Umberto Caligaris
Encyclopedia
Umberto Caligaris was an Italian
international footballer
who played, normally at left back, for A.S. Casale and Juventus. His 59 caps for the Italian national team
stood as a record for many years.
Born in Casale Monferrato
(Piedmont
), Caligaris spent the first nine years of his career with the local team, A.S. Casale. He made his debut for them on October 12, 1919 in a match against local rivals Valenzana Calcio
which Casale won 3–1. Casale was then in the Italian First division
(the predecessor to Serie A) and had won the championship in 1914. However they were never to repeat that success and although during Caligaris’s career with the club they twice qualified for the inter-regional semi-final of North Italy, they were unable to get further.
The Italian national team
, however, did provide scope for his talents. He received his first cap in 1922 against Austria
, selected in place of Virginio Rosetta
as right back flanking the great Genoese
left back Renzo De Vecchi
(“Son of God” to the fans), who had been playing for Italy since 1910. From then until De Vecchi’s retirement from international football in March 1925, Rosetta and Caligaris were in competition for the right back position. He played for Italy in the 1924 Olympics
, the match against Spain being the first in which he played alongside Rosetta.
After winning a bronze medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics
, Caligaris left Casale to join Rosetta at Juventus. Here the two full backs, backed by Italian international goalkeeper
Giampiero Combi
, formed a formidable defensive combination. Juventus won five scudettoes in a row in the years 1930–35.
Caligaris’s final game for Italy, on 11 February 1934 was, like his first, against Austria. (Although a member of the Italian squad, he did not play in any of the 1934 World Cup matches.) His record of 59 caps for Italy was only surpassed in 1971 by Giacinto Facchetti
.
Caligaris coached Juventus from 1939 until his death in Turin
in October of the following year.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
international footballer
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, normally at left back, for A.S. Casale and Juventus. His 59 caps for the Italian national team
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...
stood as a record for many years.
Born in Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
(Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
), Caligaris spent the first nine years of his career with the local team, A.S. Casale. He made his debut for them on October 12, 1919 in a match against local rivals Valenzana Calcio
Valenzana Calcio
Valenzana Calcio is an Italian football club, based in Valenza, Piedmont. The club was founded in 1906.Valenzana currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. The team's colors are dark blue and red.-External links:*...
which Casale won 3–1. Casale was then in the Italian First division
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
(the predecessor to Serie A) and had won the championship in 1914. However they were never to repeat that success and although during Caligaris’s career with the club they twice qualified for the inter-regional semi-final of North Italy, they were unable to get further.
The Italian national team
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...
, however, did provide scope for his talents. He received his first cap in 1922 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 ....
, selected in place of Virginio Rosetta
Virginio Rosetta
Virginio "Viri" Rosetta was an Italian football player. He was also a precision passer.Rosetta was born in Vercelli, Piedmont, where he debuted for Pro Vercelli in the Italian First Division in the 1919-20 season, as a striker...
as right back flanking the great Genoese
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...
left back Renzo De Vecchi
Renzo De Vecchi
Renzo De Vecchi was an Italian football player and coach who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics. As a member of the Italian Olympic squad in 1912, he played one match in the main tournament as well as two matches in the consolation tournament.He is the youngest player to play in a Serie A game...
(“Son of God” to the fans), who had been playing for Italy since 1910. From then until De Vecchi’s retirement from international football in March 1925, Rosetta and Caligaris were in competition for the right back position. He played for Italy in the 1924 Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
, the match against Spain being the first in which he played alongside Rosetta.
After winning a bronze medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
, Caligaris left Casale to join Rosetta at Juventus. Here the two full backs, backed by Italian international goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
Giampiero Combi
Giampiero Combi
Gianpiero Combi was one of Italian football's greatest goalkeepers of all-time. He spent his entire career at Juventus FC and won the 1934 World Cup with the Italian national team...
, formed a formidable defensive combination. Juventus won five scudettoes in a row in the years 1930–35.
Caligaris’s final game for Italy, on 11 February 1934 was, like his first, against Austria. (Although a member of the Italian squad, he did not play in any of the 1934 World Cup matches.) His record of 59 caps for Italy was only surpassed in 1971 by Giacinto Facchetti
Giacinto Facchetti
Giacinto Facchetti was an Italian football player. From January 2004 until his death, he was President of Internazionale, the club for which he played for his whole career during the 1960s and 1970s, playing 634 official games and scoring 75 goals. He played for the Internazionale team remembered...
.
Caligaris coached Juventus from 1939 until his death in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
in October of the following year.