He was the first coach of Diego Armando Maradona's Italian career. This alone would secure Rino Marchesi's position in Italian soccer history. At the age of 88, Marchesi passed away, leaving behind a legacy of skill, sobriety, and a vision of sports that encompassed one of the brightest decades in Italian soccer. As a player, he was a standout midfielder, particularly at Fiorentina, where he won two Coppa Italia titles, a Mitropa Cup, and the 1960-61 Cup Winners' Cup. He spent five seasons at Lazio before finishing his career at Prato. On the bench, after his early years at Montevarchi, the breakthrough came with Avellino, whom he saved from relegation for two consecutive seasons between 1978 and 1980. From there he moved to Napoli, who in the 1980–81 season, driven by the long passes of Ruud Krol, came close to contesting the league title until the final stretch against Roma and Juventus. A modern, organized, competitive Napoli. Following a tenure at Inter Milan that was marred by technical and environmental issues, Marchesi returned to Naples in 1983-84 and saved the team. The following year, he led the Azzurri in Maradona's debut season, but was unable to make a significant improvement in quality. The high point occurred in the mid-1980s, when a good season at Como won him a call-up to Juventus, where he was picked personally by Giampiero Boniperti to replace Trapattoni. An enormous challenge, faced with a hugely talented squad but concluded without trophies: the league title went to Napoli, and the European campaign ended early against Real Madrid. The following year, without Platini, he still secured a UEFA place before departing. From then on came Udinese, Como, Venezia, SPAL and a final experience at Lecce, before definitively leaving the bench in 1994. Marchesi, born in Milan but raised in Florence, represented a style of soccer marked by restraint and elegance, remote from the spotlight yet essential to the formation of an age. With him, a true figure of the 1980s died. He was more than just a coach; he was remembered by everyone for his kindness, poise, and helpfulness. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at 11 a.m. at the Pieve di San Martino in Sesto Fiorentino.