All the Inter players who took to the pitch during the 2010 Triplete season

MILAN – Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso; Pandev, Sneijder, Eto’o; Milito. We know Inter’s line-up from the 2010 Champions League Final against Bayern Munich by heart. However, the journey to get to 22 May 2010 was long and demanding, and there were many players who gave their contribution, even if that was just a few minutes in the 2009/10 season, which we’re celebrating through the #Timeless2010 campaign powered by Pirelli.

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That season was made up of 57 matches, from the Italian Super Cup in Beijing to the game at the Bernabeu against Bayern Munich. The man who held the record for appearances and minutes played that season was captain Javier Zanetti, who played 55 matches out of those 57 games, behind him were Julio Cesar (54) then Maicon and Milito (52 each). Overall, a total of 27 players wore the Inter shirt that season (see the list at the end of the article).

PLAYERS WHO LEFT INTER IN JANUARY 2010

Patrick Vieira

Almost ever-present at the beginning of the season, the French champion made 16 appearances for Inter in 2009/10 and scored a goal against Genoa in the 5-0 victory. He made two cameo appearances in the Champions League against Dinamo Kyiv and Rubin Kazan, and started in the league against Bari, Parma, Sampdoria, Livorno, Roma and Chievo as well as in the Coppa Italia round of 16. Vieira, born in 1976, left Inter in January to move to Manchester City. His place in the squad was taken by McDonald Mariga, the Kenyan international who signed from Parma.

David Suazo

The Honduran striker made four appearances across four competitions: one in the Super Cup, one in Serie A, one in the Coppa Italia and 45 minutes in the 2-2 Champions League draw against Dynamo Kyiv. He then moved to Genoa in January.

Mancini

The Brazilian striker made a total of seven appearances, starting twice: against Rubin Kazan and then Livorno in the league. He then moved to AC Milan.

YOUNGSTERS AND PRIMAVERA PLAYERS USED BY MOURINHO IN 2009/10

Rene Krhin

The Slovenian born in 1990 was a steady fixture in the First Team squad throughout 2009/10, featuring in the squad 19 times and making five appearances, all in Serie A with one as a starter in Livorno 0-2 Inter. On matchday three, Inter vs. Parma, a great piece of play by him in the middle of the park led to the Nerazzurri doubling their lead.  

Giulio Donati

Another player born in 1990, Mourinho selected him on one occasion, as a starter in the Coppa Italia round of 16 against Livorno at San Siro.

Alen Stevanovic

The Serbian born in 1991 was the leading player for the Primavera side. In the 70th minute of the crazy game that Inter won 4-3 against Siena thanks to Samuel’s goal in added time, José Mourinho threw Stevanovic into the fray to play on the left flank and contribute to the siege late on.

FROM TOLDO TO ARNAUTOVIC: THOSE WITH LESS THAN 20 APPEARANCES

Francesco Toldo

Born in 1971, the 2009/10 season was Toldo’s last as a player. The Italian ‘keeper played in three matches, all as a starter and all in the Coppa Italia: the round of 16 against Livorno, the quarter-final against Juventus, the semi-final first leg against Fiorentina, which was his last match as an Inter player. Three wins and just one goal conceded.

Marko Arnautovic

Having arrived in the summer from Twente, the imaginative and extroverted attacker was deployed by Mourinho on three occasions in the league: his debut occurred on 6 January 2010 against Chievo, then he came on for the whole second-half of Inter 4-3 Siena (and played a key part in the winning goal), and finally he made a cameo appearance in Inter 3-1 Atalanta. He was also on the bench in two Champions League matches (including the semi-final second leg at the Camp Nou), as well as being highly involved in the festivities at San Siro to celebrate the Triplete.

Ricardo Quaresma

Ricardo Quaresma also had a hand in the 2009/10 season: he was part of the squad 31 times and made 13 appearances, two of them in the Champions League group stage. However, the Portuguese international failed to score in his eleven Serie A appearances.

Davide Santon

The full-back, born in 1991, made 15 appearances, one of which was a ten-minute spell in the 0-0 draw against Barcelona in the Champions League group stage. He made two appearances in the Coppa Italia against Juve and Fiorentina, as well as playing in twelve Serie A games, including as a starter in the return fixture against AC Milan. Overall, he played 945 minutes that season.

McDonald Mariga

Mariga took Viera’s place in the squad having arrived from Parma in January. He played 13 games, which included the goal against Atalanta and a crucial cameo in the final minutes against Barcelona at the Camp Nou where he broke up the Blaugrana’s play with several vital tackles.

CALLED UP BUT NOT USED

The Nerazzurri’s third ‘keeper, Paolo Orlandoni, did not make an appearance in 2009/10 despite being called up to the squad on ten occasions. Lorenzo Crisetig (twice), Nicolas Burdisso (once, before being sold to Roma), Deni Alibec and Sebastian Carlsén were also called up to the squad. Inter’s fourth choice ‘keeper that season was Vid Belec, who split his time between the Primavera and First Team, although he was never called upon, however he did stand out in the photos of the trophy raising in Madrid.

ALL THE PLAYERS WHO TOOK TO THE PITCH FOR INTER IN 2009/10

NumberPlayerCall-upsAppearancesGoalsMinutes played4Javier Zanetti5555-4,950’12Júlio César5554-4,860'22Diego Milito5352304,159'13Maicon525274,582'6Lúcio524824,267'9Samuel Eto'o4848163,884'19Esteban Cambiasso484743,589'5Dejan Stanković444353,029'25Wálter Samuel464243,365'11Sulley Muntari464221,736'10Wesley Sneijder424183,160'45Mario Balotelli4440112,075'8Thiago Motta414042,468'26Cristian Chivu373312,342'27Goran Pandev292731,635'2Iván Córdoba5225-1,571'23Marco Materazzi4020-1,108'14Patrick Vieira25161759'39Davide Santon2415-945'7Ricardo Quaresma3113-428'17McDonald Mariga2313-350'30Mancini177-209'15Rene Krhin175-65'18David Suazo114-143'1Francesco Toldo503-270'89Marko Arnautovic163-55'29Giulio Donati51-81'28Alen Stevanovic21-23'