'Golden Boy' Gianni Rivera earns top coaching qualifications at age 76

Rome - Gianni Rivera could potentially take charge of the next Serie A team to dump their manager after the former Italy attacker and AC Milan hero earned Europe's most important coaching licence at the tender age of 76.

Rivera, a Ballon d'Or winner in 1969 and former Member of the European parliament, was one of the "famous faces", alongside 2006 World Cup winner Mauro Camoranesi, announced by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) to have gained the Italian equivalent of the 'UEFA Pro' licence, which enables him to coach in Italy's top division.

"Rivera has helped write the history of football but he was still humble enough to become a student again. He was a brilliant student and didn't miss a single lesson," said Renzo Uliveri, head of the Italian coaching association AIAC, to the Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday.

According to the Gazzetta however, Rivera, who won the 1968 European championships with Italy and two European Cups with Milan, is not interested in a top coaching role and simply wants to remain "up-to-date" with the football's inner workings.

Nicknamed 'Golden Boy' in his pomp, he scored 14 times for Italy, including the extra-time winner in the 'Game of the Century', the 4-3 semi-final win over West Germany at the 1970 World Cup.

Rivera played for Milan for nearly two decades, signing off in 1979 with his third Serie A title, before embarking on a long political career in the late 1980s, undertaking a series of roles in the Italian parliament including under secretary for defence.

He was also an MEP between 2005 and 2009, and in 1968 was one of the founding members of the Italian Footballers' Association (AIC).

Other big names to have gained the UEFA Pro licence include former Brazil midfielder Toninho Cerezo, now 64, and former Arsenal and Barcelona full-back Sylvinho.