Italo Vassallo

Italo Vassallo (1940 – 30 July 2021[1]) was an Italian-Eritrean footballer. He played for Ethiopia internationally, scoring in their 1962 Africa Cup of Nations final victory over Egypt. His half-brother is Luciano Vassallo, a former footballer for the Ethiopian team.[2]

Italo Vassallo
Personal information
Date of birth 1940 (1940)
Place of birth Asmara, Eritrea
Date of death 30 July 2021(2021-07-30) (aged 80–81)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1957–1960 Hamasien
1961–1973 Cotton Factory Club
International career
1962–1971 Ethiopia 10+ (4+)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Vassallo made his debut at Hamasien where he won the Ethiopian First Division for the first time in 1957.[3]

When Vassallo's half-brother Luciano moved to Cotton Factory Club, Italo joined him at 17 years old. They would go on to win the Ethiopian First Division four times at Cotton FC before retiring in 1973.

International career

Once Eritrean-born footballers were allowed to be called up for the national team, Italo and Luciano were selected for the 1962 Africa Cup of Nations. Italo scored a goal in Ethiopia's extra-time victory in the final against Egypt.

After football

During the Eritrean–Ethiopian War, Italo was expelled from Ethiopia and returned to Eritrea. He ran a restaurant in Asmara.[4]

Career statistics

International goals
Scores and results list Ethiopia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vassallo goal.
List of international goals scored by Italo Vassallo
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 21 January 1962 Hailé Sélassié Stadium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  United Arab Republic 3–2 4–2 1962 Africa Cup of Nations
2 21 February 1965 Kampala, Uganda  Uganda 2–1 2–1 1965 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3 27 March 1965 Khartoum, Sudan  Sudan 1–2 1965 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4 4 April 1965 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  Kenya 1–0 2–1 1965 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

See also

References
  1. È morto Italo Vassallo, col fratello portò l’Etiopia ai vertici del calcio (in Italian)
  2. "Ethiopian soccer great Italo Vassallo speaks out". Ethiopian Review. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  3. "LE GRANDI COPPIE: LUCIANO ED ITALO VASSALLO". Football Pills.
  4. Felici, Antonio. "LUCIANO VASSALLO: IL MAGNIFICO SUPERSTITE". antoniofelici.it/.
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