Serie A, Olimpia Milano in mourning: Giandomenico Ongaro has died

Earlier than Kyle Hines, earlier than Mason Rocca, earlier than Vittorio Gallinari, shortly after Sandro Gamba within the honor roll of the good defenders of Olimpia, of the Mastiffs there was Giandomenico Ongaro, Giando for all. He was Olimpia’s unique quantity 13, a person who as a prized full-back received eight league titles and the 1966 European Cup with Simmenthal. In 1964 when Olimpia – pressured by regulation to play with out foreigners even within the worldwide area – reached the European semi-final dropping to Actual Madrid, Giando was one of many backbones of the staff , indispensable assist from the expertise of Pieri, Riminucci, Vianello, Vittori earlier than he left, as much as the younger males of the following technology, Masini and Iellini. His first Serie A championship got here in 1957, his final in 1968. Had he not been injured, it could have lasted a very long time. He was adequate to have managed 5 video games for the Azzurri at a time when the nationwide staff performed far lower than they do now.

His historical past as a sportsman can also be valuable as a result of Ongaro was a real product of Olimpia’s youth groups and went via the method to spend virtually his whole profession in crimson and white. He was by no means fairly knowledgeable – he was knowledgeable, however then he studied, graduated in engineering, after which began working. On the finish of his profession, he moved to the USA to work and remained there for greater than twenty years.

His hyperlink with Olimpia has by no means failed. When Arthur Kenney’s No. 18 jersey was retired, he needed to be there. When the membership celebrated its 80-year historical past, he was there and picked up the customized shirt with quantity 80. When there have been essential video games, which shouldn’t be missed, he was there. When Sandro Gamba’s quantity was withdrawn, he was there, “I’ll all the time be there for Sandro”, he added. When the enjoying flooring was named after Cesare Rubini, Giando Ongaro was there, celebrating the one coach he had throughout his interlude at Olimpia.