A quite extraordinary and fitting homage was paid to Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti earlier this week, as the number four shirt he wore for many years at the club was retired after the Expo 2015 charity match at the San Siro. Whilst there have been many South Americans to ply their trade at the Milanese club, only some live long in the memory of the Nerazzurri faithful.
There have been many great South Americans who have graced Serie A over the ages. Diego Maradona wowed the San Paolo with many glittering displays for Napoli, whilst Brazilian duo Ronaldinho and Ricardo Kaka helped lift Inter’s cross-town rivals AC Milan to the summit of world football with their flair and creativity. The Nerazzurri, though, boast a mass of South American greats of its own.
The criteria for determining how great these players were include appearances for the club as well as honours won.
- Walter Samuel 2005-2014
The tough tackling centre-back is one of three Argentines to feature in the top five list of greatest South Americans to have played for Inter Milan. Now plying his trade in Switzerland with top-of-the-table FC Basel, Samuel was a key part of Inter’s treble success in 2010 under Jose Mourinho.
Nicknamed Il Muro (The Wall) for his strong and uncompromising style of play, the centre-back is aggressive in challenging the opposition in one-on-one duels as well as being superior in the air in both his own box as well as the opposition’s.
Samuel’s long list of honours for the club includes successive Scudetti between 2006 and 2010, winning the Coppa Italia (2006, 2010 and 2011), the Italian Supercup (2005, 2006, 2008 and 2010), the FIFA Club World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2010. Samuel was also named the Serie A Defender of the Year in 2010. The centre-back has 236 appearances to his name for Inter.
- Julio Cesar 2005-2012
The Brazilian shot-stopper is currently playing for Portuguese powerhouse Benfica. Such was the ability of the former Selecao number one that he was up there with Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon as the world’s best goalkeeper when at the peak of his powers for Inter Milan in 2010.
Cesar, like Samuel, was a central figure during the Nerazzurri’s treble winning year in 2010. Only three goals passed the Brazilian in the knockout stages of the 2009-10 Champions League.
Making 300 appearances for the Nerazzurri, Cesar racked up a medal tally similar to that of Samuel during the club’s golden years between 2006 and 2010. He was also awarded Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009 and 2010 as well as the UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010.
- Esteban Cambiasso 2004-2014
Now embroiled in a relegation battle with a resurgent Leicester City, Cambiasso was once one of the great midfielders in the game whilst at Inter Milan.
Described by Eurosport as the heartbeat of the Inter side that became a dominant force of Italian football, Cambiasso was not so much a flashy midfielder for the Nerazzurri. He does, however, possess acute tactical intelligence, incredible stamina, good technique and vision as well as a good range of passing. Add a strong tackling ability and you have a complete defensive midfielder in Cambiasso.
Cambiasso’s medal haul for Inter Milan includes all those that Samuel and Cesar have won as well as a Coppa Italia in 2005. He has made a total of 420 appearances for Inter.
- Ivan Cordoba 2000-2012
The Colombian centre-back was an outstanding servant for the club, making 455 appearances for the Nerazzurri and serving as vice-captain for the club.
Cordoba was rarely beaten in the air even though he stands at only 173 centimetres. Other exceptional defensive qualities the Colombian possessed include his athleticism, superior reading of the game and excellent timing in the tackle.
For Inter, he has won the same medals as Cambiasso.
- Javier Zanetti 1995-2014
Arguably one of the greatest players in the history of football, Zanetti is Inter Milan’s most capped player with an astonishing 858 appearances for the club. Wearing the captain’s armband for the club between 1999 and 2014, the Inter legend is as loyal as they come in the game, and as of June 2014 has been Inter Milan’s Vice President.
During his 15 years as captain, the Nerazzurri won a total of 16 trophies. Zanetti’s medal haul is identical to those of Cordoba and Cambiasso, with the exception of a UEFA Cup win in 1998, the final of which Zanetti scored in.
The Argentine was known as El Tractor (The Tractor) during his time at Inter due to his remarkable stamina. A complete defender, Zanetti excelled in every aspect of the game and was extremely versatile as he was able to play on either flank as well as centrally in defence and midfield.
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Inter Milan’s ability to get the best out of the large talent pool that exists in South America has taken the club to heights that it may not reach again in a long time, if at all. And whilst the Nerazzurri are unlikely to ever find another Zanetti, the continent is one that has provided many talented players who have driven the club forward.
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