View source for Adolfo Baloncieri

{{Short description|Italian footballer and manager (1897–1986)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Adolfo Baloncieri
| image = Adolfo_Baloncieri.jpg
| upright = 
| caption = 
| full_name = 
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1897|7|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Alessandria]], Italy
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|7|23|1897|7|27|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Genoa]], Italy
| height = 
| position = [[Attacking midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|US Alessandria]]
| years1 = 1919–1925
| clubs1 = [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|US Alessandria]]
| caps1 = 120
| goals1 = 74
| years2 = 1925–1932
| clubs2 = [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
| caps2 = 192
| goals2 = 97
| years3 = 1932–1933
| clubs3 = [[Calcio Como|Comense]]
| caps3 = 3
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1943–1944
| clubs4 = [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|US Alessandria]]
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1920–1930
| nationalteam1 = [[Italy national football team|Italy]]
| nationalcaps1 = 47
| nationalgoals1 = 25
| manageryears1 = 1931–1932
| managerclubs1 = [[Torino F.C.|Torino]] <small>(assistant)</small>
| manageryears2 = 1932–1933
| managerclubs2 = [[Calcio Como|Comense]]
| manageryears3 = 1934–1936
| managerclubs3 = [[A.C. Milan|Milan]]
| manageryears4 = 1936–1937
| managerclubs4 = [[Novara Calcio|Novara]]
| manageryears5 = 1937–1939
| managerclubs5 = [[AC Liguria|Liguria]]
| manageryears6 = 1939–1940
| managerclubs6 = [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]]
| manageryears7 = 1941–1945
| managerclubs7 = [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|Alessandria]]
| manageryears8 = 1945–1946
| managerclubs8 = [[A.C. Milan|Milan]]
| manageryears9 = 1946–1947
| managerclubs9 = [[FC Chiasso|Chiasso]]
| manageryears10 = 1947–1950
| managerclubs10 = [[U.C. Sampdoria|Sampdoria]]
| manageryears11 = 1950
| managerclubs11 = [[A.S. Roma|Roma]]
| manageryears12 = 1951–1952
| managerclubs12 = [[FC Chiasso|Chiasso]]
| manageryears13 = 1954–1955
| managerclubs13 = [[U.S. Città di Palermo|Palermo]]
| manageryears14 = 1961–1962
| managerclubs14 = [[FC Chiasso|Chiasso]]
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Team|{{fb|Italy|1861}}}}
{{MedalCompetition |[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Amsterdam]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Central European International Cup]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[1927–30 Central European International Cup]]|}}
}}

'''Adolfo Baloncieri''' ({{IPA|it|aˈdolfo balonˈtʃɛːri}}; 27 July 1897 – 23 July 1986) was an Italian [[Manager (association football)|football manager]] and former [[Association footballer|player]] who played as a [[midfielder]].

Critically regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, [[Gianni Brera]] considered him one of the greatest Italian [[playmaker]]s ever, alongside the likes of [[Giuseppe Meazza]] and [[Valentino Mazzola]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Brera |first=Gianni |author2=Milano, Baldini & Castoldi |title=''Storia critica del calcio italiano'' |year=1998}}</ref> In 2010, Carlo Felice Chiesa wrote: "If it were possible to rank all-time great "[[Midfielder#Deep-lying playmaker (Strolling 10)|registas]]" of world football, Adolfo Baloncieri, an athlete from a period so remote from our own, would end up among the first, if not first."<ref name="Chiesa">Chiesa, ''Il secolo azzurro''. pp. 165-166.</ref> Baloncieri began his club career with [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|Alessandria]], but most notably played for [[Torino F.C.|Torino]], where they won league titles in [[1926–27 Divisione Nazionale|1927]] and [[1927–28 Divisione Nazionale|1928]] (the 1927 title was later revoked). Following his retirement, he also coached several clubs in Italy.

