Virgilio Maroso

Virgilio Maroso (Italian pronunciation: [virˈdʒiːljo maˈroːzo; -oːso]; 26 June 1925 – 4 May 1949) was an Italian football player, who played as a defender for Torino FC and died in the Superga air disaster together with nearly the whole Grande Torino team.

Virgilio Maroso
Virgilio Maroso
Personal information
Date of birth (1925-06-26)26 June 1925[1]
Place of birth Marostica, Italy[1]
Date of death 4 May 1949(1949-05-04) (aged 23)
Place of death Superga, Italy
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1944 → Alessandria (loan) 12 (0)
1944–1949 Torino 103 (1)
Total 115 (1)
National team
1945–1949 Italy 7 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Biography

Maroso was born in Marostica, in the province of Vicenza. He was the brother of Pietro Maroso (1934–2012), also a Serie A player and honorary president of A.S. Varese.

Club career

Maroso played as a defender. After a period on loan at Alessandria (1944), he made his club debut with Torino on 14 October 1945, in a 2–1 defeat to rivals Juventus in the Turin Derby. In total, he played 103 times for Torino in league matches, scoring once, and won four consecutive Serie A (scudetti) titles between 1945 and 1949.[1]

International career

At international level, he was capped seven times for the Italian national team between 1945 and 1949, scoring one goal. His debut came on 11 November 1945, in a 4–4 draw against Switzerland.[1][2]

Style of play

A promising and highly talented player, Maroso was a precocious full-back, who is considered to be one of the best Italian players ever in his position, and is even rated by some pundits in the sport to be Italy's greatest left-back ever. A fast, powerful, elegant, and technically gifted offensive-minded left-back, who was known for his flair and touch on the ball, Maroso was one of the first ever attacking full-backs in football, and was even capable of playing as a winger due to his ability to get up the flank; although he stood out for his attacking prowess, he was also strong defensively, courtesy of his foot-work and anticipation, and was capable of playing with either foot. In addition to his playing ability, he also stood out for his correct behaviour and fair-play on the pitch, and rarely gave away fouls; despite his skill, however, he was also injury-prone.[1][3][4][5][6]

Death and legacy

Maroso died with most of the Grande Torino team in the Superga air disaster near Turin, on 4 May 1949.[1]

The football stadium in his home-town of Marostica is dedicated to him.

Honours

Club
Torino

Individual

References
  1. "Maroso, Virgilio" (in Italian). www.enciclopediadelcalcio.it. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  2. "Maroso, Virgilio" (in Italian). FIGC.it. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  3. GESSI ADAMOLI (24 September 2005). "Il Grande Toro arriva in tivù Gandolfi: 'Mi salvò il destino'" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  4. Gigi Garanzini. "MAROSO, Virgilio" (in Italian). Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002). Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  5. Marino Bartoletti. "CABRINI, Antonio" (in Italian). Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002). Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  6. GIANNI MURA (5 September 2006). "Il gigante buono che amava fare gol" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  7. "Nasce la Hall of Fame del Toro: il 3 dicembre la cerimonia per i primi 5 granata indimenticabili". Quotidiano Piemontese (in Italian). 20 November 2014. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.


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