Vittorio Pozzo (born March 2, 1886 in Turin, Piedmont, Italy – Ponderano (Biella) December 21, 1968) was an Italian football (soccer) coach who was most famous for leading the Italian national team to victory in the 1934 and 1938 FIFA World Cup; managed the side that won the 1930 and 1935 editions of the Dr Gero Cup, as well as the 1936 Olympic football gold medal and the 1924 Olympic football bronze medal. He oversaw the famous unbeaten run of the Italian side from December 1934 until 1939 and was also famous for creating the Metodo tactical formation. March 2 is the 61st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (62nd in leap years). ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... “Torino” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Piedmont (disambiguation). ... Ponderano is a municipality with 3833 inhabitants (est. ... Biella (It. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... In sports, a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes. ... First international Italy 6 - 2 France (Milan, Italy; 15 May 1910) Biggest win Italy 9 - 0 USA (Brentford, England; 2 August 1948) Biggest defeat Hungary 7 - 1 Italy (Budapest, Hungary; 6 April 1924) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 European Championship Appearances... Qualifying countries The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second World Cup staged, and was hosted in Italy from May 27 to June 10. ... Qualifying countries The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from June 4 to June 19. ... Year 1930 (MCMXXX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link is to a full 1930 calendar). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, were held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. ... The Games of the VIII Olympiad were held in 1924 in Paris, France. ... Formation in association football describes how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch. ...

Background (1886-1928)

Affectionately known as Il Vecchio Maestro - 'The Old Master' and described as both an anglophile and authoritarian [1], Pozzo's time as national coach coincided with the period in which Benito Mussolini governed Italy and it has been written that Pozzo was a beneficiary of that era in that he was able to command a type of control over players not permissible in the aftermath of that time.

In his formative years Pozzo (who had come from a reasonably comfortable background) travelled widely. His primary interest was always football and he travelled to England at the turn of the century where he met Charlie Roberts, the half-back who played for Manchester United and Steve Bloomer the Derby County inside-left. Pozzo also played in Switzerland (for the Grasshoppers of Zurich during the 1905-06 season) and France before returning to Italy where he was instrumental in the development of Torino football club playing in the side from 1906 to 1911 and, thereafter, acting as the team’s coach from 1912 to 1924. Charlie Roberts (born April 6, 1883 in Darlington, died August 7, 1939 in Manchester) was an English football player. ... Manchester Uniteds emblem Manchester United F.C. (often abbreviated to Man United or just Man U, pronounced man-yoo) is an English football club based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. ... Steve Bloomer Stephen Bloomer (January 20, 1874 - April 16, 1938) was an English footballer from 1892 until 1914. ... Derby County F.C. is an English football club, currently playing in the Football League Championship. ... Torino or Turin is a major industrial city in north-western Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. ...

In 1912 he took charge of the Italian Olympic side at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. Italy lost 3-2 to Finland in the first round match at Traneburg (in a game refereed by Hugo Meisl); after which Pozzo took up a post with the Pirrelli organisation as a manager and served with Italian forces in the Alpines during the First World War. Pozzo was also the coach of the Italian Olympic side at the 1924 Olympic Games held in Paris. During that tournament Italy were awarded the Bronze medal after having lost a tight semi-final to Uruguay. (Redirected from 1912 Olympic Games) The Games of the V Olympiad were held in 1912 in Sweden. ...   (IPA: ; UN/LOCODE: SE STO) is the capital of Sweden, and consequently the site of its Government and Parliament as well as the residence of the Swedish head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf. ... Hugo Meisl (November 16, 1881 (Maleschau, Bohemia) - February 17, 1937), brother of the journalist Willy Meisl, was the multi-lingual football coach of the famous Austrian Wunderteam of the early 1930s, as well as a referee. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... (Redirected from 1924 Olympic Games) 1924 Olympics may refer to either of two sporting competitions held in France during 1924 and officially designated as Olympic Games. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ...

