Gianni Brera
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Luigi "Gianni" Brera (September 8, 1919 - December 19, 1992) was an Italian
sport
s journalist
and novel
ist.
, near Pavia
, the son of Carlo, a tailor, and Marietta Ghisoni. Among his ancestors was a Hungarian great-grandmother who married a Lombard sergeant of the Imperial-Royal Austrian-Hungarian Army.
He obtained his degree in Political Sciences at Pavia University in 1943, while on leave from his post as Lieutenant
of the paratrooper
division "Folgore"
. In late spring 1944 he joined the Italian Resistance movement and fought in the Ossola
Valley. He took pride in having lived through World War II
without ever shooting another human.
In 1943 he married Rina Gramegna (teacher, 1920–2000) and had four sons: Franco (1944-1944), Carlo (painter, 1946–1994), Paolo
(novelist, 1949-), Franco (musician, 1951-).
When he was demobilized in 1945, he entered La Gazzetta dello Sport
(Italy's first and foremost sports daily) to become its Editor-in-Chief
in 1949, the youngest-ever Editor-in-Chief of a national newspaper in Italy.
He is credited with innovating the Italian language
, notably by creating a whole new vocabulary for football (soccer)
, some of which has spilt over into languages other than Italian. The word libero for a player's particular role was created by Gianni Brera: famous nicknames of Italian players created by him included Abatino ("Little Abbot") for Gianni Rivera
and Rombo di tuono ("Rolling Thunder") for Gigi Riva. Apart from the lexicon, Brera was noteworthy for his rich style and very free usage of foreign or regional phrases. He spoke fluent French and Spanish, quite a little German and Latin and some English.
Gianni Brera wrote in La Gazzetta dello Sport
, Il Guerin Sportivo, Il Giorno
, Il Giornale
, La Repubblica
and several other publications. His articles were translated into several European languages. He often referred to himself as "Gioannbrerafucarlo" (a reference to Italy's long-foregone system of including the father's and mother's name in a citizen's complete name).
He also wrote a number of books (handbooks, essays and fictional works), a theatre play, and a couple of radio plays.
Gianni Brera always took the point of view of a Northern Italian from Lombardy
. Some people state that he disliked people coming from Southern Italy. He always denied the charge, citing his friendship with Leonardo Sciascia
and other prominent Southern Italians.
Since Brera worked in the city of Milan, his claim to be a fan of Genoa (short for Genoa Cricket and Football Club) proved instrumental in preventing him being cast into just one half of Milan's football world, rife as it was with the rivalry between AC Milan
and Inter. He could thus write about both teams, and draw his readership from either team's supporters. "Vecchio Balordo" (Cranky Old One), still used today by Genoese tifosi, is a nickname he coined for the Genoa team. After Brera's death the original foundation charter of the Genoa Cricket and Football Club was found among his papers, and his family donated it to a museum in Genoa.
Brera is considered to have been the most influential Italian sports journalist of the 20th century. In 2003, the monumental Arena Civica (stadium
), built in Milan
by Napoleon I of France
in the early 19th century, was renamed Arena Gianni Brera
http://www.delteatro.it/articoli/2007-03/in_bici_sul_palco.php.
Brera died at Codogno
, near Lodi, in 1992, from injuries received in a car accident
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist.
Biography
Brera was born in San Zenone al PoSan Zenone al Po
San Zenone al Po is a comune in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy....
, near Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
, the son of Carlo, a tailor, and Marietta Ghisoni. Among his ancestors was a Hungarian great-grandmother who married a Lombard sergeant of the Imperial-Royal Austrian-Hungarian Army.
He obtained his degree in Political Sciences at Pavia University in 1943, while on leave from his post as Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
of the paratrooper
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
division "Folgore"
185 Airborne Division Folgore
185. Airborne Division Folgore or 185. Divisione Paracadutisti Folgore was an Parachute Division of the Italian Army during World War II.-History:It was formed in September 1941, as the 1 Division Paracadutisti...
. In late spring 1944 he joined the Italian Resistance movement and fought in the Ossola
Ossola
The Ossola is an area of Italy situated to the north of Lago Maggiore. It lies within the Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. Its principal river is the Toce, and its most important town Domodossola....
Valley. He took pride in having lived through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
without ever shooting another human.
