Erwin Ballabio
Encyclopedia
Erwin Ballabio was a Swiss
football goalkeeper. He played for FC Grenchen
and the Swiss national team
. Known as the "Black Panther" he kept goal for eight years for the Swiss team.
's third policeman
.
, and made his change to goalkeeper when 7-0 down playing for the youth team his manager placed the young defender in goal where he went on to save a penalty, starting his career as a keeper. He was called into the first team aged sixteen and enjoyed a long career as first choice keeper. His only football away from Grenchen was three seasons of vocational training, one at Lausanne Sports
and the other two at FC Thun
. He retired, becoming manager in 1956 to give younger keepers a chance. However in 1959 he came out of a four-year retirement for one match, to replace Grenchen's injured first choice keeper in the Swiss Cup final against Servette
.
He kept a clean sheet and Grenchen won the cup.
.
win in 1959, and led them to a final defeat the following year. With Ballabio at the helm FC Grenchen recorded their best league performances finishing runner-up in 1959 and to third place in 1964.
. In his first match, a Euro 1968 qualifier, his side recorded a 7-1 win against Romania, however they failed to qualify. He remained in charge for World Cup qualification but after a 1-1 draw with Portugal on 2 November 1969 meant they failed to qualify he was sacked.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
football goalkeeper. He played for FC Grenchen
FC Grenchen
FC Grenchen is a Swiss football club, based in Grenchen. They currently play in the 1. Liga, and play their matches at the Brühl Stadium.-History:FC Grenchen was founded in 1906...
and the Swiss national team
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
. Known as the "Black Panther" he kept goal for eight years for the Swiss team.
Early life
In 1941 Ballabio became the town of GrenchenGrenchen
Grenchen is a municipality in the district of Lebern in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.It is located at the foot of the Jura mountains between Solothurn and Biel. With over 16,000 inhabitants, it is one of the larger towns of the canton of Solothurn...
's third policeman
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
.
FC Grenchen
Ballabios was originally a youth player at FC GrenchenFC Grenchen
FC Grenchen is a Swiss football club, based in Grenchen. They currently play in the 1. Liga, and play their matches at the Brühl Stadium.-History:FC Grenchen was founded in 1906...
, and made his change to goalkeeper when 7-0 down playing for the youth team his manager placed the young defender in goal where he went on to save a penalty, starting his career as a keeper. He was called into the first team aged sixteen and enjoyed a long career as first choice keeper. His only football away from Grenchen was three seasons of vocational training, one at Lausanne Sports
Lausanne Sports
Lausanne-Sports is a Swiss sports club based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is most famous for its football department , but the club also had athletics, sport rowing, and rink hockey departments until they split in 2009 over a row about the construction of a new stadium that will be built by...
and the other two at FC Thun
FC Thun
FC Thun 1898 is a Swiss football team from the Bernese Oberland town of Thun. The club currently plays in the Swiss Super League after being promoted in the 2009/10 season. The club plays at the Arena Thun which accommodates a total of 10,300 supporters, both seated and standing...
. He retired, becoming manager in 1956 to give younger keepers a chance. However in 1959 he came out of a four-year retirement for one match, to replace Grenchen's injured first choice keeper in the Swiss Cup final against Servette
Servette FC
Servette FC is a Swiss football club, based in Geneva currently playing in the Swiss Super League. They were playing in the Swiss Challenge League, the second highest tier of Swiss football having been relegated from the Swiss Super League at the end of 2004/05 season...
.
He kept a clean sheet and Grenchen won the cup.
Switzerland
Ballabio's debut came in February 1939 against Portugal with his last match in June 1947. His total of 27 appearances for his country make him the third most capped keeper, which is a remarkable achievement considering the lack of fixtures due to World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
FC Grenchen
Almost immediately after retiring as a player, Ballabio took charge of the FC Grenchen team. During his ten year reign he took the team to their only Schweizer CupSchweizer Cup
The Swiss Cup is a football cup tournament that has been organised annually since 1926 by the Swiss Football Association . The winner is allowed to take part in the UEFA Europa League. Between 2003 and 2008 the cup has been sponsored and known as the Swisscom Cup.-Finals:All played...
win in 1959, and led them to a final defeat the following year. With Ballabio at the helm FC Grenchen recorded their best league performances finishing runner-up in 1959 and to third place in 1964.
Switzerland
Ballabio was appointed as national coach on 24 May 1967, replacing Alfredo FoniAlfredo Foni
Alfredo Foni was an Italian footballer in the 1930s and later on a coach. He was born in Udine....
. In his first match, a Euro 1968 qualifier, his side recorded a 7-1 win against Romania, however they failed to qualify. He remained in charge for World Cup qualification but after a 1-1 draw with Portugal on 2 November 1969 meant they failed to qualify he was sacked.
Statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| FC Grenchen FC Grenchen FC Grenchen is a Swiss football club, based in Grenchen. They currently play in the 1. Liga, and play their matches at the Brühl Stadium.-History:FC Grenchen was founded in 1906... |
 Switzerland |
1955 | 1965 | |||||
| Switzerland Switzerland national football team The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland... |
|
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