His self-chosen nickname, ‘Billy’, in homage to Billy Wright, the England midfielder, says a lot about Sandro Salvadore's understanding of football: a battle, to be fought with self-denial and sacrifice.

Add to this a natural elegance of movement, an uncommon sense of position and innate leadership skills, and the result is a dominant defender, a beacon of the game, an immovable pillar.

European champion in 1968 with the national team, Sandro Salvadore was a sweeper of the highest class and devastating power, a champion of yesteryear, a symbol of Juventus.