Narciso Soldan
Encyclopedia
Narciso Soldan was an Italian
professional football player.
He began his playing career at the very late age of 19 having never previously kicked a ball. One day, while attending a local club match at Vittorio Veneto
, he became fascinated by the goalkeeper's role on the playing field. At the end of the match he went onto the pitch, along with some friends, and had them take some shots at him. The team's coach, Enrico Colombari
, approached Soldan and an agreement was made whereby Soldan signed his first professional football contract with Vittorio Veneto. For the remainder of that season (1946/1947), he was loaned out to his local team, F.C. Nervesa, to gain some experience and match practice.
The following year (1947/1948), Narciso Soldan was playing in Italy's third division - Serie C
> North League : Group H. During that period, Italy's Serie C was overcrowded with teams and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) decided that the top two teams of each group in the various leagues would all combine at the end of the season to form a "New" Serie C, thus reducing numbers and increasing the quality of the competition. The relegated teams were then placed into a "New" 4th Division which was a regional-based competition. As it turned out, after a fantastic season, Vittorio Veneto arrived in 3rd place and just missed promotion to the "New" Serie C.<
Season (1948/49) didn't go as well for Vittorio Veneto
as the previous one had. The club was now playing in the new, recently named - Promozione Interregionale > 4th Division : Group E. The team struggled for long periods throughout the season but managed to finish in a respectable 10th position. On the one hand while the team wasn't performing so well, for Narciso Soldan, it became the turning point in his career. After having a great season defending his goal, coach Enrico Colombari
decided to try his luck by taking young Soldan for trials in Milan
under the watchful eyes of Giulio Cappelli
, then Manager of F.C. Internazionale Milano
.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
professional football player.
Career
Soldan was a professional goalkeeper who played in the Italian Football League FIGC.He began his playing career at the very late age of 19 having never previously kicked a ball. One day, while attending a local club match at Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto is a city and comune situated in the Province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, Italy, in the northeast of the Italian peninsula, between the Piave and the Livenza rivers.-Geography:...
, he became fascinated by the goalkeeper's role on the playing field. At the end of the match he went onto the pitch, along with some friends, and had them take some shots at him. The team's coach, Enrico Colombari
Enrico Colombari
Enrico Colombari was an Italian professional football player and coach.He won the Italian championship with A.C. Torino in 1927/28....
, approached Soldan and an agreement was made whereby Soldan signed his first professional football contract with Vittorio Veneto. For the remainder of that season (1946/1947), he was loaned out to his local team, F.C. Nervesa, to gain some experience and match practice.
The following year (1947/1948), Narciso Soldan was playing in Italy's third division - Serie C
Serie C
The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico , commonly known as Lega Pro , is the governing body that runs the third and fourth highest football divisions in Italy, the Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione respectively. It also includes the sole professional club of San Marino...
> North League : Group H. During that period, Italy's Serie C was overcrowded with teams and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) decided that the top two teams of each group in the various leagues would all combine at the end of the season to form a "New" Serie C, thus reducing numbers and increasing the quality of the competition. The relegated teams were then placed into a "New" 4th Division which was a regional-based competition. As it turned out, after a fantastic season, Vittorio Veneto arrived in 3rd place and just missed promotion to the "New" Serie C.<
Season (1948/49) didn't go as well for Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto
Vittorio Veneto is a city and comune situated in the Province of Treviso, in the region of Veneto, Italy, in the northeast of the Italian peninsula, between the Piave and the Livenza rivers.-Geography:...
as the previous one had. The club was now playing in the new, recently named - Promozione Interregionale > 4th Division : Group E. The team struggled for long periods throughout the season but managed to finish in a respectable 10th position. On the one hand while the team wasn't performing so well, for Narciso Soldan, it became the turning point in his career. After having a great season defending his goal, coach Enrico Colombari
Enrico Colombari
Enrico Colombari was an Italian professional football player and coach.He won the Italian championship with A.C. Torino in 1927/28....
decided to try his luck by taking young Soldan for trials in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
under the watchful eyes of Giulio Cappelli
Giulio Cappelli
Giulio Cappelli was an Italian football player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Italian team, which won the gold medal in the football tournament.-External links:**...
, then Manager of F.C. Internazionale Milano
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
.
| Season | Club | Division | Games Played | Table Position | Awards / Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946/47 | Nervesa | Youth Team | ? | ? | On loan from Vittorio Veneto |
| 1947/48 | Vittorio Veneto | Serie C ~ Lega Nord : Girone H | ? | 3rd | Relegated to the "new" 4th Division ~ Campionato Interregionale |
| 1948/49 | Vittorio Veneto | Promozione Interregionale ~ IV : Girone E | ? | 10th | Taken to Milano, by Coach Enrico Colombari, for trials with Inter |
| 1949/50 | Internazionale | Serie A | 21 | 3rd | Bronze Award for third place |
| 1950/51 | Internazionale | Serie A | 21 | 2nd | Silver Award for second place |
| 1951/52 | Catania | Serie B | 34 | 4th | - |
| 1952/53 | Catania | Serie B | 34 | 3rd | Lost Serie A Promotion Play-off in Florence : Legnano 4-1 Catania |
| 1953/54 | Torino | Serie A | 27 | 9th | - |
| 1954/55 | Triestina | Serie A | 27 | 12th | - |
| 1955/56 | Triestina | Serie A | 27 | 16th | - |
| 1956/57 | Milan | Serie A | 17 | 1st | Champions of Italy ~ 6th Scudetto |
| 1957/58 | Milan | Serie A | 11 | 9th | European Champion Clubs' Cup Finalist : Real Madrid 3-2 Milan (aet) |
| 1958/59 | Milan | Serie A | 8 | 1st | Champions of Italy ~ 7th Scudetto |
| 1959/60 | Torino | Serie B | 32 | 1st | Serie B Champions ~ Promotion to Serie A |
| 1960/61 | Torino | Serie A | 9 | 12th | - |
| 1961/62 | Treviso | Serie C | 22 | 10th | Girone A |