Giuseppe Ticozzelli Explained

Giuseppe Ticozzelli
Fullname:Giuseppe Ticozzelli
Position:Defender
Birth Date:30 April 1894
Birth Place:Castelnovetto, Italy
Death Place:Milan, Italy
Years1:1914–1921
Caps1:35
Goals1:3
Years2:1921–1924
Caps2:62
Goals2:6
Years3:1924–1931
Caps3:77
Goals3:4
Nationalyears1:1920
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0

Giuseppe Ticozzelli (pronounced as /it/; 30 April 1894  - 3 February 1962) was an Italian footballer who played as a defender. On 18 January 1920, he represented the Italy national football team on the occasion of a friendly match against France in a 9–4 home win.[1]

A cycling enthusiast, Ticozzelli decided to participate to the 1926 Giro d'Italia as an independent, wearing a black jersey. He completed three stages, but since he ran alone without soigneurs, he had to stop at taverns in order to eat, with considerable loss of time. He retired during the fourth stage after being hit by a motorcycle.[2] Remembering his unorthodox participation, in the 1946 Giro d'Italia it was introduced the maglia nera (black jersey), awarded to the last cyclist to finish the race.[3]

Later, he left for Italian East Africa as a military volunteer, and lost his eyesight fighting against Abyssinian guerrillas.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ticozzelli, Giuseppe. 5 August 2020. FIGC. Italian.
  2. Web site: Giuseppe Ticozzelli: calciatore, ciclista e combattente . Zani . Victor . 21 January 2014 . Italian. Il Mondo di Pavia. 27 October 2019 . https://archive.today/20140121141821/http://www.ilmondodipavia.it/pagina.php?b=1kwXq5WWQ7. 2014-01-21.
  3. Web site: 1949 Giro d'Italia . Bike Race Info. Bill and Carol McGann . Dog Ear Publishing. 27 October 2019.