Goodbye Captain

Mirko Pavinato, captain of the Bologna side who were champions of Italy in 1964, passed away this morning at the age of 86.

Born in Vicenza on 20 June 1934, he started his footballing career at L.R. Vicenza and was signed for the Rossoblù by Dall’Ara in 1956: after his first season, Renzo De Vecchi, a great defender who played for the national team in the twenties, regarded him as the second-best full back in the league. He soon became a pillar of the team, winning the Mitropa Cup in 1961 and in 1962 Angelo Moratti came and offered, in vain, the astronomical sum of 300 million lira for him.
After becoming captain, he was one of the stars of the scudetto victory of 1964. Fast and decisive, a harsh marker and capable of unstoppable bursts of speed, he was a silent leader of an unforgettable team. In 1966, after ten seasons with the Rossoblù and 297 appearances across the league, Coppa Italia and European cups, he left Bologna to finish his career at Mantova as a centre back.

All of us at Bologna express our deepest sympathy for the Pavinato family in remembering a man who made the history of our club. Goodbye Captain.