28/09/2026
In 1978, Italy was shaken by crisis and grief, and it needed a president who could restore trust. It found one in Sandro Pertini, a white-haired 81-year-old with a pipe, a sharp tongue, and an extraordinary life story.
Born in 1896 in Stella, Liguria, Pertini opposed Mussolini's fascist regime from the start. He paid dearly for it, spending years in prison and internal exile for his beliefs. Later, he became a leader in the Resistance during WWII. Few presidents have carried such a lived history of fighting for freedom.
Yet what Italians remember most is his humanity. He spoke plainly, hugged people, and refused to act like a distant figure in a palace.
Then came 11 July 1982. In Madrid, Italy faced West Germany in the World Cup final. Pertini, aged 85, sat in the stands and erupted in joy with every Italian goal. Italy won 3-1. On the flight home, the president was famously photographed playing cards with the players and coach, the World Cup trophy resting on the table beside them.
To many, he was not just a president. He was everyone's grandfather.