In 1943 he married Rina Gramegna (teacher, 1920–2000) and had four sons: Franco (1944-1944), Carlo (painter, 1946–1994), Paolo
Paolo Brera
-Biography:Paolo Alberto Brera, an Italian novelist, journalist, economist, and translator, is the third son of writer Gianni Brera and teacher Rina Gramegna. He earned a degree in Political Economy from Bocconi University, where he was Assistant Professor of Economic History from 1974 to 1978.In...
(novelist, 1949-), Franco (musician, 1951-).
When he was demobilized in 1945, he entered La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. It was first published on April 3, 1896, allowing it to cover the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens...
(Italy's first and foremost sports daily) to become its Editor-in-Chief
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
in 1949, the youngest-ever Editor-in-Chief of a national newspaper in Italy.
He is credited with innovating the Italian language
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, notably by creating a whole new vocabulary for football (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...
, some of which has spilt over into languages other than Italian. The word libero for a player's particular role was created by Gianni Brera: famous nicknames of Italian players created by him included Abatino ("Little Abbot") for Gianni Rivera
Gianni Rivera
Giovanni Rivera is an Italian former football midfielder, mostly as an offensive playmaker, who was awarded the Ballon d'Or, one of the most prestigious individual awards in football, in 1969. He played the majority of his career with Serie A side A.C. Milan...
and Rombo di tuono ("Rolling Thunder") for Gigi Riva. Apart from the lexicon, Brera was noteworthy for his rich style and very free usage of foreign or regional phrases. He spoke fluent French and Spanish, quite a little German and Latin and some English.
Gianni Brera wrote in La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. It was first published on April 3, 1896, allowing it to cover the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens...
, Il Guerin Sportivo, Il Giorno
Il Giorno
Il giorno is a poem written by Giuseppe Parini and published in 1763 . It is an ironic and satirical representation of the aristocracy of his time. His poem represents the beginning of polite literature in Italy....
, Il Giornale
Il Giornale
il Giornale is an Italian daily newspaper published in Milan, Italy.-History:The newspaper was planned in 1972 by the journalist Indro Montanelli, together with the colleague Enzo Bettiza, after some disagreements with the new pro-left editorial line adopted by the newspaper Corriere della Sera,...
, La Repubblica
La Repubblica
la Repubblica is an Italian daily general-interest newspaper. Founded in 1976 in Rome by the journalist Eugenio Scalfari, as of 2008 is the second largest circulation newspaper, behind the Corriere della Sera.-Foundation:...
and several other publications. His articles were translated into several European languages. He often referred to himself as "Gioannbrerafucarlo" (a reference to Italy's long-foregone system of including the father's and mother's name in a citizen's complete name).
He also wrote a number of books (handbooks, essays and fictional works), a theatre play, and a couple of radio plays.
Gianni Brera always took the point of view of a Northern Italian from Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
. Some people state that he disliked people coming from Southern Italy. He always denied the charge, citing his friendship with Leonardo Sciascia
Leonardo Sciascia
Leonardo Sciascia was an Italian writer, novelist, essayist, playwright and politician. Some of his works have been made into films, including Open Doors and Il giorno della civetta .- Biography :Sciascia was born in Racalmuto, Sicily...
and other prominent Southern Italians.
Since Brera worked in the city of Milan, his claim to be a fan of Genoa (short for Genoa Cricket and Football Club) proved instrumental in preventing him being cast into just one half of Milan's football world, rife as it was with the rivalry between AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
and Inter. He could thus write about both teams, and draw his readership from either team's supporters. "Vecchio Balordo" (Cranky Old One), still used today by Genoese tifosi, is a nickname he coined for the Genoa team. After Brera's death the original foundation charter of the Genoa Cricket and Football Club was found among his papers, and his family donated it to a museum in Genoa.
Brera is considered to have been the most influential Italian sports journalist of the 20th century. In 2003, the monumental Arena Civica (stadium
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
), built in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
by Napoleon I of France
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
in the early 19th century, was renamed Arena Gianni Brera
Arena Civica
Arena Civica is a multi-purpose stadium in Milan, Italy, which was opened on 18 August 1807 and is one of the city’s main examples of neoclassical architecture. During its history it has been used for many kinds of events, including the reconstruction of naval battles; William Frederick Cody ...
http://www.delteatro.it/articoli/2007-03/in_bici_sul_palco.php.
Brera died at Codogno
Codogno
Codogno is a town and comune in the province of Lodi, Lombardy, Italy. It received the honorary title of city with a presidential decree on June 26, 1955....
