MILAN –
The 17th edition of the San
Siro Gentleman Awards
took place at the Hotel Marriott in Milan this evening, with prizes handed out to Inter and AC
Milan players who have distinguished themselves for their class and
fair play on and off the pitch.
There were plenty of Nerazzurri at the gala event hosted by Claudia Gerini
and Massimo Caputi: players Javier
Zanetti,
Diego Milito,
Andrea Poli
and Andrea
Ranocchia,
but also the coach, Andrea
Stramaccioni,
Signora Bedy
Moratti
and chief executive Ernesto
Paolillo.
The
winners of this year’s edition of the San Siro Gentleman Awards – which began in 1996 – were voted for by the viewers of Inter
Channel and Milan Channel, with nominations also being made via the
official Gentleman Awards website, Gazzetta.it and TgCom.
Captain Zanetti was named ‘Gentleman Inter 2012’ but also ‘Gentleman Serie A 2012’. Milito
collected the ‘Gentleman Best Goal F.C. Internazionale’ prize for his strike
in the derby win on 15 January and Poli picked up the ‘Gentleman
Revelation’ award.
Stramaccioni was given special recognition for
winning the first edition of the NextGen Series, the U19 Champions
League. On stage alongside chief executive Paolillo, the Nerazzurri coach joked: "Here comes the beneficiary of one of president Moratti’s crazy football ideas [smiling]. I’m here to help these great players who wear the Nerazzurri shirt." Then, more serious, he added: "I’ve always believed we’d be able to see out the season in Inter style and we will, battling until the very end."
There was also a heartfelt moment in memory of Piermario
Morosini: Ranocchia – a friend and former Italy U21 team-mate
of the late Piermario – went up on stage to receive a memorial
plaque.
Among the Nerazzurri awarded, there was also Mario Corso, who went on stage with Bedy Moratti, from whom he received a special Gentleman prize for his contribution in making Italian football great.
F.C. Internazionale Top Sponsor Volvo was the Title Sponsor of the
evening while the event’s mascot was another Interista: young fan Filippo, who therefore had another chance to meet his idols after his visit to Appiano Gentile a few months ago.