In the Milanese dialect the term ‘Basleta’ means a slightly pronounced chin. This term was used with affection when describing Giovanni Lodetti, a very talented defending midfielder who started his career with the Rossoneri on December 30th, 1962 against Spal. That game would result in a tie (0-0).
Lodetti did not originally expect to make his debut in that game, however, on Saturday the 29th of December, the midfielder took a walk with Marino Bergamasco, Rocco’s right hand man and technical director. During that walk, Bergamasco told Lodetti to keep out of trouble and maintain a good impression because he had heard (from Rocco) that the next day’s game (Sunday) there would be room for an eleventh player for the starting lineup. For Lodetti, coming from Milan’s youth team, it was the chance of a lifetime.
And so it happened, Lodetti still a young man, 19 years old at the time would later go on to be known as ‘basleta’ as he took his first steps as part of the starting lineup under Rocco. The story goes, that as Lodetti was about to enter the field for his starting game, he asked Rocco what to do, but then Bergamasco responded, that he should do what he “knows best” and just play. From that point on, it was the beginning of Basleta’s nine year stint with Milan, with 216 appearances. His achievements during his tenure with the Rossoneri included two Serie A league titles, two European Champion Clubs’ Cups, an Intercontinental Cup, an Italian Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup.
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