the ball goes. A luxurious right foot finish into the bottom left corner. Eleven minutes in and Juventus are 2-0 up and top of the table.
As the Inter ultras’ ears remain pinned to their radios to hear this news a corner is won in Rome. Luigi Di Biagio sends it into the centre of the six yard box, Peruzzi flaps and Vieri taps the ball home. He rips his shirt off and sprints towards the Inter faithful. Back to the top of the table for Inter whose fate is in their own hands.
In Brescia a homemade sign is held up, ‘Dio esiste ed ha il codino’ (God exists and he has a ponytail). Whether or not this is true, Roby Baggio has yet to bring his influence on the game – it is 0 – 0 and his side are going down as things stand.
It’s scarcely creditable to believe at this point that the day’s drama has not yet begun. Twenty minutes has past and Inter are looking to have finally broken their Scudetto duck but before celebrations can be planned for Piazza del Duomo a ponderous Inter defence allows Karel Poborsky to lash home an equaliser. Any cries of ‘Pazza Inter’ are quickly muffled, however, as a Recoba corner is headed in by Di Biagio who is uncharacteristically at the centre of goals today. It’s 2-1 and Inter are top of the league.
In Udine, news filters through and the atmosphere begins to calm ahead of half time. This is classic era Serie A, however, and there’s one last twist in the first half of the Scudetto race. A clearance is skied in the Inter box and Slovakian left back Vratislav Gresko provides an accidentally cushioned assist for Poborsky who bursts on to the failed back pass to land a potentially fatal blow for Inter’s title hopes. The worst possible time to concede. The relegation battle is as things were, with Brescia yet to break the deadlock and Piacenza 1 – 0 up but not through Huber.
Half Time
News from Rome makes Marcello Lippi’s team talk a completely different beast. Now in his second spell as Juventus manager, as he stepped into the away dressing room in Udine, he had the aura of a man who had won three Scudetti, a Coppa Italia and the Champions League in his previous stint at the club. Whatever he said, Juventus come out with an imperious spring in their step. They are roared on by their fans and put in a commanding performance in the early stages of the second half.
When Hector Cuper was appointed as Inter manager, there were some noises of concern that, talented as he clearly was, he was an expert at finishing second. His Valencia side fell at the last hurdle at the 2000 and 2001 Champions League finals and here in Rome, his team needed to come out and put in a performance to justify his appointment. This Inter side, however, is the mirror opposite of Juventus, starting the second half with a strangely muted energy.
At the other end of the table the fortunes of Lippi’s bete noire, Roberto Baggio, take a dramatic turn for the better. His Brescia team go 1-0 through Jonathan Bachini, released by Luca Toni. Shortly before this, Hubner goes within one goal of Trezeguet with a penalty to put his side 2-0 up. Piacenza currently look well placed to survive, even if their talismanic striker’s individual honour is just out of reach.
Returning to the capital, Inter can be best described as a shadow of a team on the pitch. Early on, they are lucky to avoid a red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity and 56 minutes in, it is no surprise that former stalwart Diego Simone puts Lazio ahead. His lack of celebration scant consolation to Inter tifosi who now see their team with a mountain to climb. A gradual pandemonium starts to set in, in Udine as transistor radio news spreads. Recently substituted Conte gets in on the act, celebrating with his tifosi as Juventus are on course for Scudetto 26.
Twelve minutes later, things go from bad to worse for Inter as Roma wake up in Turin. Antonio Cassano pulls out a beautiful lob, on a day of fantastic finishes from Italian strikers, to put Roma 1 – 0. Inter have gone from title winners to third place in the course of twenty three footballing minutes. Alessandro Nesta makes a crucial goal-line clearance to deny an immediate Inter response. Calcio is a cruel game but Inter fans might suggest that the footballing gods are particularly malicious.
The punishment is not over as, with 73 minutes on the clock, current Inter boss Simone Inzaghi extends Lazio’s lead. Shortly afterwards, Ronaldo is substituted and breaks down in tears on the bench. One of the most iconic sport images will last long in the memories of football fans across the globe. Ronaldo’s comeback season for Inter, having spent most of three seasons injured, will not end in glory. This will be his last game for the club.
The melancholia of this moment is not what is fated to be the end of the drama of this cinque Maggio. Another injury plagued superstar, the ponytailed Baggio is hacked down by Massimo Tarantino and refereeing legend Pierluigi Collina awards the penalty. It’s struck low to left but is saved by Gianluca Pagliuca, the ball bobbles up though and Baggio hits it on the volley to make it 2-0. Perhaps the footballing gods have ponytails after all?
As fans in Udine sing themselves hoarse and Inter tifosi start to come to terms with one of the greatest meltdowns in modern sport, there is an epilogue to this epic story. The game between relegation rivals Piacenza and Hellas Verona has been a classic. Despite being 2 – 0 with only a few minutes remaining, Verona are unlucky to be losing with dozens of excellent chances not going their way. The goatee-bearded Hubner will have the last word, however, as he is released on the right hand side of the penalty area. With his eyes on the capocannoniere, he strides towards the ball in a fashion which gives no clues to the thirty five years he has spent on this earth thus far. He rounds the goalkeeper and puts the ball away. The capocannoniere is his, shared with Trezeguet. The shirt comes off and, whilst the result isn’t quite as chiselled as Vieri’s offering earlier, it is unlikely that Hubner will care.
Full Time
Juventus are champions of Italy. Roma finish as runners up and Inter have collapsed to third. They will have to play a Champions League qualifying round. Hellas are relegated and the world will therefore see Baggio play top flight football for at least another year.
The fall out from this extraordinary day leaves redemption for some who seem to have lost everything and hubristic falls from grace for those on top of the world. Ronaldo would lift a World Cup shortly afterwards, and go on to complete a marvellous final chapter in his career at Real Madrid. Marrotti chose to back Cuper for another year over his Brazilian striker a curious decision would give Inter another second place finish in 2002/03. Baggio’s late career glory at Brescia would not be enough to prove his fitness to Giovanni Trappatoni for Italy’s 2002 for an Italy call-up.
2006 looms large over the legacy of this day. Luciano Moggi, who had masterminded Juventus’ rebuilt team this season was hailed as director-genius, would be disgraced just four years later in the Calciopoli scandal. Inter’s humiliation would hurt their fans deeply. As they licked their wounds in May 2002, a former interpreter turned coach had just led Porto to a third placed finish in the Portuguese first division. Four years on, he would lead them to their finest hour: the treble. 5th May, 2002 belongs to Lippi, however. It must have felt like his greatest moment in management, but little did he know that this would actually come at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, at the World Cup four years on.
Looking back on cinque Maggio, 2002, 20 years later, the pleasure to be found in the sight of Baggio, Del Piero, Gabriel Batistuta, Javier Zanetti and Ronaldo all straining sinews to achieve glory or avoid ignominy is only coloured by the fact that this day was, perhaps, the last day of the glorious Serie A empire which had dominated world football for over two decades.