The death of Alessandro, known to all as Sandro, has left a family remembering not only a champion’s long life but the warmth that surrounded his final days. In the midst of mourning, his son Sandro Mazzola has found comfort in the belief that a figure of such stature cannot truly disappear.
A family name and an enduring memory
Sandro Mazzola, whose registered name is simply Sandro, has carried a family nickname since birth: Bulli. The name was born in 1968, when his father left the Italy training camp in Rome during the European Championship, against coach Ferruccio Valcareggi’s wishes, to reach Milan for the birth.
Arriving at the maternity ward after the birth of two daughters, he celebrated the arrival of the family’s first boy by saying: “After two girls, the tough one of the house has arrived.”
- Sandro Mazzola is the third of four children.
- Within the family, he has been known as Bulli since the day he was born.
- His father’s decision to leave the national-team camp in 1968 became one of the defining stories behind that nickname.
Beside a legendary father
Mazzola Jr remained close to his father throughout his life, including the painful final period. The bond between them was shaped by the weight of a celebrated footballing name, but also by a more private lesson about resilience and the responsibility of building one’s own contentment.
“He was happy, and so were we with him,” Sandro said while the family faced the first difficult hours after the loss. “And I do not think he will ever truly die.”
The lesson left behind
Behind the public image of an enduring champion was a man whose early life had not been easy. His son recalled the principle he had inherited from him: happiness is not simply handed to someone; it must be created through one’s own efforts.
It is a lesson that now accompanies the family’s grief. The final days were marked by suffering, yet also by immense affection, and Sandro’s words suggest that the memory of his father will remain part of the family’s life long after the mourning has passed.
