Sampdoria remembers Maraschi

How long is forever? Sometimes just one second. It is that exact second that we want to remember Mario Maraschi by after the 81-year-old sadly passed away in Vicentino on Thursday.

We want to remember him hanging in the air, with the Curva Sud behind him and the ball ready to nestle in the back of the net. That moment will stand the test of time, given that the splendid overhead kick allowed us to equalise in the 89^th minute in the Derby della Lanterna in March 1974. The whole Sampdoria fan base, young and old, is familiar with that moment that was conjured up by the forward who signed for the club in 1973 when he was well into his thirties.

Born in Lodi in 1939, Maraschi was an experienced and seasoned striker, who always got among the goals wherever he played: Pro Vercelli, Milan, Lazio, Bologna, Fiorentina, Vicenza and Cagliari, and he also won the Scudetto in 1968/69 with the Viola. His record for the Blucerchiati was 14 goals in 61 games, with his final appearance coming on 15 February 1976 against AC Milan at San Siro in which he tore his Achilles tendon. Remarkably, fate has dictated that the first match since the tragic news will be against the Rossoneri on Sunday at Marassi, bringing back memories of the overhead kick in the derby back in 1974.

The whole club and president Massimo Ferrero send our deepest condolences to the Maraschi family