At international level, he took part at three editions of the Summer Olympic games with Italy, [[Captain (association football)|captaining]] the [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]] to a bronze medal at the [[Football at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Summer Olympics]], and also won the [[1927–1930 Central European International Cup]] with Italy. With 25 goals, he is the [[Italy national football team#Top goalscorers|sixth highest all-time scorer of the Italy national team]], alongside [[Filippo Inzaghi]] and [[Alessandro Altobelli]], and he is also the [[Italy national football team records#Goalscorers|highest scoring midfielder in the history of the Italy national side]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/euro-2016/2014/11/14-551186/nazionale_de_rossi_raggiunge_le_100_presenze/|title=Nazionale, De Rossi raggiunge le 100 presenze|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|date=1 November 2014|access-date=21 July 2016}}</ref>

==Early life==
Baloncieri was born in Castelceriolo in the province of [[Province of Alessandria|Alessandria]], to a family originally from [[Caselle Torinese]]. During childhood he lived with his family in [[Rosario]], Argentina for 12 years where he entered the world of football at age nine. Eager to play sport, he did not complete his studies in [[accountancy]].

His older brother Mario was an amateur footballer in Alessandria and then a [[reporter]], while his cousin William Brezzi, who died at a young age, was his teammate at Alessandria and the [[Italy national football team|national team]]. His brother Carlo drowned in [[Finale Ligure]] in August 1933, while his son also died at a young age. With his other daughter, Flora, a teacher, and a sister, he lived in [[Genoa]] in later years. He died in 1986, four days before he turned 89, from [[pneumonia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.com/Baloncieri.html |title=Adolfo Baloncieri |publisher=Enciclopediadelcalcio.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322174728/http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.com/Baloncieri.html |archive-date=22 March 2009}}</ref><ref name=guide.supereva.it>{{cite web|title=Hall of Fame: Adolfo Baloncieri|url=http://guide.supereva.it/torino_fc/interventi/2010/07/hall-of-fame-adolfo-baloncieri|access-date=22 January 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192058/http://guide.supereva.it/torino_fc/interventi/2010/07/hall-of-fame-adolfo-baloncieri|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Club career==
After spending much of his childhood in Argentina, Baloncieri returned to Italy in 1913 and joined [[U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912|Alessandria]]; for which he debuted in 1914 at the age of 17 before [[World War I]] suspended league fixtures. During the conflict he was at the [[Italian front (World War I)|front]] as a gunner. After football resumed he distinguished himself among the most famous footballers of the 1920s with [[Torino F.C.|Torino]], when they won two [[scudetto|national titles]] (one was revoked for the "[[Allemandi Case]]"). In 1930 he was [[List of Italian orders of knighthood|knighted]] by the [[Order of the Crown of Italy|Crown of Italy]] on the recommendation of the [[Italian Football Federation]]'s [[Leandro Arpinati]]. Baloncieri retired in 1931; interested in the development of young athletes, he was responsible for the development of the Torino youth system. He later became a [[manager (association football)|manager]].

==International career==
At International level, Baloncieri was the captain of the [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]] that won the bronze medal at the [[Football at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Olympic Games]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/25989 |title=Adolfo Baloncieri |work=Olympedia |access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref> and the winner of the 1930 [[Coppa Internazionale]], alongside [[Giuseppe Meazza]]. He earned 47 caps for Italy between 1920 and 1930, and with 25 goals, he is Italy's [[Italy national football team records#Goalscorers|sixth all-time highest goalscorer]] and the highest scoring midfielder in the history of the Italy national team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/Marcatori?squadra=1&mode=|title=Nazionale in cifre|publisher=FIGC|access-date=22 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731000359/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/Marcatori?squadra=1&mode=|archive-date=31 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also played in two other editions of the Olympics, in [[Football at the 1920 Summer Olympics|1920]] and [[Football at the 1924 Summer Olympics|1924]], making him the player with the most all-time appearances and goals, eleven and eight respectively, at Olympic football tournaments for the Italy national side.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italia1910.com/statistiche-tabelle-giocatori.asp?cmp=Olimpiadi&ogg=Presenze|title=Olimpiadi: Presenze|trans-title=Olympics: Appearances|publisher=Italia1910|language=it|access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italia1910.com/statistiche-tabelle-giocatori.asp?cmp=Olimpiadi&ogg=Gol%20fatti|title=Olimpiadi: Gol Fatti|trans-title=Olympics: Goals scored|publisher=Italia1910|language=it|access-date=18 July 2016}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Usually deployed as an [[Attacking midfielder|offensive]] [[playmaker]], Baloncieri was a quick, talented, elegant, and creative [[midfielder]], who had excellent technical skills, vision, passing ability, and a notable eye for goal from midfield.<ref name=guide.supereva.it/>

