Inter Milan head coach Simone Inzaghi was forced to wear a brave face on Sunday as he accepted an extra-large Tapiro d’Oro — Italy’s infamous satirical “Golden Tapir” award; just a day after his side suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final.
The Tapiro d’Oro, handed out by the long-running Italian TV show Striscia la Notizia, is awarded to high-profile personalities following moments of public embarrassment.
This time, it was Inzaghi’s tactical collapse on Europe’s biggest stage that earned him the unwanted attention.
Inzaghi, spotted heading home after the Munich demolition, accepted the award with a grim smile but made it clear he wasn’t in the mood for jokes.
“We did badly. PSG deserved to win,” Inzaghi said somberly. “I’ve always been a sportsman — defeat hurts, but we accept it.”
The Inter boss joins a growing list of Serie A figures who’ve received the satirical tapir this season, including Zlatan Ibrahimović and Álvaro Morata. However, few have received it under such brutal circumstances.
For a side that dominated Serie A this season, the European collapse has cast a shadow over Inzaghi’s otherwise successful campaign.
As memes flood social media and critics circle, the Tapiro d’Oro serves as a bitter reminder of just how cruel football at the top can be — and how fast glory can turn into ridicule.
For Inzaghi, the only way out is forward — and fast.
