The 1996-97 campaign delivered a vital return to contention for Inter Milan as the Nerazzurri secured a crucial 3rd-place finish in Serie A under manager Roy Hodgson, their best result since the early 1990s. Leading the charge was the elegant French playmaker Youri Djorkaeff, whose 14 league goals, alongside the overall team-high of 20 goals from Maurizio Ganz, provided the attacking flair. The team, featuring stars like Paul Ince and a young Javier Zanetti, also mounted a brilliant run to the UEFA Cup Final but suffered a painful loss on penalties to Schalke 04. This highly competitive year proved a crucial starting point for the club's modern history, culminating in the significant, record-breaking purchase of the Brazilian phenomenon Ronaldo.