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Football History - Grande Torino Erno Egri Erbstein
FOOTBALL'S FORGOTTEN PIONEER

rnő Egri Erbstein was one of
Efootball’s great innovators, a
tactical pioneer and an inspirational
champion. A Hungarian Holocaust
survivor, he helped to change Italian
football forever as the architect of the
legendary ‘Grande Torino’ side that
won Serie A five times in a row in the
immediate post-war era.
Modern tactical ideas
Possessed of a fascination for
philosophy and sports science, he called
on those academic interests, alongside
his love of the game, to help shape the
there to oversee it’s ultimate domi- know. The first the residents of Turin direction of football as the sport grew
nance. Torino secured a strangely or- knew was when a loud explosion lit up into something globally significant.
ganised title again in 1947, before more the sky on the outskirts of Turin. The Erbstein helped to bring the game into
traditional titles in 1948 and 1949. plane had crashed into the Basilica di the professional era, developing fitness
1948 in particular saw some scintillat- Superga with the death of all aboard. techniques, opposition scouting reports Kindle Book available on Amazon priced £2.25
ing football: Torino won the league at That included Erbstein, and the entire and modern tactical ideas.
a canter by 16 points, securing a 10-0 squad, barring two reserve players. Erbstein was praised for pioneering Sheffield FC, pictured below.
win, a 21 match unbeaten run, and The tragedy reverberated modern scouting methods, for his
scoring 125 goals. The tragedy reverberated through Ital- focus on technique, fitness and dietary
Torino were on a high ian football, and the side were declared requirements, as well as his tactics and
Torino were on a high, and unsurpris- champions with four games remaining motivational speeches on matchdays.
ingly their presence was requested at the behest of their rivals. The crash is Most of all he was celebrated for his
across Europe. commemorated annually, but the club humanity. His players loved him.
Near the conclusion of the 48-49 has never recovered from it. They have
season, they flew out Benfica to play a spent the last 70 years in the shadow of Egri Erbstein Tournament
friendly in honour of their captain. On their city rivals, but things could have In 2019 the inaugural Egri Erbstein
the return flight, in thick fog, the pilot been so different. Tournament took place honouring the
brought the plane down to land. Strong Martyn Green football pioneer, and has become a bi-
winds and the poor visibility had blown annual competition.
him off course, although how much he Find more at TheUntoldGame.co.uk The 2022 winners of the Egri Erbstein For more information:
would know about it nobody will ever or on social media @TheUntoldGame Tournament are the world's oldest club https://www.egrierbstein.org/

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