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| Pietro Rava | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pietro Rava |
| Birth date | 21 January 1916 |
| Birth place | San Lorenzo di Fossano, Italy |
| Death date | 5 November 2006 |
| Position | Left winger, Left back |
| Clubs | Savona, Juventus, Torino |
| Nationalteam | Italy |
| Nationalyears | 1935–1952 |
| Nationalcaps | 30 |
Pietro Rava was an Italian footballer who played as a left winger and left back, best known for his club career with Juventus FC and Torino FC and as a member of the Italy national football team that won the 1938 FIFA World Cup. He combined tactical versatility with defensive skill, contributing to club success in the Serie A and international triumphs under managers such as Vittorio Pozzo. Rava's career intersected with major events and personalities of 20th-century football, including the dominance of the Grande Torino side and the disruptions of World War II.
Rava was born in San Lorenzo di Fossano, in the Province of Cuneo, Piedmont, amid the aftermath of World War I and the rise of Benito Mussolini. He began his senior career with Savona FBC before joining Juventus FC, where he played alongside figures like Giuseppe Meazza, Humberto Maschio, and contemporaries from the Serie A circuit. Rava later moved to Torino F.C. and became a key member of the legendary Grande Torino team that dominated Italian club football in the 1940s, playing with teammates such as Valerio Bacigalupo, Ezio Loik, Guglielmo Gabetto, and Eusebio Castigliano. His club career was affected by the Second Italo-Ethiopian War era and the upheaval of World War II, during which domestic competitions underwent suspension and reorganization under the auspices of the Italian Football Federation and the wartime authorities.
Rava earned his first call-up to the Italy national football team in the 1930s, joining a squad managed by Vittorio Pozzo that included stars like Giuseppe Meazza and Silvio Piola. He was part of the Italian squad that won the 1938 FIFA World Cup in France, contributing to matches in the tournament alongside colleagues such as Ugo Locatelli and Amedeo Biavati. Rava's international career spanned pre-war and post-war eras, seeing him compete in fixtures against national sides including Hungary national football team, England national football team, and Spain national football team. He accumulated numerous caps with the Azzurri under successive technical staff and selectors, remaining involved during Italy's rebuilding phase after the devastation of World War II and the tragic loss of the Grande Torino squad in the Superga air disaster.
Rava was noted for his adaptability as a left-sided player, able to operate as an attacking winger and a defensive full back, displaying attributes valued by coaches such as Vittorio Pozzo and later Italian tacticians influenced by the catenaccio debates. Analysts compared his reading of the game to contemporaries like Giuseppe Meazza for technique and Arpad Weisz for positional intelligence, while historians linking tactical evolution cite interactions with clubs like A.C. Milan and Inter Milan as contextual benchmarks. His role in the Grande Torino side cemented his reputation in discussions alongside other legendary lineups like the Real Madrid CF teams of the 1950s and the Hungarian Golden Team. Rava's legacy influenced later generations of Italian full backs, informing coaching at institutions such as the National Technical Center (Coverciano) and featuring in retrospectives about the 1938 FIFA World Cup and Serie A history.
After retiring from playing, Rava participated in commemorations and veteran matches connected to organizations like the FIGC and clubs including Torino F.C. and Juventus FC, and engaged with initiatives remembering the Superga air disaster and World Cup anniversaries. He received recognition from municipal authorities in the Province of Cuneo and national sporting bodies such as the Italian National Olympic Committee for his contributions to Italian sport. Rava lived into the 21st century, becoming one of the last surviving members of Italy's 1938 World Cup-winning squad before his death in November 2006, after which media outlets including national broadcasters and newspapers paid tribute, situating him alongside celebrated figures such as Silvio Piola and Gino Colaussi. His honours include the 1938 FIFA World Cup winners' distinction and multiple Serie A titles with Torino F.C., preserving his place in the annals of Italian football history.
Category:Italian footballers Category:1938 FIFA World Cup players