Pietro Rava


Pietro Rava was an Italian football defender and coach, who played as a full-back. He won the 1936 Summer Olympics and the 1938 FIFA World Cup with the Italy national team.

Club career

Rava, born in Cassine, Province of Alessandria, played for Juventus, Alessandria, and Novara. He won two Coppa Italia in the 1937–38 and 1941–42 seasons, and two scudetti in the 1934–35 and 1949–50 seasons. He was Juventus's captain from 1947 to 1950. In total, he played in 366 Serie A matches, scoring 20 goals.

International career

Rava appeared in 30 international matches with the Italy national team between 1935 and 1946, losing only one game, and he was the captain of the Azzurri for two matches. He won the gold medal at the 1936 Summer Olympics and the 1938 FIFA World Cup. Rumour has it, before the 1938 finals, fascist Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini was to have sent a telegram to the team, saying "Vincere o morire!". However, no record remains of such a telegram, and Rava said, when interviewed, "No, no, no, that's not true. He sent a telegram wishing us well, but no, never 'win or die'." He was selected to the "Best XI" of the 1938 World Cup. Along with Alfredo Foni, Sergio Bertoni, and Ugo Locatelli, Rava is one of only four Italian players ever to win both the Olympic tournament and the World Cup.

After retirement

As a coach, he managed Padova, Carrarese, Padova, Cuneo, Simmenthal-Monza, Sampdoria, Palermo, Alessandria, and Biellese.
On 5 November 2006, Rava, who was the last surviving member of the Italy 1938 World Cup champion squad, died in Turin after having had surgery on his right femur due to a fracture days before. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for several years. Juventus announced that the following day, for a Serie B match against Napoli, the players would wear mourning armbands in his memory.

Honours

Club

;Juventus
;Italy