Valerio Bacigalupo (Italian pronunciation: [vaˈlɛːrjo batʃiɡaˈluːpo]; 12 February 1924 – 4 May 1949) was an Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
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![]() Bacigalupo in the 1940s | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Valerio Bacigalupo | ||
Date of birth | 12 February 1924[1] | ||
Place of birth | Vado Ligure, Italy | ||
Date of death | 4 May 1949(1949-05-04) (aged 25) | ||
Place of death | Superga, Italy | ||
Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1942–1943 | Savona | 20 | (0) |
1944 | Genoa | 20 | (0) |
1945–1949 | Torino | 137 | (0) |
Total | 177 | (0) | |
National team | |||
1947–1949 | Italy | 5 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Born in Vado Ligure, he began his career with Savona. After a brief spell at Genoa, he moved to Torino in 1945, where he won four Serie A titles. He also represented the Italy national team.
Bacigalupo started his club career with home province side Savona. After a brief spell at Genoa he moved to Torino where he won Serie A four times in a row.[1][2][3]
Bacigalupo was called up in the Italy national football team five times between 1947 and 1949, making his senior international debut in a 3–1 win over Czechoslovakia on 14 December 1947.[1][4]
Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, Bacigalupo was a modern and world-class goalkeeper, who revolutionised his position in Italy. A precocious talent, he was known for his strong physique, reactions and excellent positional sense, as well as his athletic diving saves. In addition do being an outstanding shot-stopper, he was also a dominant goalkeeper, known for his ability to come off his line to collect crosses.[1]
Valerio Bacigalupo's older brother, Manlio Bacigalupo, also played professional football before the Second World War, also serving as a goalkeeper for Genoa and Torino.[1] Valerio died in the Superga air disaster with most of the Grande Torino team, which also formed a large part in the Italynational team at the time, which was scheduled to take part at the 1950 FIFA World Cup.[5]
After his death, the club where he started his career, Savona, named its ground Stadio Valerio Bacigalupo in his honour.
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4 May 1949 | |
Torino F.C. players and staff |
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Others |
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