Faithful servant

Gianni Rivera is remembered as one of the most gifted and elegant players in Italian football history both with his country and his club, AC Milan.

Following his professional debut for AC Milan in 1960, the Italian went on to make over 500 appearances in Serie A, scoring over 120 goals, a formidable strike-rate for a midfielder.

He spent his entire career with the Milan club, remaining faithful to the San Siro side for 19 seasons.

He was also a veteran of four World Cups, first catching the attention of national selectors for the 1962 tournament in Chile and making his World Cup debut against West Germany.

Italian first

Although Italy had a modest impact in Chile, failing to get past the first round, Rivera was soon enjoying success at club level and collected a string of domestic and European honours.

He won his first Italian championship in 1962 as a 19-year-old and one season later was part of the side that defeated Portuguese giants Benfica 2-1 in the European Cup final at Wembley, the first time an Italian team had lifted the continent's most coveted club award.

Rivera was instrumental in that victory, setting up both goals by Jose Altafini.

The European Cup was just one of a raft of major titles to come Rivera's way, including a second European Cup in 1969, a Cup Winners' Cup, three more Italian championships and four Italian Cups.

By now a permanent fixture of the Milan side, Rivera was always looking to make the perfect pass to unlock opposing defences, and his overall vision was one of his great strengths.

Mazzola's rival

In 1968 he starred on the international stage, playing alongside such greats as Riva, Mazzola and Facchetti in an Italian side that won the European championship, defeating Yugoslavia 2-0 in a replayed final in Rome.

Despite his presence in four World Cups, Rivera's best result was a runners up medal in 1970.

Having booked Italy's place in the final with the extra-time winner that beat West Germany 4-3 in a thrilling semi-final, he and his teammates found themselves on the end of a hiding from Brazil in the final.

Brazil won 4-1, with Rivera played only six minutes after coming on as a late substitute.

One of the reasons he did not make more than 60 appearances for Italy was his well publicised rivalry with another great playmaker Sandro Mazzola, who evolved at Inter Milan.

The clash between the two players developed to such an extent that selectors were sometimes afraid to put them in the same side.

His last international appearance was at the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.