Giovanni Moscardini

Infobox Football biography
playername= Giovanni Moscardini


fullname = Giovanni Moscardini
dateofbirth = 1897
cityofbirth = Falkirk
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath = July 15 1985
cityofdeath = Prestwick
countryofdeath = Scotland
height =
position = Centre Forward
years = 1918-1919
1919-1924
1924-1925
19xx-19xx
19xx-19xx
clubs = AS Barga
Lucchese
Pisa
Genoa
Campbeltown Old Boys
caps(goals) =
nationalyears = 1921-25
nationalteam = Italy
nationalcaps(goals) = 9 (7)

Giovanni Moscardini (1897 – 1985), also known as Johnny Moscardini, was an Italian Scottish footballer who played for Lucchese, Pisa, Genoa and Italy [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7086560.stm www.bbc.co.uk] ] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/7098355.stm "Italy's football friendship pact"] ] . He was one of the earliest of the "Oriundi". While the majority of these foreign-born footballers who played for Italy came from South America, Moscardini was the only one born in Scotland [ [http://forza_azzurri.homestead.com/play_Oriundi.html Forza Azzuri Statistics] ] . The football stadium in Barga, Tuscany, where his family came from, is named in his honour.

Family

Moscardini’s father was one of three brothers who left their hometown of Barga in Tuscany in 1872 to move to Scotland. Once there they established several fish-and-chip shops and ice-cream parlours. In 1925 after retiring Moscardini’s father returned to Italy.

First World War

During the First World War, Moscardini left Scotland and enlisted in the Italian Army as a machine gunner. During the Battle of Caporetto, he was wounded in the elbow by shrapnel and was later sent to Sicily to recover. While there, he helped organise a football team.

Club career

When the war ended, Moscardini returned to his family home of Barga where he played football for the local team. He was subsequently spotted by a scout from Lucchese. After five years playing for Lucchese he switched to Pisa and during the 1924-25 season he scored 18 goals [ [http://www.rsssf.com/players/scot-players-in-it.html Scottish Players and Coaches in Italy] ] . He later played with Genoa and went on tour to South America with the club.

Italy international

Between 1921 and 1925 Moscardini made 9 appearances and scored 7 goals for Italy. He made his international debut against Switzerland on November 6 1921 and scored in a 1-1 draw. Then on January 15 1922 he scored twice in a 3-3 draw against Austria. On May 21 1922 he scored again in a 4-2 win against Belgium. He scored his fifth international goal on May 27 1923 in a 5-1 away defeat against Czechoslovakia. He made his last appearance for Italy against France on March 22 1925 and he marked the occasion by scoring twice in a 7-0 win. Moscardini won his first eight caps while playing for Lucchese and his last while at Pisa [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ital-intres1920.html Italy - International Matches 1920-1929] ] He was the first Pisa player ever capped by Italy [ [http://forza_azzurri.homestead.com/clubs_prof_N.html Forza Azzuri Statistics] ] .

Later Years

After retiring as a footballer Moscardini returned to Scotland to manage an uncle's shop in Campbeltown. He later established his own business, the Lake Café, in Prestwick. He lived in Prestwick until he died in 1985 at the age of 88.

References