, near Lodi, in 1992, from injuries received in a car accident
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
.
Books by Gianni Brera
- Atletica leggera. Scienza e poesia dell'orgoglio fisico. Milan, Sperling & Kupfer, 1949.
- Il sesso degli Ercoli. Milan, Rognoni, 1959.
- Io, Coppi. Milan, Vitagliano, 1960.
- Addio bicicletta. Milan, Longanesi, 1964. Other editions: Milan, Rizzoli, 1980; Milan, Baldini & Castoldi, 1997.
- Atletica leggera. Culto dell'uomo (with G. Calvesi). Milan, Longanesi, 1964.
- I campioni vi insegnano il calcio, Milan, Longanesi, 1965; also: Milan, Booktime, 2008..
- Coppa del mondo 1966. I protagonisti e la loro storia. Milan, Mondadori, 1966.
- Il corpo della ragassa. Milan, Longanesi, 1969. Also: Treviso, Editing, 2006.
- Il mestiere del calciatore. Milan, Mondadori, 1972; also: Milan, Booktime, 2008.
- La pacciada. Mangiarebere in pianura padana (with G. Veronelli). Milan, Mondadori, 1973.
- Po, Milano, Dalmine. 1973.
- Il calcio azzurro ai mondiali. Milan, Campironi, 1974.
- Incontri e invettive. Milan, Longanesi, 1974.
- Introduzione alla vita saggia. Milano, Sigurtà Farmaceutici, 1974.
- Storia critica del calcio italiano. Milan, Bompiani, 1975.
- L'Arcimatto. Milan, Longanesi, 1977.
- Naso bugiardo. Milan, Rizzoli, 1977. Published again with the original title La ballata del pugile suonato. Milan, Booktime, 2008.
- Forza azzurri. Milan, Mondadori, 1978.
- 63 partite da salvare. Milan, Mondadori, 1978.
- Suggerimenti di buon vivere dettati da Francesco Sforza pel figliolo Galeazzo Maria. A Publication of the Municipality of Milan, 1979.
- Una provincia a forma di grappolo d'uva (with Paolo Brera). Milan, Istituto Editoriale Regioni Italiane, 1979.
- Coppi e il diavolo. Milan, Rizzoli, 1981. Also: Milan, Baldini&Castoldi (ISBN 88-808-9071-9), 1996
- Gente di risaia. Aosta, Musumeci, 1981.
- Lombardia, amore mio. Lodi, Lodigraf, 1982.
- L'arciBrera. Como, Edizioni "Libri" della rivista "Como", 1990.
- La leggenda dei mondiali. Milan, Pindaro, 1990.
- Il mio vescovo e le animalesse. Milano, Bompiani, 1984. Also: Milan, Baldini & Castoldi, 1993.
- La strada dei vini in Lombardia (with G. Pifferi and E. Tettamanzi). Como, Pifferi, 1986.
- Genoa, amore mio. Milan, Ponte alle Grazie, 1992.
- Storie dei Lombardi. Milan, BookTime, 2011.
- L'Arcimatto 1960–1966. Milan, Baldini & Castoldi, 1993.
- La bocca del leone (l'Arcimatto II 1967-1973). Milan, Baldini & Castoldi, 1995.
- La leggenda dei mondiali e il mestiere del calciatore. Milan, Baldini & Castoldi, 1994.
- Il principe della zolla (a cura di Gianni Mura). Milan, Il Saggiatore, 1994.
- L'Anticavallo. Sulle strade del Tour e del Giro. Milan, Baldini & Castoldi, 1997.
- Caro vecchio balordo. La storia del Genoa dal 1893 a oggi (Fabrizio Calzia, editor). Genoa, De Ferrari, 2005.
- Un lombardo nel pallone. Milan, Excogita 2007.
- Il più bel gioco del mondo, Milan. BUR (Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli), 2007.
- L'abatino Berruti. Milan, BookTime, 2009.
- Suggerimenti di Francesco Sforza al figlio Gian Galeazzo. Milan, BookTime, 2009.
Further reading
- Gioanfucarlo (biography), by Paolo Brera and Claudio Rinaldi, Milan, Boroli, 2004
- Com'era bello con Gianni Brera, by Andrea Maietti, Arezzo, Limina, 2002
External links
- El sitt del Gioânn Brera
- http://www.booktime.it/