On September 4, 2006, Giacinto Facchetti, the legendary president of Inter Milan and a legend of Italian football, passed away at the age of 64. Twenty years later, one of the greatest figures in Inter Milan's history remains deeply etched in the memories of the Nerazzurri.
In the summer of 2006, Facchetti experienced the last special moment of his life. The Italian national team won the World Cup, and he had hoped to travel to Berlin to watch the final, but ultimately could not make the trip. On July 26th, during Inter Milan's friendly match against Monaco in Bolzano, the club received a decision from the Italian Football Federation officially awarding them the Serie A title.
Regarding the championship, Facchetti said: "This is a fair and rule-abiding Serie A title, won by a team that demonstrates strength, skill, and fighting spirit. This championship comes at a time when Italian football has decided to prioritize ethical issues, so it has a dual significance."
But that wasn't the last time he shared the joy of a championship with Inter Milan.
On August 26, Inter Milan staged a classic comeback in the Italian Super Cup, defeating Roma 4-3 to win the title. Luis Figo scored the winning goal from a free kick, and Mancini dedicated the championship to "President Facchetti, who was unable to attend the match."
The following day, Marco Materazzi visited Facchetti in the hospital with the Super Cup trophy. Despite being very weak, Facchetti insisted on attending a charity event for football legends in Monaco and leaving his footprints there.
However, this also became his final farewell to the world of football.
Facchetti's passing has sparked mourning throughout the football world. Inter Milan fans, former teammates and rivals, as well as media and football figures from other countries, have all paid high tribute to this Italian legend. A moment of silence was also held during the France vs. Italy match in memory of the recently departed Italian football leader.
In Milan's Vera Giovanna, long lines of people came to mourn Facchetti. On the day of his funeral at the Sant'Ambrogio Church, more than 10,000 people attended to pay their respects.
Facchetti's son, Gianfelice, once quoted a passage from Ray Bradbury's *Fahrenheit 451* to describe his father's legacy: "When a person leaves, they should always leave something behind. It could be a child, a book, a painting, a house, a wall built with their own hands, or a garden planted with love. As long as someone sees them, they will remember the person who left them."
This is precisely the most important thing Facchetti left for Inter Milan.
Inter Milan subsequently named their youth league and Interlo training center after Facchetti, hoping that the club's young players could grow up in the values he represented.
A few days after Facchetti's death, Inter Milan lost 2-3 to Fiorentina away from home, with Esteban Cambiasso scoring twice. After scoring, he pointed both hands to the sky, dedicating the goal to Facchetti.
That season, which began in sorrow, ended with Inter Milan winning the Serie A title again. When the team lifted the trophy in Siena, Cambiasso specially wore the number 3 jersey as a tribute to Facchetti.
In 2010, after Cambiasso won the Champions League with Inter Milan, he expressed his remembrance of Facchetti in the same way.
From player to captain to president, Facchetti's life was inextricably linked with Inter Milan. He left behind not only championships, honors, and a illustrious football career, but also a blue-black spirit of loyalty, respect, and integrity.
Twenty years ago, Facchetti left this world; twenty years later, his legacy still belongs to Inter Milan.
