Gino Cappello

Gino Cappello
	Cappello playing for Bologna, c. 1951.
Personal information
Full name	Gino Cappello IV
Date of birth	2 June 1920
Place of birth	Padua, Kingdom of Italy
Date of death	28 March 1990 (aged 69)
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team
1939–1940	Padova
1940–1943	Milan
1944	Padova
1945–1956	Bologna
1956–1958	Novara
Total
International career
1949–1954	Italy
1950	Italy B
	* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gino Cappello (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒiːno kapˈpɛllo]; 2 June 1920 – 28 March 1990) was a former Italian footballer, who played primarily as a striker.^[2]

Club career

Gino Cappello was born in Padua, Italy. He began his career with Calcio Padova in the late 1930s, playing for both the club's under 19s and first team.

In 1940, after two seasons with Calcio Padova, he signed for AC Milan in Serie A. Cappello became the second leading goal scorer at the time, despite the club not being a title contender. In January of 1944, Cappello moved back to Calcio Padova.

After the end of World War II, Cappello moved to Bologna, where he played for ten seasons, scoring 80 goals in 245 matches.

In his last two seasons, he played for Novara in Serie B. He retired in 1958 at the age of thirty-eight.^[3]^[4]

International career

Cappello debuted for the Italian national team on 22nd of May 1949 in a 3–1 win against Austria. A year later, at the 1950 World Cup, he was one of four Italian players to play both games. Four years later, he was selected to play again in the 1954 World Cup where he became the first Italian player to wear the number 10 shirt at a World Cup. He played his last game for Italy in a 4–1 win against Belgium during the tournament.^[3]^[4]

Style of play

Cappello was known for his body feints, close control, and exceptional dribbling ability that was unique for the time period. However, he was also known for poor work rate and inconsistency, often practicing misconduct off the field.^[5] Initially deployed as an advanced playmaker or second striker, he became proficient in playing anywhere along the front line, on either wing or in the center. Cappello later adapted to the center-forward role.

References

^ Courtney, Barrie (22 May 2014). "England - International Results B-Team - Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
^ "Gli scandali del mondo del calcio". Enciclopedia dello Sport (in Italian). Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana.
^ ^a ^b "Gino Cappello (IV)" (in Italian). Magliarossonera.it. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Gino Cappello". Digital Humanities (in Italian). Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
^ "Il bomber che prese a cazzotti l'arbitro: Cappello e il processo dell'estate". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 19 May 2026.

External links

Gino Cappello Profile at Magliarossonera.it

[1] Courtney, Barrie (22 May 2014). "England - International Results B-Team - Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 April 2017.

[2] "Gli scandali del mondo del calcio". Enciclopedia dello Sport (in Italian). Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana.

[Magliarossonera-3] "Gino Cappello (IV)" (in Italian). Magliarossonera.it. Retrieved 19 August 2016.

[carisbo-4] "Gino Cappello". Digital Humanities (in Italian). Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna. Retrieved 10 April 2026.

[5] "Il bomber che prese a cazzotti l'arbitro: Cappello e il processo dell'estate". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 19 May 2026.

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