Coach of the National side (1929-1948)

He returned to coach the national side on a permanent basis from December 1929 [2] onwards on the basis that he would accept no money for the position; the early pointers were encouraging. Italy won the 1930 version of the Dr Gero Cup (defeating Hungary 5-0 in Budapest where, otherwise, Hungary had won all their games) from Meisl’s Austrian side, the so-called Wunderteam (who won the 2nd edition of that competition). Where defeat arose, decisions were taken. Following the 1930 defeat to Spain, Pozzo dropped Adolfo Baloncieri, his captain; an international of ten years standing. [3] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

In the lead-up to the 1934 tournament, however, the auguries were not good. In 1932 Austria beat Italy, as did the Czechs; a defeat to the Hungarians was only averted because of a missed penalty. This lead to Pozzo bringing back the Bologna player Angelo Schiavio who had been a regular goalscorer for his club side but in February 1934 with the World Cup looming, Austria defeated Italy in Turin by 4 goals to 2 [4]. Again Pozzo felled the axe on the team captain Umberto Caligaris. Bologna (IPA , from Latin Bononia, Bulåggna in Emiliano-Romagnolo) is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, in the Pianura Padana, between the Po River and the Apennines, exactly between the Reno River and the Sàvena River. ... Angelo Schiavio (15 May 1905 - 17 April 1990) was an Italian football player. ... Umberto Caligaris (July 26, 1901 - 1940) was an Italian football player and coach. ...

The Metodo

Pozzo’s reign as Italian national coach was characterised by three matters. The first was the tactical development of the ‘metodo’ formation. This was not Pozzo’s original idea but one spawned of his two famous contemporaries. In London, Herbert Chapman and in Vienna, Hugo Meisl had both seen the need to encourage more attacking play following the change in the off-side law in 1925. Whereas previously formations had remained the same since the 1890s (the 2-3-5 formations) the change in the off-side law saw Chapman use a forward-lying ‘stopper’ (in the Arsenal team of the 1920s this was a role adopted by Herbie Roberts, a slow runner but good passer of the ball). By having the centre-half playing just behind the inside forwards Chapman was able to have Roberts tackle the opposing centre-forward and then deliver the ball smartly in order to set up attacks. There was also greater onus on the wingers attacking the goal more. Cliff Bastin was a key component of the Arsenal success story in the 1930s, a free scoring winger. Later Pozzo evolved the formation into the Sistema (2-3-2-3 formation), which created a stronger defence. The relative strength of Chapman's and Pozzo's ideas was put to the test in 1933 during their European tour, when England (lead by Herbert Chapman (the first coach to take full control of the national side)) drew 1-1 with Pozzo's Italian side. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Herbert Chapman (January 19, 1878 – January 6, 1934) was an English football player and manager. ... Vienna (German: , see also other names) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... Herbert Herbie Roberts (February 19, 1905 – June 19, 1944) was an English football player. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ...

Oriundi

The other matter that Pozzo benefited from was ‘oriundi’ (that is foreign-born Italian ‘nationals’) which permitted Italy to take huge advantage of those players from other countries who could claim some type of Italian ancestry. In the 1900s Pozzo had been immersed in the chivalry of the English footballer: physically committed to the game but fair. In the 1930s he was able to call on Luis Monti a notoriously tough-tackling midfielder (who had appeared for the Argentinians in their 1930 World Cup final defeat) and who was a vital part of the success of the team in the 1934 World Cup. (Chapman's Roberts was Pozzo's Monti). Oriundi is a 1999 movie starring Anthony Quinn about an Italian oriundi family in Brazil. ... Luisito Monti (born January 15, 1901, died 1983) is an Argentine football player who has the unique distinction of playing in two World Cup final matches with two different national teams. ...