==Career statistics==
:''Scores and results list Italy's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Baloncieri goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Adolfo Baloncieri
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|style="text-align:center"|1
|{{dts|28 August 1920}}
|[[Jules Ottenstadion]], [[Ghent]], Belgium
|{{fb|Egypt|1882}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–1
|[[Football at the 1920 Summer Olympics|1920 Summer Olympics]]
|<ref name="1920s">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital-intres1920.html|title=Adolfo Baloncieri - Goals in International Matches|website=RSSSF|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|2
|{{dts|26 February 1922}}
|Motovelodromo, [[Turin]], Italy
|{{fb|Czechoslovakia}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-czechoslovakia-26-february-1922-223234/|title=Italy v Czechoslovakia, 26 February 1922|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|3
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|21 May 1922}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Milan]], Italy
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Belgium}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–2
|rowspan="2"|Friendly
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-belgium-21-may-1922-223248/|title=Italy v Belgium, 21 May 1922|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|4
|style="text-align:center"|3–1
|-
|style="text-align:center"|5
|{{dts|29 May 1924}}
|[[Stade Pershing]], [[Paris]], France
|{{fb|Luxembourg}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|[[Football at the 1924 Summer Olympics|1924 Summer Olympics]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-luxembourg-29-may-1924-223427/|title=Italy v Luxembourg, 29 May 1924|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|6
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|22 March 1925}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Stadio di Corso Marsiglia]], Turin, Italy
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|France}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|7–0
|rowspan="2"|Friendly
|rowspan="2"|<ref name="1920s" />
|-
|style="text-align:center"|7
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|8
|{{dts|21 March 1926}}
|Motovelodromo, Turin, Italy	
|{{fb|IRL|name=Ireland (FAIFS)}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-republic-of-ireland-21-march-1926-223597/|title=Italy v Republic of Ireland, 21 March 1926|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|9
|rowspan="3"|{{dts|30 January 1927}}
|rowspan="3"|[[Stade de Genève]], [[Lancy]], Switzerland
|rowspan="3"|{{fb|Switzerland}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="3" style="text-align:center"|5–1
|rowspan="3"|Friendly
|rowspan="3"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/switzerland-v-italy-30-january-1927-223675/|title=Switzerland v Italy, 30 January 1927|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|10
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|11
|style="text-align:center"|5–1
|-
|style="text-align:center"|12
|{{dts|20 February 1927}}
|[[San Siro]], Milan, Italy
|{{fb|Czechoslovakia}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–2
|style="text-align:center"|2–2
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-czechoslovakia-20-february-1927-223678/|title=Italy v Czechoslovakia, 20 February 1927|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|13
|{{dts|17 April 1927}}
|[[Stadio Filadelfia|Campo Turin]], Turin, Italy
|{{fb|Portugal}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|style="text-align:center"|3–1
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-portugal-17-april-1927-223688/|title=Italy v Portugal, 17 April 1927|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|14
|{{dts|29 May 1927}}
|[[Stadio Renato Dall'Ara|Stadio Littoriale]], [[Bologna]], Italy
|{{fb|Spain}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-spain-29-may-1927-223707/|title=Italy v Spain, 29 May 1927|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|15
|{{dts|29 May 1928}}
|[[Olympic Stadium (Amsterdam)|Olympic Stadium]], [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands
|{{fb|France}}
|style="text-align:center"|4–2
|style="text-align:center"|4–3
|[[Football at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Summer Olympics]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-france-29-may-1928-223802/|title=Italy v France, 29 May 1928|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|16
|{{dts|1 June 1928}}
|Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands	
|{{fb|Spain}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|1928 Summer Olympics
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=5331|title=Italy vs Spain international football match report
|website=EU Football|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|17
|{{dts|4 June 1928}}
|Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands	
|{{fb|Spain}}
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|style="text-align:center"|7–1
|1928 Summer Olympics
|{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}
|-
|style="text-align:center"|18
|{{dts|7 June 1928}}
|Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands	
|{{fb|Uruguay}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–3
|1928 Summer Olympics
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/uruguay-v-italy-07-june-1928-223816/|title=Uruguay v Italy, 07 June 1928|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|19
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|10 June 1928}}
|rowspan="2"|Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands	
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|EGY|1922}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–1
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|11–3 
|rowspan="2"|1928 Summer Olympics
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-egypt-10-june-1928-223820/|title=Italy v Egypt, 10 June 1928|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|20
|style="text-align:center"|7–2
|-
|style="text-align:center"|21
|{{dts|14 October 1928}}
|[[Utogrund]], [[Zürich]], Switzerland
|{{fb|Switzerland}}
|style="text-align:center"|3–1
|style="text-align:center"|3–2
|[[1927–30 Central European International Cup]]
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/switzerland-v-italy-14-october-1928-223847/|title=Switzerland v Italy, 14 October 1928|website=11v11|access-date=26 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|22
|{{dts|2 December 1928}}
|San Siro, Milan, Italy
|{{fb|Netherlands}}
|style="text-align:center"|3–2
|style="text-align:center"|3–2
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-netherlands-02-december-1928-223858/|title=Italy v Netherlands, 02 December 1928|website=11v11|access-date=27 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|23
|{{dts|1 December 1929}}
|San Siro, Milan, Italy
|{{fb|Portugal}}
|style="text-align:center"|4–1
|style="text-align:center"|6–1
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-portugal-01-december-1929-223935/|title=Italy v Portugal, 01 December 1929|website=11v11|access-date=27 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|24
|{{dts|2 March 1930}}
|[[Waldstadion (Frankfurt)|Waldstadion]], [[Frankfurt]], Germany
|{{fb|Germany|1919}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/germany-v-italy-02-march-1930-223945/|title=Germany v Italy, 02 March 1930|website=11v11|access-date=27 June 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|25
|{{dts|6 April 1930}}
|Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, Netherlands	
|{{fb|Netherlands}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/netherlands-v-italy-06-april-1930-223962/|title=Netherlands v Italy, 06 April 1930|website=11v11|access-date=27 June 2024}}</ref>
|}

