Remembering 5 times the world of football united in grief over a tragedy 

#3 Superga Air Disaster - Grande Torino - May 4, 1949.

Superga Air Disaster

Fondly remembered and called as Grande Torino at that time, Turin did not have Juventus as the dominating team but it had Torino who had knocked Juventus off their perch and had been five time Italian champions continuously beginning from 1942-1943.

They had won the Coppa Italia as well and their players formed a major part of the Italian national team becoming a major force of football back then but air disaster had a shockingly disturbing impact.

As the team was returning to Turin after playing a friendly in Lisbon against Benfica, due to lack of visibility and absurd whether conditions, the disaster struck as the Italian airlines flight G.212 crashed into the supporting wall of the Basilica of Superga in Turin causing an instant death of all the 31 people who were on board including the players, the coaching staff and the journalists.

The Superga air disaster left the Italian team in ruins and the nation was mentally handicapped for quite a while. Unable to come to terms and breathe bravely again, the team travelled to the next world cup in a boat, scarred psychologically, suffering a period of absolute trauma and despair.

It was not until 1970's again that the Italian team gathered it's strength again but today, Grande Torino are remembered by fans across Italy and the site of the disaster has almost become like a site for pilgrimage.

There are striking similarities between them and the busby babes, a young team playing beautiful football but tragedy occurs at the most beautiful times. The story and the continued striving of Torino should be remembered by the world.