Valerio Bacigalupo (Italian pronunciation: [vaˈlɛːrjo batʃiɡaˈluːpo]; 12 February 1924 – 4 May 1949) was an Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
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.
Club career
Bacigalupo started his club career with his 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]
International career
Bacigalupo was called up in the Italy national 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]
Style of play
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 to being an outstanding shot-stopper, he was also a dominant goalkeeper, known for his ability to come off his line to collect crosses.[1]
Personal life
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 Italy national team at the time, which was scheduled to take part at the 1950 FIFA World Cup.[5]
Legacy
After his death, the club where he started his career, Savona, named its ground Stadio Valerio Bacigalupo in his honour.
Honours
Torino
Individual
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Valerio Bacigalupo". Enciclopediadelcalcio.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "Superga tragedy strikes Il Grande Torino". FIFA. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ "La Storia del Torino Fc". torinofc.it (in Italian). Torino Football Club. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ "Bacigalupo, Valerio" (in Italian). FIGC. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ Pia, Simon (2 May 1999). "The day the dream team of Italian football died". Scotland on Sunday. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
- ^ "Nasce la Hall of Fame del Toro: il 3 dicembre la cerimonia per i primi 5 granata indimenticabili". Quotidiano Piemontese (in Italian). 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
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