Golden Age - Defensive Midfielders
Locatelli - "I was, in a certain sense, a precocious boy, football-wise", he said of himself, "because, after having played in the youth teams of Brescia, at the age of seductive years I was already a starter for the blue team that at that time was playing in the Serie B championship. I was agile, quick, with a shot that wasn't very strong, but very precise. I played as a centre-forward and, for a few seasons..."
After his return to Brescia, where he had moved, finding, in the dual role of player - coach, the unforgettable Umberto Caligaris. It was Caligaris who changed the player's role, moving him from centre-forward to midfielder. "A positive experience, because it allowed me to participate more fully in the game by playing in defense, in midfield and occasionally using my skills as an attacking player.
Locatelli said: "I remember the Olympic victory more willingly, rather than the World Cup. In my opinion, in fact, winning an Olympics, excelling in front of authorities and the public who not only love football, but sports in general, being rewarded under that fire of Olympia, gives you a special feeling. To further support my thesis, which may be personal, there is the fact that, when we returned to Italy, as soon as we set foot inside the border, we found thousands of people waiting for us and cheering us, rather than the few after the World Cup. And I still want to clarify one thing; the victory at the Olympics assured me a sort of membership card with lifetime entry to every Italian grandstand, for all sports."
Pesek - Santiago Bernabeu, the legendary president of Real Madrid, whose name adorns the famous stadium, encountered numerous stars. He played alongside many, befriended many, but rarely did he lavish praise. “In my life, I have only seen three truly great footballers. One was Di Stefano. Second, Pele. And the third was Kad’a.” Kad’a? An unusual name, indeed, yet not even his true one.
Whether Bernabeu knew that the last name in his trio referred to Karel Pesek remains a mystery. But he was well aware of what the elegant man with the thick golden mane could achieve with the ball at his feet. In the 1920s, he was heralded as Europe’s finest player, and the fans of Sparta, for whom he played for over twenty years, adored him. He was their captain. Their idol. Their Kad’a.
Pesek was the first to win medals in two team sports at the Olympic Games. In Antwerp in 1920, after securing bronze in hockey, he had a chance at silver in football. Yet, as the captain of the national team, he thwarted this opportunity with a hasty decision.
“The English referee whistled a penalty in the seventh minute, and the Belgians led 1:0. Our team grew angry and the match turned into a bullfight. Then our defender Steiner was sent off.” At that juncture, team captain Kaďa ordered a walk-off in protest. This was only the 36th minute. The referee called for the Czechoslovakian team to return, but they did not. End of match.
"I led the team to confer with the Olympic Committee. But to my dismay, there were no committee members. The gentlemen had gone to Paris, leaving me uncertain of what to do. We did not return to the field and lost by default." The organizers disqualified the team. The Czechoslovak expedition protested in vain.
“However, the investigation revealed that referee Lewis had accepted bribes. Our association received a formal apology two years later, but the medals were a dud,” Karel declared resolutely, never acknowledging his part in the decision. Referee corruption, irresponsible officials—an odd sense of alibism seemed ingrained in him since the early days of football.
