View source for Claudio Sala

{{short description|Italian footballer (born 1947)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography 
|name           = Claudio Sala
|image          = Claudio_Sala(1).jpg
|upright        = 
|caption        = 
|full_name      = 
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1947|9|8|df=y}}
|birth_place    = [[Macherio]], Italy
|height         = 1.78 m
|position       = [[Winger (association football)|Winger]]
|currentclub    = 
|youthyears1    = 
|youthclubs1    = [[A.C. Monza Brianza 1912|Monza]]
|years1         = 1965–1968
|clubs1         = [[A.C. Monza Brianza 1912|Monza]]
|caps1          = 75
|goals1         = 24
|years2         = 1968–1969
|clubs2         = [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]] 
|caps2          = 23
|goals2         = 2
|years3         = 1969–1980
|clubs3         = [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
|caps3          = 365
|goals3         = 22
|years4         = 1980–1982
|clubs4         = [[Genoa C.F.C.|Genoa]]
|caps4          = 41
|goals4         = 0
|totalcaps      = 504 
|totalgoals     = 48
|nationalyears1 = 1971–1978
|nationalteam1  = [[Italy national football team|Italy]]
|nationalcaps1  = 18
|nationalgoals1 = 0
| manageryears1 = 1989 | managerclubs1 = [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]
| manageryears2 = 1990 | managerclubs2 = [[U.S. Catanzaro 1929|Catanzaro]]
| manageryears3 = 1991 | managerclubs3 = [[U.S. Catanzaro 1929|Catanzaro]]
| manageryears4 = 2001 | managerclubs4 = Moncalieri
|medaltemplates = 
}}
'''Claudio Sala''' ({{IPA|it|ˈklaudjo ˈsaːla}}; born 8 September 1947) is an Italian former [[association football|footballer]], [[manager (association football)|manager]] and current [[Sports commentator|commentator]], who played as a [[winger (association football)|winger]].

==Club career==
Sala made his debut for [[A.C. Monza Brianza 1912|Monza]], later moving to [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]], [[Torino F.C.|Torino]] and [[Genoa C.F.C.|Genoa]]. In total, he played 323 matches and scored 27 goals in the [[Serie A]]. With Torino, he won the [[1975–76 Serie A]], and the 1970–71 [[Coppa Italia]].<ref name="Storie di Calcio: CLAUDIO, SALA IL POETA DEL GOL">{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/claudio-sala.html|title=Storie di Calcio: CLAUDIO, SALA IL POETA DEL GOL|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=Italian|accessdate=30 December 2014}}</ref>

==International career==
Sala also earned 18 caps for the [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]], including playing in the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]], where Italy finished in fourth place after reaching the semi-final.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091005053252/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=57359/index.html Claudio Sala Statistics] [[FIFA]]. Retrieved 4 February 2010.</ref>

==Style of play==
Nicknamed "il poeta del gol" ("the goal poet," in Italian), Sala was usually deployed as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]], but could also play as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]], or even as a [[Forward (association football)#Striker|main]] or [[Forward (association football)#Second striker|supporting striker]] on occasion. Regarded as one of Italy's greatest wingers, he was a quick, powerful, and highly creative player, and an excellent [[Assist (football)|assist]] provider. He had good technical ability, as well as accurate passing and [[Cross (football)|crossing]] ability, which allowed him to be an effective [[playmaker]]. As a two-footed player, he was capable of attacking on either wing, and was known for his ability to get past his opponents and deliver balls into the penalty area from the touchline.<ref name="Storie di Calcio: CLAUDIO, SALA IL POETA DEL GOL"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/2014/04/28/news/ala_destra-84684368/|title=Scatti, dribbling e fantasia: è tornata l'ala destra|publisher=La Repubblica|language=Italian|date=28 April 2014|accessdate=24 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.toronews.net/interviste/toro-agroppi-vi-racconto-gigi-meroni-il-nostro-george-best/|title=Toro, Agroppi: "Vi racconto Gigi Meroni, il nostro George Best"|publisher=Toro News|language=Italian|date=12 October 2017|accessdate=20 January 2020}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.firenzeviola.it/zibaldone/cuadrado-tra-garrincha-e-julinho-141041 |title=CUADRADO, TRA GARRINCHA E JULINHO... |publisher=Firenze Viola |language=Italian |last1=Borgi |first1=Stefano |date=28 August 2013 |accessdate=20 January 2020 }}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Torino'''<ref name="Storie di Calcio: CLAUDIO, SALA IL POETA DEL GOL"/>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1975–76 Serie A|1975–76]]
*[[Coppa Italia]]: 1970–71

'''Monza'''
*[[Serie C]]: 1966–67

'''Individual'''
*[[Guerin d'Oro]]: 1976, 1977<ref name="Storie di Calcio: CLAUDIO, SALA IL POETA DEL GOL"/>
*[[Torino FC Hall of Fame]]: 2016<ref name="3rdedition">{{Cite web|last=De Marzi|first=Massimo|date=2 December 2016|title=Castellini, Fossati, Grezar e Claudio Sala inseriti nella Hall of Fame granata|url=https://www.torinoggi.it/2016/12/02/sommario/sport/leggi-notizia/argomenti/calcio-5/articolo/castellini-fossati-grezar-e-claudio-sala-inseriti-nella-hall-of-fame-granata.html|access-date=19 February 2021|website=Torino Oggi|language=it-IT}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Italy Squad 1978 World Cup}}
{{Torino FC managers}}
{{U.S. Catanzaro 1929 managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sala, Claudio}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from the Metropolitan City of Milan]]
[[Category:Italian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Italy men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Serie B players]]
[[Category:AC Monza players]]
[[Category:SSC Napoli players]]
[[Category:Torino FC players]]
[[Category:Genoa CFC players]]
[[Category:People from Brianza]]
[[Category:US Catanzaro 1929 managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen]]


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