Aviano is a municipality of almost 9 thousand people in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in the former province of Pordenone, a stone’s throw from the border with Veneto. Today it is a place known above all for the presence of the military base used by the USAF (the US Air Force) but in the autumn of 1943, after 8 September, it was part of the Italian Social Republic, directly controlled by the […]
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Aviano it is a municipality of almost 9 thousand people Friuli Venezia Giuliain the former province of Pordenone, a stone’s throw from the border with Veneto. Today it is a place known above all for the presence of military base used by the USAF (the US Air Force) but in the autumn of 1943, after 8 September, it was part of the Italian Social Republicdirectly controlled by Nazis. And here there is also a 19 year old footballer. He is not a famous figure, but just one of the prized pieces of the youth team Bologna. Is called Dino Ballacciborn on 24 May 1924 in the Emilian capital.
Having moved to Friuli after the outbreak of the war, Ballacci ad Aviano he comes raked by the Germans in that autumn of 1943. However, he manages to escape to the mountains after killing his jailerreaches the Cansiglio forest and approaches Garibaldi’s partisans Nannetti brigades. In the spring of 1944 he passed into the fifth Osoppo brigade commanded by Peter Masetnom de guerre Masofighting in the decisive battle at Piancavallo. The Osoppo-Friuli Brigades they are one of the most active partisan groups in that area. They had been founded at the headquarters of Archbishop’s Seminary of Udine on Christmas Eve 1943, on the initiative of volunteers of secular, socialist and Catholic inspiration.
After 25 April 1945, Ballacci returned to Bologna. There partisan struggle it left an indelible mark on his memory and body. Before the conflict he was on his way to becoming a footballer, but now he is an employee. A profession that he only occupies for a few weeks. The president of Bologna Renato Dall’Ara he offers him a contract and the opportunity to re-embrace his old passion. Ballacci thus made his debut in Serie A on 10 March 1946: a 2-1 victory at home to Venice. The starting point of a journey lasting twelve seasons, 305 matches in the top category and one Upper Italian Cup won in 1946. A journey completed with the captain’s armband. He inevitably becomes one of the most representative rossoblù footballers of the fifties, passed by Gino Cappello to the first Ezio Pascutti. He is a defender, left wing, tough and fiery: “I aimed at the ball, then never mind if I took the legs”, he once said to a reporter. A decisive temperament that does not remain isolated on the pitch, but shapes Ballacci’s daily life. In these years he also made his only appearance with the national team, on 24 January 1954, in the match againstEgypt for the World Cup qualifiers, in Milan (final result, 5 to 1 for the Azzurri). A historic match for our country, as it is the first to be broadcast on television.
Ballacci remained in Bologna until 1957. There are four other stages in his future: LeccoLucchese, Portogruaro and Portocivitanovese. Second place places in minor leagues. The moment to say “stop” came in 1962, to begin the second part of his career, on the bench. Two excellent tournaments in Serie B a Lawn And Reggiana they push him to Catanzaro. The category is always the same but what it leaves behind is very different. In 1966 the Calabrians – despite their militancy in the cadetteria – managed the epic feat of beating Juventus in the semi-final of the Italian Cup, before losing in the final, only in extra time, against Florentine Of Albertosi, De Sisti And Chiarugi. TO Catania comes close to the top flight, in Arezzo launches a 19 year old Francesco Grazianito Alexandria he won the championships in 1973/74 and 1980/81 (in C and C2 respectively), but he never reached Serie A. His last bench is still that ofAlexandriain Serie C2, between March and June 1988. His last place in life is instead Imolawhere he died on August 6, 2013 at the age of 89.
