Italo Vassallo (1940 – 30 July 2021[1]) was an Italian-Eritrean footballer. He played for Ethiopia internationally, scoring in their 1962 Africa Cup of Nations final victory over Egypt. His half-brother is Luciano Vassallo, a former footballer for the Ethiopian team.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1940 | ||
| Place of birth | Asmara, Italian East Africa | ||
| Date of death | 30 July 2021 (aged 80–81) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1957–1960 | Hamasien | ||
| 1961–1973 | Cotton Factory Club | ||
| International career | |||
| 1962–1971 | Ethiopia | 10+ | (4+) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editVassallo made his debut at Hamasien where he won the Ethiopian First Division for the first time in 1957.[3]
When Vassallo's half-brother Luciano moved to Cotton Factory Club, Italo joined him at 17 years old. They would go on to win the Ethiopian First Division four times at Cotton FC before retiring in 1973.
International career
editOnce Eritrean-born footballers were allowed to be called up for the national team, Italo and Luciano were selected for the 1962 Africa Cup of Nations. Italo scored a goal in Ethiopia's extra-time victory in the final against Egypt.
After football
editDuring the Eritrean–Ethiopian War, Italo was expelled from Ethiopia and returned to Eritrea. He ran a restaurant in Asmara.[4]
Career statistics
editInternational goals
edit- Scores and results list Ethiopia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vassallo goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 January 1962 | Hailé Sélassié Stadium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |  United Arab Republic
|
3–2 | 4–2 | 1962 Africa Cup of Nations | |
| 2 | 21 February 1965 | Kampala, Uganda |  Uganda
|
2–1 | 2–1 | 1965 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
| 3 | 27 March 1965 | Khartoum, Sudan |  Sudan
|
1–2 | 1965 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | ||
| 4 | 4 April 1965 | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |  Kenya
|
1–0 | 2–1 | 1965 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
International
edit- Ethiopia
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ È morto Italo Vassallo, col fratello portò l’Etiopia ai vertici del calcio (in Italian)
- ^ "Ethiopian soccer great Italo Vassallo speaks out". Ethiopian Review. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- ^ "LE GRANDI COPPIE: LUCIANO ED ITALO VASSALLO". Football Pills.
- ^ Felici, Antonio. "LUCIANO VASSALLO: IL MAGNIFICO SUPERSTITE". antoniofelici.it/.