Historic Scudetto Victory for Verona in 1985, as Marangon and Alessandria etched their names in football history
In the present-day celebration of Hellas Verona's 40th anniversary of their sole Serie A title, let's take a walk down memory lane with Fabio Marangon, a key player in that historic triumph. Before leading the gialloblu to the summit, Marangon had spent a season with Alessandria, a stepping stone that brought him closer to his aspirations.
"I sought Alessandria due to their aspiring project," Marangon recalls. After a successful season with Sanremese, he yearned for a challenge and aimed for a promotion to Serie B. Being tied to Juventus presented no obstacle, as he made it clear that he was eager to advance. However, a unique opportunity arose with the Calleri family, who owned Alessandria, and Luciano Moggi, who were constructing a formidable team destined for Serie B greatness. Intrigued, Marangon signed on.
Regrettably, all that quality wasn't enough to propel Alessandria to the top. The collapse of S. Elena Quartu during the season took away critical points that significantly impacted their position and morale. Marangon shares a sentiment of lost possibilities, having played alongside teammates like Fratena, who he claims outran even Caniggia. He also laments the decision to replace coach Ferretti, who possessed a calming and balanced demeanor that might have led them to victory.
Marangon's transfer to Verona materialized in a fortuitous turn of events. "If we had been promoted, there was an agreement between Juventus and Alessandria for me to join them permanently," Marangon stated. When that promotion eluded them, Taranto showed interest, but Verona ultimately won Marangon over, as his brother Luciano was already a member of the team.
That year, Marangon found himself facing off against powerhouse teams like Lazio, Milan, and his former club, Juventus. He even had the chance to mark Paolo Rossi in a game against Juventus, an unforgettable experience. Marangon describes that Serie A as a melting pot of the world's best football talent.
Reflecting on Hellas Verona's unforgettable team, Marangon praises their ability to blend talent, teamwork, and tactical intelligence, crediting their success to the team's camaraderie and the leadership of Bagnoli, a coach who balanced tactical brilliance with a sincere ear for his players' ideas.
One unforgettable anecdote Marangon recalls is from the beginning of the season when they faced Kaiserslautern in a friendly. Bagnoli addressed the team in the locker room, expressing his satisfaction with their progress and emphasizing the potential for greatness that lay ahead. In that moment, Marangon and his teammates sensed they were part of something meaningful.
- Fabio Marangon's time at Alessandria, despite its disappointing culmination, was a stepping stone that brought him closer to his aspirations of playing in Serie B.
- Intrigued by the Calleri family's and Luciano Moggi's ambitions, Marangon signed with Alessandria, eager to be part of their formidable team destined for Serie B greatness.
- Marangon's transfer to Hellas Verona, a year full of memorable moments, was a fortuitous turn of events, as he found himself facing off against powerhouse teams like Lazio, Milan, and his former club, Juventus.
- Recalling his time with Hellas Verona, Marangon praises their teamwork, tactical intelligence, and camaraderie, crediting their success to the leadership of Bagnoli, a coach who balanced tactical brilliance with a sincere ear for his players' ideas.
- Reflecting on the nature of Serie A in that era, Marangon describes it as a melting pot of the world's best football talent, on par with other elite European leagues.
