Giovanni Moscardini
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Moscardini also known as Johnny Moscardini, was an Italian Scottish footballer
who played for Lucchese
, Pisa
, Genoa
and Italy
. He was one of the earliest of the Oriundi
. While the majority of these foreign-born footballers who played for Italy came from South America
, Moscardini was the only one born in Scotland. The football stadium in Barga
, Tuscany
, where his family came from, is named in his honour.
in Tuscany
in 1872 to move to Scotland
. Once there they established several fish-and-chip shops and ice-cream parlours. In 1925 after retiring Moscardini’s father returned to Italy.
as a machine gunner. During the Battle of Caporetto
, he was wounded in the elbow by shrapnel and was later sent to Sicily
to recover. While there, he helped organise a football team.
where he played football for the local team. He was subsequently spotted by a scout from Lucchese
. After five years playing for Lucchese he switched to Pisa
and during the 1924-25
season he scored 18 goals. He later played with Genoa
and went on tour to South America
with the club.
. He made his international debut against Switzerland
on November 6, 1921 and scored in a 1-1 draw. Then on January 15, 1922 he scored twice in a 3-3 draw against Austria
. On May 21, 1922 he scored again in a 4-2 win against Belgium. He scored his fifth international goal on May 27, 1923 in a 5-1 away defeat against Czechoslovakia
. He made his last appearance for Italy against France
on March 22, 1925 and he marked the occasion by scoring twice in a 7-0 win. Moscardini won his first eight caps while playing for Lucchese
and his last while at Pisa
He was the first Pisa player ever capped by Italy.
to manage an uncle's shop in Campbeltown
. He later established his own business, the Lake Café, in Prestwick
. He lived in Prestwick until he died in 1985 at the age of 88.
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...
who played for Lucchese
A.S. Lucchese-Libertas
Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Football Club Lucca 2011 is an Italian football club, based in Lucca, Tuscany that currently plays in Eccellenza Tuscany.The club was founded in 1905 and having last been in Serie A in 1952....
, Pisa
Pisa Calcio
Associazione Calcio Pisa 1909 is an Italian association football club, based in Pisa, Tuscany. The club was founded in 1909 as Pisa Sporting Club and refounded in 1994 as A.C. Pisa , after the cancellation of the old one because of economical troubles...
, Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
and Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. He was one of the earliest of the Oriundi
Oriundi
Oriundi is a 1999 movie starring Anthony Quinn about an Italian oriundo family in Brazil. Oriundo is an Italian word used to describe foreign-born Italian nationals, especially South Americans of Italian heritage....
. While the majority of these foreign-born footballers who played for Italy came from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Moscardini was the only one born in Scotland. The football stadium in Barga
Barga
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...
, Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, where his family came from, is named in his honour.
Family
Moscardini’s father was one of three brothers who left their hometown of BargaBarga
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...
in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
in 1872 to move to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Once there they established several fish-and-chip shops and ice-cream parlours. In 1925 after retiring Moscardini’s father returned to Italy.
First World War
During the First World War, Moscardini left Scotland and enlisted in the Italian ArmyItalian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
as a machine gunner. During the Battle of Caporetto
Battle of Caporetto
The Battle of Caporetto , took place from 24 October to 19 November 1917, near the town of Kobarid , on the Austro-Italian front of World War I...
, he was wounded in the elbow by shrapnel and was later sent to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
to recover. While there, he helped organise a football team.
Club career
When the war ended, Moscardini returned to his family home of BargaBarga
Barga is a medieval town and comune of the province of Lucca in Tuscany, central Italy. It is home to around 10,000 people and is the chief town of the "Media Valle" of the Serchio.-Geography:...
where he played football for the local team. He was subsequently spotted by a scout from Lucchese
A.S. Lucchese-Libertas
Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Football Club Lucca 2011 is an Italian football club, based in Lucca, Tuscany that currently plays in Eccellenza Tuscany.The club was founded in 1905 and having last been in Serie A in 1952....
. After five years playing for Lucchese he switched to Pisa
Pisa Calcio
Associazione Calcio Pisa 1909 is an Italian association football club, based in Pisa, Tuscany. The club was founded in 1909 as Pisa Sporting Club and refounded in 1994 as A.C. Pisa , after the cancellation of the old one because of economical troubles...
and during the 1924-25
Italian Football Championship 1924-25
The winner was Bologna F.C..-Classification:-Results table:* Please note that the home teams are read down the left hand side while the away teams are indicated along the top.-Classification:-Results table:...
season he scored 18 goals. He later played with Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
and went on tour to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
with the club.
Italy international
Between 1921 and 1925 Moscardini made 9 appearances and scored 7 goals for ItalyItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. He made his international debut against Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
on November 6, 1921 and scored in a 1-1 draw. Then on January 15, 1922 he scored twice in a 3-3 draw against Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
. On May 21, 1922 he scored again in a 4-2 win against Belgium. He scored his fifth international goal on May 27, 1923 in a 5-1 away defeat against Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
. He made his last appearance for Italy against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
on March 22, 1925 and he marked the occasion by scoring twice in a 7-0 win. Moscardini won his first eight caps while playing for Lucchese
A.S. Lucchese-Libertas
Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Football Club Lucca 2011 is an Italian football club, based in Lucca, Tuscany that currently plays in Eccellenza Tuscany.The club was founded in 1905 and having last been in Serie A in 1952....
and his last while at Pisa
Pisa Calcio
Associazione Calcio Pisa 1909 is an Italian association football club, based in Pisa, Tuscany. The club was founded in 1909 as Pisa Sporting Club and refounded in 1994 as A.C. Pisa , after the cancellation of the old one because of economical troubles...
He was the first Pisa player ever capped by Italy.
Later years
After retiring as a footballer Moscardini returned to ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
to manage an uncle's shop in Campbeltown
Campbeltown
Campbeltown is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran , it was renamed in the 17th century as Campbell's Town after Archibald Campbell was granted the site in 1667...
. He later established his own business, the Lake Café, in Prestwick
Prestwick
Prestwick is a town in South Ayrshire on the south-west coast of Scotland, about south-west of Glasgow. It adjoins the larger town of Ayr, the centre of which is about south...
. He lived in Prestwick until he died in 1985 at the age of 88.