 Renzo De Vecchi in A.C. Milan | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1894-02-03)3 February 1894 | ||
| Place of birth | Milan, Italy | ||
| Date of death | 14 May 1967(1967-05-14) (aged 73) | ||
| Height | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left back,centre back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1909–1913 | Milan | 64 | (7) |
| 1913–1917 | Genoa | 51 | (7) |
| 1919–1929 | Genoa | 220 | (32) |
| Total | 335 | (46) | |
| International career | |||
| 1910–1925 | Italy | 43 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1927–1930 | Genoa | ||
| 1930–1933 | Rapallo | ||
| 1933–1935 | Genoa | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Renzo De Vecchi (Italian pronunciation:[ˈrɛntsodeˈvɛkki]; 3 February 1894 – 14 May 1967) was an Italianfootball player and coach who played as adefender. He competed in the1912 Summer Olympics withItaly,[1] and is officially the youngest player to have ever played a match for the Italy national side. Regarded as one of Italy's greatest-ever players, he was known for his excellent technique,dribbling skills, and his accuracy frompenalty kicks, despite being a defender. As a ball-winningfull-back, he was known for his strength, tackling ability, anticipation, and his organisational skills on the left flank, and was also capable of playing in thecentre or inmidfield.[2]
Born inMilan, Renzo De Vecchi is the youngest player to play in aSerie A game forA.C. Milan, making his debut at 15 years and 284 days, on 14 November 1909, in a 2–1 home win over Ausonia.[3]Two weeks later, he scored in a 6–2 away defeat to Torino, on 28 Novembro 1909, making him the youngest scorer in aSerie A game forA.C. Milan, a record he holds to this day.[4]
He soon became a member of the starting line-up on theleft side of the back-line, although he was also capable of playing in the centre or even inmidfield.[2] Due to his class and playing ability, he was given the nickname "Il Figlio di Dio" (The Son of God) by the Milan fans.[5] He later moved toGenoa in 1913, winning three Italian League titles during his time with the club, before retiring in 1929. Between 1927 and 1929, he worked as a player-manager for Genoa, and during the 1929–30 season, after retiring as a player, he became the club's manager for a season, temporarily moving to Rapallo in 1930, for three seasons. He returned to Genoa in 1933, and he helped the club to gainSerie A promotion, winning the1934–35 Serie B title, before retiring, after which he pursued a coaching career.[2]
De Vecchi is theyoungest official player to feature in a match for theItaly national team at 16 years, three months and 23 days, making his international debut as a substitute on 26 May 1910, in a 6–1 away defeat toHungary.[6][7][8][9] As a member of theItalian Olympic squad in 1912, he played one match in the main tournament as well as two matches in the consolation tournament; he also represented Italy at the1920 and1924 Summer Olympic Games. He served as Italy'scaptain between 1920 and 1925. In total, he made 43 appearances for Italy between 1910 and 1925.[2][10]
Following his retirement as a manager, De Vecchi worked as a journalist forLa Gazzetta dello Sport.[11]
Genoa[2]
Genoa[2]
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