1970–71 Inter Milan season

Following the golden era of the 1960s, Inter managed to win their eleventh league title in 1971. The second season of Heriberto Herrera is opened with the transfer out of Luis Suárez to Sampdoria, after nine years in Milan. The fans of Inter Milan were schocked with initial results, with Inter out in Coppa Italia and eliminated by Newcastle United in Fairs Cup.[1]

President Ivanoe Fraizzoli, who at the time also made it clear that he was willing to sell the club if the right offer was tabled, fired Herrera after a 0-3 loss with city rivals Milan and handed control of the side to youth team boss Giovanni Invernizzi. A former Inter player, Invernizzi was initially appointed on a temporary basis yet ended the campaign by making Italian football history.

Invernizzi rejuvenated a tactically exhausted and an under-performing squad. He turned Tarcisio Burgnich into a sweeper, played the young Mauro Bellugi at right-back, reintegrated Jair into the team, replaced summer signing Mario Frustalupi with Mario Bertini and asked the club's senators – Giacinto Facchetti, Sandro Mazzola, Mario Corso and Boninsegna – to perform to their status.

The turning point in their season came after a defeat to Napoli in Week 7. On the flight home, Invernizzi and some of the side's more experienced elements sat down with a fixture list to hand. Together they plotted their path to what many perceived as unlikely title glory and the tabella, as it was known, became part of Inter folklore.

Following defeat at the San Paolo, they went on an unbeaten run which saw them take 21 points from a possible 24. The Nerazzurri won the return derby, wiped out a significant point gap that winter champions Milan had over them and netted the championship with two games to spare.

Invernizzi not only became a hero of consequence, he also made sure his name would be inscribed in the footballing annals of time. Never before and not since has a Serie A team changed Coach mid-season and gone on to be crowned champions of Italy.[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Ivano Bordon GK Lido Vieri DF Mauro Bellugi DF Tarcisio Burgnich DF Giancarlo Cella DF Bernardino Fabbian DF Giacinto Facchetti DF Mario Giubertoni DF Spartaco Landini DF Oscar Righetti MF Marco Achilli

No. Position Player MF Gianfranco Bedin MF Mario Bertini MF Mario Corso MF Mario Frustalupi MF Sandro Mazzola MF Gabriele Oriali FW Roberto Boninsegna FW Jair da Costa FW Sergio Pellizzaro FW Alberto Reif

Source:[3]

• Fabrizio Melegari (a cura di). Almanacco illustrato del calcio - La storia 1898-2004. Modena,. Panini, 2004.
• Calciatori 1970-71, Modena-Milano,. Panini-L'Unità, 1994.
• Chiesa, Carlo F. Il grande romanzo dello scudetto. da Calcio 2000, 2002 e 2003.
• Filippo Grassia and Gianpiero Lotito. INTER - Dalla nascita allo scudetto del centenario. Antonio Vallardi Editore. p. 239, Milano,Grassia, Lotito.

• "Serie A 1970-71". RSSSF.com.
• "Archivio storico della La Stampa". La Stampa.
• "Archivio storico dell'Unità". L'Unita.