He was also a fan of Raimundo Orsi, a fellow Argentinian who he was able to prize away from Buenos Aires after an undistinguished stint in the Argentinian shirt. Orsi, never a prolific goalscorer, would reward Pozzo’s faith with a freakish goal in the 1934 World Cup final [2]. Not that he dispensed with home-grown talent. His penchant for attacking play is demonstrated by the fact that as well as Schiavio, Pozzo was successful in converting Giuseppe Meazza, who was captain in 1938, from a striker into an inside forward; indeed Pozzo’s reign is linked closely to the success of his strikers. Raimundo Bibian Mumo Orsi (December 2, 1901 in Avellaneda – April 6, 1986) was a footballer, born in Argentina, who won the 1934 World Cup with Italy. ... For the stadium named after this man - which is more commonly known as the San Siro - see Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. ...

Mussolini

The other matter was Benito Mussolini. Brian Glanville has stated that Pozzo was not a fascist; he did, however, work alongside Giorgio Vaccaro - a general from the fascist militia during that first World Cup campaign. Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (July 29, 1883 – April 28, 1945) was the prime minister and dictator of Italy from 1922 until 1943, when he was overthrown. ... Brian Lester Glanville (born 24th September 1931) is a leading English football writer and novelist. ... Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, was the authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ...

Pozzo certainly benefited from being in the position he was in during that period of history; commanding a discipline on players and resolving disputes by imposing his own decisions on affairs. Just whose decision it was to make the side play in the infamous ‘maglia nera’ (all-black strip) during the quarter-final win over France at the Stade des Colombes in Paris in the 1938 World Cup quarter-final is still a matter of conjecture; nor is it clear as to why this decision was made. Was there, for instance, a political decision taken to goad the ex-patriot Italians in the stands? Was it a statement designed to intimidate the French side? In addition there is the fact that the football of the day was extremely physical; Pozzo had learnt his lessons from the English well. City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ...

Successes during the 1930s

During the 1934 World Cup, Pozzo benefited from whatever was going on behind the scenes during a physically excessive tournament. The game against the Spanish side in the quarter-finals raised questions against the performance of the referee Louis Baert in the first, drawn, match. In the second Rene Mercet, the Swiss referee, did not escape criticism either; banned upon his arrival back in Switzerland by his parent Football Association. A clear foul on Ricardo Zamora for the equaliser in the first went unpunished; another on Joan Josep Nogues in the replayed game earned Italy a semi-final place. Louis Andre Baert (born December 29, 1903 in Ghent – died July 11, 1969 in Ghent) was a international referee from Belgium in between the Wars. ... Rene Mercet (b. ... Ricardo Zamora Martínez (Barcelona, January 21, 1901 – Barcelona, September 15, 1978) was a Spanish football player nicknamed el Divino. He was a goalkeeper who played 46 times for Spain. ...

Italy benefited as well from the tough quarter-final played elsewhere between Hungary and Austria; by the time of the semi-final Johann Horvath was absent and Italy won by another disputed goal; Enrique Guiata, another Argentinian, bundling Peter Platzer over the line for the Italian goal. On the back of the World Cup success, Pozzo was awarded the title of Commendatore for greatness in his profession and his tactical acumen was respected throughout the sport.

The excesses of the side, however, boiled over at the Battle of Highbury in December of 1934 against a tough English side lead by Arsenal's uncompromising Wilf Copping. The Battle of Highbury was the name given to the football match between England and Italy that took place on November 14, 1934 at Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, London. ... Wilfred Wilf Copping (August 17, 1909 – June 1980) was an English footballer. ...

Italy won the 1935 Dr Gero Cup and entered the 1936 Olympic Games on the back of a run which had seen them lose only to the Austrians and English since October 1932. The Italians, all registered as students, won the Olympic Games, defeating Meisl’s Austrians in the final by 2 goals to 1. Annibale Frossi, the myopic striker who Pozzo had discovered from obscurity in Serie B, lead the front-line through out the tournament. (Redirected from 1936 Olympic Games) There were two Olympic Games in the year 1936: 1936 Summer Olympics 1936 Winter Olympics This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Annibale Frossi (August 6, 1911 - 1999) was a footballer from Muzzana, Italy. ... Serie B is the name of the second highest football league in Italy. ...

