Oct. 8, 1922: Master Liedholm 100 years later

Probably on October 8, 1922, 100 years ago, there was already cold, snowy, icey day in Valdemarsvik, a municipality in the heart of Sweden that today has about eight thousand souls. But no one could have thought that, with that frost and in those heights, a man with all-Nordic aplomb, but with the subtle irony of a Latin, a little Roman, a little Neapolitan: Nils Liedholm, if you like is surely more charming and confidential “Baron”, would be born. A book (and perhaps an encyclopedia) would not be enough to tell the story, let alone a newspaper article. But we can't help but "fish" in his History, football and human, some victories and defeats, funny jokes and deep football knowledge, which he left as his legacy.

He was born a midfielder and helped the Swedish national team win the gold medal at the 1948 Olympics. He was vice world champion in 1958. It was a very quick flight to see him already in an AC Milan jersey. In the Rossoneri jersey, flanked by compatriots Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Nordahl, he formed the famous trio: Gre-No-Li. Captain of Milan, he won four league titles. With the Milan shirt, he totaled 394 appearances and 89 goals. He is still the second foreign player with the most appearances in the history of the Rossoneri club, preceded by Dutchman Clarence Seedorf. To us, as a reward and a remembrance, he donated some of his most beautiful "boutade". We put them in a row and choose the nicest one.

"Once in Palermo Gunnar Nordahl starts from our area and then strikes with his neck, not even that hard. The ball, leather number 5, gets stuck at the cross of the posts. To pull it down, they lifted their goalkeeper who, struggling, ripped it off." "One day at San Siro I shot very hard, hit the crossbar and the ball returned to our area."  "Roma is Falcao, Valigi and nine others."  "Scarnecchia is like Eder." "Antonelli is the new Cruijff." "Baldieri reminds me of Rossi." "Strukelj is the strongest jogadore in the world." "One day I missed a pass, it hadn't happened for two years and the whole stadium made an 'oohh' of wonder". "Ball possession is fundamental: if you hold the ball for 90 minutes, you are sure the opponent will never score a goal." "Plays are beautiful in training: without opponents, they all succeed."

Inimitable on the field, then Master on the bench. His memory is of one who knows about football: Gianni Rivera. "The invention of ‘zone’ defending? It's not that he invented it.... He always tried to balance the team. Actually, at that time only Brazil played 'zone.' It was a false 4-2-4 because Zagallo was a midfielder and not a fourth forward. Liedholm was a great teacher, like Rocco, only a little more aloof." For us Romanisti, Nils Liedholm is just the Baron. On the Giallorossi bench in four periods: from 1973 to 1977, from 1979 to 1984 and from 1987 to 1989, and only a couple of months in 1997. And of him, of his Roman-ness, they know everything. Today, even the 20-year-olds know everything. It was a mesmerizing sight to go to training sessions, then at the Tre Fontane. And no fans would go away if first, he had not bombed Alberto Ginulfi and then later Franco Tancredi. He had a forbidding left foot, dry, powerful, taut. And when the ball ended up on the crossbar, the crack sounded like that of a tree branch that had snapped. He raised Agostino, and made him a pivot for Roma, being lucky enough to have Vierchowod for one season in the Giallorossi. The Czar was tough and very fast. And the Baron invented a "new role" for Di Bartolomei: defensive center back. Because if Ago was a bit slow, he could, however, run the ball more than his legs. And Falcao conducted the orchestra on the field. Scudetto and three Italian Cups. With the addition of a game that was never played: May 30, 1984. And there, after a snub and not a failure, he said goodbye to Roma, taking his most trusted captain, friend and expert with him to Milan: Ago. Yes, because they both loved modern art, and after examining the progress of a match, they would lock themselves in museums for hours.

In 2011 the Nils Liedholm Association was founded in Cuccaro Monferrato, and in the same year established an award in memory of the unforgettable Baron. The Liedholm Award - a champion on the field, gentleman in life - is given each year to a sportsman who has particularly distinguished himself not only for his achievements but for the values of loyalty, fairness, gentlemanliness, transparency and elegance. These were the values that so distinguished the life and sports career of the great Nils Liedholm from Valdemarsvik, a small village in the heart of Sweden.