Giovanni Viola
_-_Giovanni_Viola_(cropped).jpg) Viola with Italy national team in 1956 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 June 1926[1] | ||
| Place of birth | San Benigno Canavese,[1] Italy | ||
| Date of death | 7 July 2008 (aged 82)[2] | ||
| Place of death | Turin,[2] Italy | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1945–1958 | Juventus | 245 | (0) |
| 1946–1947 | → Carrarese (loan) | 33 | (0) |
| 1947–1948 | → Como (loan) | 33 | (0) |
| 1948–1949 | → Lucchese (loan) | 33 | (0) |
| 1958–1959 | Brescia | 27 | (0) |
| Total | 371 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 1954–1956 | Italy | 11 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Giovanni Viola (Italian pronunciation: [dʒoˈvanni viˈɔːla; ˈvjɔː-]; 20 June 1926 – 7 July 2008) was an Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Although he represented several Italian clubs throughout his career, he is mostly remembered for his successful stint with Juventus, where he won three Serie A titles. At international level, he represented the Italy national football team at the 1954 FIFA World Cup.[3]
Club career
[edit]During his club career, Viola played for Italian side Juventus from 1945 to 1958.[3] He was brought in as a replacement for Lucidio Sentimenti (IV), and made 246 appearances for the Turin club, winning the Scudetto on three occasions: in 1950, 1952 and 1958.[2][4][5] He also played for Carrarese, Como, Lucchese, and Brescia.[3]
International career
[edit]At international level, Viola also played 11 matches for the Italy between 1954 and 1956. He made his debut at the 1954 FIFA World Cup, in the 4–1 first round play-off defeat of Switzerland.[1][3][6]
Style of play
[edit]Viola is regarded as one of the most consistent Italian goalkeepers of his generation,[7] and considered among Juventus’ greatest goalkeepers of all-time. Known for his composure, reliability, and efficiency, he was an effective shot-stopper; who combined strong positional sense with agility and athleticism. This enabled him to make acrobatic saves when necessary.[5]
Honours
[edit]- Individual
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Convocazioni e presenze in campo: Nome: Viola Giovanni" [Callups and appearances: Name: Viola Giovanni] (in Italian). Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Calcio, Juventus: muore a 82 anni l'ex portiere Giovanni Viola" [Football, Juventus: ex goalkeeper Giovanni Viola dies aged 82]. La Repubblica (in Italian). 7 July 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Viola Giovanni". Enciclopedia del Calcio (in Italian). Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- 1 2 "Roll of honour". Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- 1 2 3 Stefano Bedeschi (20 June 2016). "Gli eroi in bianconero: Giovanni VIOLA" (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ "Italy: Giovanni Viola". FIFA. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Il kamikaze Ghezzi e le notti di Cesenatico" (in Italian). La Repubblica. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ↑ "Mundo Esportivo Edição 00264". Mundo Esportivo: Um Semanario Completo dos Esportes (SP) - 1946 a 1956. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
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- 1926 births
- 2008 deaths
- 1954 FIFA World Cup players
- Lucchese 1905 players
- Brescia Calcio players
- Como 1907 players
- Men's association football goalkeepers
- Italian men's footballers
- Italy men's international footballers
- Juventus FC players
- Serie A players
- People from San Benigno Canavese
- Footballers from the Metropolitan City of Turin
- 20th-century Italian sportsmen
- Italian football goalkeeper stubs