Charlie Colombo
Encyclopedia
Charles Martin Colombo was an American
soccer
player who earned 11 caps as center half
for the United States men's national soccer team
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
Born and raised in The Hill
area of St. Louis, Missouri
, Colombo played professionally for St. Louis Simpkins-Ford
, winning U.S. Open Cup medals with them in 1948 and 1950. He was known as "Gloves" because he always wore gloves when he played, regardless of the weather.
Colombo played for the U.S. team from 1948 to 1952, including the 1–0 upset victory
over England
in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
, in which his foul against Blackpool
forward Stanley Mortensen in the second half gave England the chance to tie the game. The header from the resulting free kick came very close to scoring a goal, but was saved by goalkeeper Frank Borghi
at the last second.
The day after U.S. victory, Colombo was offered an opportunity to play professional soccer in Brazil
, but he turned it down and returned to his St. Louis club team. He later became the coach of the St. Louis Ambrose team.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who earned 11 caps as center half
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
Born and raised in The Hill
The Hill, St. Louis
The Hill is a mostly Italian-American neighborhood within St. Louis, Missouri, located on high ground south of Forest Park. The official boundaries of the area are Manchester Avenue on the north, Columbia and Southwest Avenues on the south, South Kingshighway Boulevard on the east, and Hampton...
area of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Colombo played professionally for St. Louis Simpkins-Ford
St. Louis Simpkins-Ford
St. Louis Simpkins-Ford was a U.S. amateur soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1947 to 1956. It won three league championships and the 1948 and 1950 U.S. Open Cups, and lost in the finals of the 1954 National Amateur Cup. Five members of the U.S...
, winning U.S. Open Cup medals with them in 1948 and 1950. He was known as "Gloves" because he always wore gloves when he played, regardless of the weather.
Colombo played for the U.S. team from 1948 to 1952, including the 1–0 upset victory
England v United States (1950)
On 29 June 1950, at the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the United States defeated England 1–0 in a group match. This unexpected result has led to the match being described as the "Miracle on Grass", in reference to the 1980 Miracle on Ice, in which the US ice hockey team beat the Soviet Union. The...
over England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
, in which his foul against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
forward Stanley Mortensen in the second half gave England the chance to tie the game. The header from the resulting free kick came very close to scoring a goal, but was saved by goalkeeper Frank Borghi
Frank Borghi
Frank Borghi is a former American soccer player who earned nine caps at goalkeeper for the United States national team and played in the U.S. team's 1-0 victory over the hugely favored English in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.-Athletic career:Borghi started his sports career as a professional baseball...
at the last second.
The day after U.S. victory, Colombo was offered an opportunity to play professional soccer in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, but he turned it down and returned to his St. Louis club team. He later became the coach of the St. Louis Ambrose team.