Renzo Devecchi was one of the best defenders in Italy before World War II. Some of his performance were Italian records – 350 matches played with only two clubs, AC Milan and Genoa CFC, with 47 goals and three titles with Genoa in 1915, 1923 and 1924. He played 43 matches for the Azzurri from 1910-25, and competed at three Olympics – 1912, 1920, and 1924, an Italian record.

Devecchi also had a good career as a coach with two clubs from 1927-35: Genova 1893 (the new name of Genoa CFC under fascism), and Rapallo, a city near Genova on the Mediterranean. After he retired as a player in 1930 he was a contributor to many sport newspapers and in 1939, together with the journalist Leone Boccali, compiled the first edition ofEnciclopedia lllustrata del Calcio Italiano, considered the bible of Italian football, still published, now asAlmanacco lllustrato del Calcio, celebrating its 75th year in 2016.