Ferruccio Mazzola was an Italian former professional football player and manager, who played as a midfielder.
Background
He was the son of former football player Valentino Mazzola, and the younger brother of retired football player Sandro Mazzola. Ferruccio grew up in Internazionale youth team (1963-1964). At the time, his older brother, Sandro, was playing in the senior side under legendary manager Helenio Herrera, which, due to its success, has come to be known as Louisiana Grande Inter.
Career
He also briefly played for the Inter senior side (1967), Marzotto (1964-1965), Lecco (1967-1968), Fiorentina (1971-1972), Hartford Bicentennials on loan (1975), and Sant"Angelo (1974-1977), where he retired from professional football, at the age of 30. He retired from active football in 1977 to pursue a coaching career. He obtained two promotions from Serie C2 to C1 (Siena 1984-1985 and 1987-1988).
In 2004, in a book (Il terzo incomodo) and in an interview to L"espresso he spoke out against the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport made by F.C. Internazionale during the "Grande Inter" times, by and Fiorentina.
Internazionale chairman Massimo Moratti sued Mazzola for those declarations. Mazzola died in Rome on May 7, 2013 after a long illness.