By the time of the 1938 World Cup Italy remained undefeated; Silvio Piola, first playing in 1935 became an instant success, scoring regularly for the national side; a magnificent partner to Meazza. Italy duly won their 2nd World title in a free-scoring game against the Hungarians in Paris. Silvio Piola (September 29, 1913 in Robbio Lomellina, Italy - October 4, 1996 in Gattinara, Italy) was an Italian footballer whose career lasted from 1929 until 1954. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ...

End of coaching (1939-1948)

There were slight wobbles with the side just after the advent of the 2nd World War; Pozzo remained in position throughout the hostilities. England won their famous game in Turin in May, 1948 just prior to the Olympic Games of 1948. It was there that Pozzo’s last match as Italian coach came; a 5-3 defeat to the Danes in the quarter-finals of the competition; he finished with a record 63 wins from 95 games. “Torino” redirects here. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ...

Later Life (1949-1968)

Following this, Pozzo became a journalist, reporting on the 1950 World Cup; he would pass away the year Italy were next to win a major international honour in 1968.

External links

• Biography of Vittorio Pozzo

[1] [5] [2] [6] [3] [7] [4] [8]

	Italy squad - 1934 FIFA World Cup Champions (1st Title)
DF Allemandi | FW Arcari | MF Bertolini | FW Borel | DF Caligaris | MF Castellazzi | GK Cavanna | GK Combi | FW Demaría | FW Ferrari | MF Ferraris | FW Guaita | FW Guarisi | GK Masetti | FW Meazza | MF Monti | DF Monzeglio | FW Orsi | MF Pizziolo | DF Rosetta | FW Schiavio | MF Varglien | Coach: Pozzo Image File history File links Flag_of_Uruguay_(bordered). ... Alberto Suppici (November 20, 1898 – June 21, 1981) was the first coach managers to clinched the first World Tournament of football (soccer), the 1930 FIFA World Cup, guide the Uruguay national football team. ... The FIFA World Cup Trophy, which has been awarded to the world champions since 1974. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uruguay_(bordered). ... Juan López (born 15 March 1908) was an Uruguayan football (soccer) manager. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946). ... First international Italy 6 - 2 France (Milan, Italy; 15 May 1910) Biggest win Italy 9 - 0 USA (Brentford, England; 2 August 1948) Biggest defeat Hungary 7 - 1 Italy (Budapest, Hungary; 6 April 1924) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 European Championship Appearances... Qualifying countries The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second World Cup staged, and was hosted in Italy from May 27 to June 10. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946). ... Luigi Allemandi (born in San Damiano Macra, Cuneo, November 18, 1903 – dead in Pietra Ligure, Province of Savona, in 1978) was an italian footballer in defense role. ... Luigi Bertolini (born in Busalla, Genoa, September 13, 1904 – dead in 1977) was an italian football (soccer) player in midfielder role. ... Felice Placido Borel (April 5, 1914 – January 21, 1993) was an Italian football player who played as a striker. ... Umberto Caligaris (July 26, 1901 - 1940) was an Italian football player and coach. ... One of the best goal keepers of all time comparable to th elike sof zoff and yashin he played for juventus in the 30s ... Attilio Demaría (March 19, 1909 – November 11, 1990) was an Italian-Argentine football (soccer) player, who played for Argentina in the 1930 World Cup and for Italy in the 1934 World Cup. ... Giovanni Ferrari (born December 6, 1907 in Alessandria; died December 2, 1982) was an Italian football (soccer) player. ... Attilio Ferraris (March 26, 1904 – May 8, 1947) was an Italian football midfielder. ... Enrique Lucas Gonzales Guaita, in Italy sometimes called Enrico Guaita or Il Corsaro Nero (born in Lucas, July 11, 1910 – dead May 18, 1959) was an Argentine–Italian football (soccer) player. ... Anfilogino Guarisi (26 December 1905 — 8 June 1974) was an Italian Brazilian-born football player. ... Guido Masetti (born in Verona, November 22, 1907 – dead in Rome, November 27, 1993) was an Italian football (soccer) player in goalkeeper role. ... For the stadium named after this man - which is more commonly known as the San Siro - see Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. ... Luisito Monti (born January 15, 1901, died 1983) is an Argentine football player who has the unique distinction of playing in two World Cup final matches with two different national teams. ... Eraldo Monzeglio (born in Vignale Monferrato, Alessandria, June 5, 1906 – dead November 3, 1981) was an Italian footballer in defense role. ... Raimundo Bibian Mumo Orsi (December 2, 1901 in Avellaneda – April 6, 1986) was a footballer, born in Argentina, who won the 1934 World Cup with Italy. ... Mario Pizziolo (born in Castellammare Adriatico, Province of Pescara, December 7, 1909 – dead in Florence, April 30, 1990) was an italian football (soccer) player in midfielder role. ... Virginio Rosetta (February 25, 1902 - 1975) was an Italan former football player. ... Angelo Schiavio (15 May 1905 - 17 April 1990) was an Italian football player. ...

