On 3 May 1949 , Ferruccio Novo , sent his team to Lisbon , to play in an honorary match for him . After losing 3 – 4 , the Italian team returned to Turin the next day , but the plane that was carrying them , crashed into the Basilica of Superga , in what became known as Superga air disaster . The five-time champions of Italy , known as Grande Torino , was destroyed . Ferreira was devastated , spending many sleepless nights , sending money to the relatives of the victims , and adding a picture with a black frame of the Grande Torino team to his personal trophy room
Superga air disaster
Superga air disaster
Francisco Ferreira (footballer, born 1919)