Gino Pariani
Encyclopedia
Virginio “Gino” Peter Pariani (February 21, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri
– May 9, 2007) was an American
soccer
striker
. He earned 5 caps and scored 1 goal for the United States men's national soccer team
, and played on the 1950 FIFA World Cup
team, including the U.S. team's historic 1–0 victory
over England
. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic team in London in 1948. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1976.
. The younger of two brothers, Pariani’s childhood consisted primarily of school, working at a local laundromat and playing street sports. Pariani’s joined a local youth club when he was thirteen.
, recruited Pariani. He would experience considerable success with Simpkins, winning the 1948 and 1950 U.S. Open Cup
championships. He continued to play until 1963. Some time during his career, he also played for Calcaterra and Wildcats A.C. Pariani was a St. Louis all-star selection every year from 1946 through 1953.
at the 1948 Summer Olympics
. The U.S. lost 9-0 to Italy in the first round of this single elimination tournament. Pariani did not play in this loss.
Pariani gained his first caps with the U.S. national team
in an 11-0 loss to Norway
on August 6, 1948. His second cap came five days later in a loss to Northern Ireland. He did not play again with the full national team until the 1950 FIFA World Cup
. The invitation into the team came unexpectedly and Pariani had scheduled his wedding during the finals. With the support of both families, he and his fiancé moved up the day to allow him to play in Brazil. When he left St. Louis for New York, he had been married for only three days. He went on to score the lone U.S. goal in the team’s first game of the finals, a 3-1 loss to Spain
. Four days later, he was a key part of the U.S. victory over England
, maintaining good ball possession. He also sent Frank Wallace
on a break towards the English goal, a break stopped by Alf Ramsey
. The U.S. ultimately won the game, one of the greatest upsets of World Cup history. Pariani’s last cap came in a 5-2 loss to Chile
which put the U.S. out of the cup.
In January 2004, Pariani and the four other living members of the 1950 World Cup Team (Walter Bahr
, Frank Borghi
, Harry Keough
and John Souza
) were recognized as Honorary All-Americas by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America at its annual convention in Charlotte, N.C.
He remained married to his wife, Janet, until separated by death.
In 1976, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
Pariani died of bone cancer in St. Louis, Missouri
on May 9, 2007.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
– May 9, 2007) was an American
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...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He earned 5 caps and scored 1 goal 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...
, and played on 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...
team, including the U.S. team's historic 1–0 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...
. He was also a member of the U.S. Olympic team in London in 1948. He was inducted into 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:...
in 1976.
Youth
Pariani, the son of Italian immigrant parents, grew up in a working class Italian neighborhood called The Hill in St. Louis, MissouriSt. 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...
. The younger of two brothers, Pariani’s childhood consisted primarily of school, working at a local laundromat and playing street sports. Pariani’s joined a local youth club when he was thirteen.
Club career
In 1943, Pariani joined Schumachers when he as fifteen. That year, he won his first title, a St. Louis Municipal League championship, with Schumachers. He then moved to Raftery’s S.C. and remained with them through the 1946-1947 season. That year he was voted the league MVP. In 1947, Carrenti Cleaners came under new sponsorship. The renamed team, now known as St. Louis Simpkins-FordSt. 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...
, recruited Pariani. He would experience considerable success with Simpkins, winning the 1948 and 1950 U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
championships. He continued to play until 1963. Some time during his career, he also played for Calcaterra and Wildcats A.C. Pariani was a St. Louis all-star selection every year from 1946 through 1953.
National and Olympic team
His success at the club level led to Pariani’s selection to the U.S. soccer teamUnited States at the 1948 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 300 competitors, 262 men and 38 women, took part in 126 events in 19 sports.- Gold:*Harrison Dillard — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
at the 1948 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Olympic Games title was won by Sweden, managed by Englishman George Raynor.-Summary:Sweden, whose Football Association forbade professionalism within domestic football, ran out as winners and only used 12 players throughout the entire tournament but there were exceptional performances put...
. The U.S. lost 9-0 to Italy in the first round of this single elimination tournament. Pariani did not play in this loss.
Pariani gained his first caps with the U.S. national 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...
in an 11-0 loss to Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
on August 6, 1948. His second cap came five days later in a loss to Northern Ireland. He did not play again with the full national team until 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...
. The invitation into the team came unexpectedly and Pariani had scheduled his wedding during the finals. With the support of both families, he and his fiancé moved up the day to allow him to play in Brazil. When he left St. Louis for New York, he had been married for only three days. He went on to score the lone U.S. goal in the team’s first game of the finals, a 3-1 loss to Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
. Four days later, he was a key part of the U.S. victory 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...
, maintaining good ball possession. He also sent Frank Wallace
Frank Wallace (soccer)
Frank Valicenti, aka Frank "Pee Wee" Wallace, was an American international soccer player who played as forward. He earned 7 caps and scored 3 goals for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's historic 1–0 victory over England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup...
on a break towards the English goal, a break stopped by Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
. The U.S. ultimately won the game, one of the greatest upsets of World Cup history. Pariani’s last cap came in a 5-2 loss to Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
which put the U.S. out of the cup.
In January 2004, Pariani and the four other living members of the 1950 World Cup Team (Walter Bahr
Walter Bahr
Walter Alfred Bahr is a retired American soccer player, considered one of the greatest ever in his country. He was the long-time captain of the U.S. national team and played in the 1950 FIFA World Cup when the U.S...
, 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...
, Harry Keough
Harry Keough
Harry Joseph Keough is a former American soccer defender who played on the United States national team in their 1–0 upset of England at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He spent most of his club career in his native St. Louis, winning a national junior championship, two U.S. Open Cup and seven National...
and John Souza
John Souza
John "Clarkie" Souza-Benavides is a former soccer player who earned 14 caps and scored 3 goals for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's historic 1–0 victory over England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup...
) were recognized as Honorary All-Americas by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America at its annual convention in Charlotte, N.C.
He remained married to his wife, Janet, until separated by death.
In 1976, he was inducted into 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:...
.
Pariani died of bone cancer in 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...
on May 9, 2007.
External links
- Soccer Hall of Fame profile
- Photos of Pariani in 2004
- Cirino, Antonio (Tony) - US Soccer Vs The World, 1983 - ISBN 0-910641-00-5