	Italy squad - 1938 FIFA World Cup Champions (2nd Title)
MF Andreolo | FW Bertoni | FW Biavati | GK Ceresoli | MF Chizzo | FW Colaussi | MF Donati | FW Ferrari | FW Ferraris | DF Foni | MF Genta | MF Locatelli | GK Masetti | FW Meazza | DF Monzeglio | GK Olivieri | MF Olmi | FW Pasinati | MF Perazzolo | FW Piola | DF Rava | MF Serantoni | Coach: Pozzo Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946). ... First international Italy 6 - 2 France (Milan, Italy; 15 May 1910) Biggest win Italy 9 - 0 USA (Brentford, England; 2 August 1948) Biggest defeat Hungary 7 - 1 Italy (Budapest, Hungary; 6 April 1924) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 European Championship Appearances... Qualifying countries The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from June 4 to June 19. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy_(1861-1946). ... Michele Andreolo (born 6 September 1912 in Montevideo - died 1981) was a Uruguay-born Italian footballer. ... Sergio Bertoni (born in Pisa, September 23, 1915 - dead February 15, 1995) was a football (soccer) player in striker role, and later manager. ... Amedeo Biavati (born in Bologna, April 4, 1915 – dead April 22, 1979) was an italian footballer. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Gino Colaussi was an Italian footballer. ... Giovanni Ferrari (born December 6, 1907 in Alessandria; died December 2, 1982) was an Italian football (soccer) player. ... Pietro Ferraris (born February 15, 1912) was a Italian football player. ... Alfredo Foni (born January 20, 1911 - died 1985) was an Italian footballer in the 1930s and later on a coach. ... Guido Masetti (born in Verona, November 22, 1907 – dead in Rome, November 27, 1993) was an Italian football (soccer) player in goalkeeper role. ... For the stadium named after this man - which is more commonly known as the San Siro - see Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. ... Eraldo Monzeglio (born in Vignale Monferrato, Alessandria, June 5, 1906 – dead November 3, 1981) was an Italian footballer in defense role. ... Aldo Olivieri (October 2, 1910 – April 5, 2001) was an Italian former football goalkeeper from 1931 to 1943, and trainer after World War II. Career Olivieri was born in born in San Michele Extra, in the province of Verona. ... Pietro Pasinati (born in Trieste, July 21, 1910 - dead November 15, 2000) it was an italian football (soccer) player in striker role, and later manager. ... Silvio Piola (September 29, 1913 in Robbio Lomellina, Italy - October 4, 1996 in Gattinara, Italy) was an Italian footballer whose career lasted from 1929 until 1954. ... Pietro Rava (born January 21, 1916) is a former Italian football defender and coach. ... Pietro Serantoni (born in Venice, December 11, 1906 - dead October 6, 1964) was an Italian football (soccer) player in midfielder role. ...