==Honours==
'''Torino'''
*[[Divisione Nazionale]]/[[Serie A]]: [[1927–28 Divisione Nazionale|1927–28]]

;[[Italy national football team|Italy]]
* [[Central European International Cup]]: [[1927–30 Central European International Cup|1927–30]]
* [[Football at the Summer Olympics#Results|Summer Olympics]]: Bronze [[Football at the 1928 Summer Olympics|1928]]

'''Individual'''
*Torino F.C. Hall of Fame<ref name=guide.supereva.it/>

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last=Brera |first=Gianni |author2=Milano, Baldini & Castoldi |title=''Storia critica del calcio italiano'' |year=1998}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BALONADO01 |title=Adolfo Baloncieri at databaseOlympics.com |access-date=16 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830002023/http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BALONADO01 |archive-date=30 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}
* {{SR/Olympics profile|ba/adolfo-baloncieri-1}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|adolfo-baloncieri}}
* {{CONI profile|new_id=186|old_id=72}}
* [http://www.homestead.com/forza_azzurri/Main_Stars.html Azzurri Stars]

{{Navboxes
| title = Italy squads
| bg        = #0066BC
| fg        = white
| bordercolor = darkblue
| list =
{{Italy football squad 1920 Summer Olympics}}
{{Italy football squad 1924 Summer Olympics}}
{{Italy football squad 1928 Summer Olympics}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Adolfo Baloncieri managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Torino FC managers}}
{{Como 1907 managers}}
{{A.C. Milan managers}}
{{S.S.C. Napoli managers}}
{{U.S. Alessandria Calcio 1912 managers}}
{{FC Chiasso managers}}
{{U.C. Sampdoria managers}}
{{A.S. Roma managers}}
{{U.S. Città di Palermo managers}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Association football|Italy}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baloncieri, Adolfo}}
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1986 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Alessandria]]
[[Category:Italian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Italy men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Torino FC players]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Italy]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1920 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1924 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1928 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Italy]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Serie B players]]
[[Category:US Alessandria Calcio 1912 players]]
[[Category:Italian football managers]]
[[Category:AS Roma managers]]
[[Category:UC Sampdoria managers]]
[[Category:SSC Napoli managers]]
[[Category:Palermo FC managers]]
[[Category:FC Chiasso managers]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in football]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1928 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Italian military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Liguria]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen]]