Erwin Ballabio

Erwin Ballabio (born October 20, 1918 in Bettlach ; † March 4, 2008 in Grenchen ) was a Swiss football player who made 27 international appearances in the Swiss national football team from 1939 to 1947 .

Career

Association, 1930–1956

In the junior team of FC Grenchen , the goalie career of Erwin Ballabio, who had been a field player in defense until then, began in 1933 through a chance change during a youth game. He remained loyal to his homeland club until 1956. He spent three seasons for professional training in external services (1940/41 in Lausanne; 1946–1948 in Thun ). As an outstanding goalkeeper, he was the guarantor for the runner-up in the years 1939, 1940 and 1942 and the entry into the cup final on March 25, 1940 against Grasshopper Club Zurich . The championship in 1942 decided Grasshoppers with the better goal difference against the equal point Grenchen, where Ballabio played an outstanding round. The trip with Grenchen in March 1947 to FC Barcelona was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful experiences for the “Black Panther” . In terms of stature, enthusiasm, agility and reflexes, he was the ideal goalkeeper. Impeccable positional play, no fear of opposing legs, a keen eye for penalty and free kick takers were other advantages that were said to him.

National team, 1939–1947

His excellent performance and the good performance of his club FC Grenchen brought about his debut on February 12, 1939 in the game in Lisbon against Portugal with a 4-2 victory in the Swiss national team. With the game on June 8, 1947 in Lausanne under coach Karl Rappan against France, he ended his career in the "Nati" with a 1: 2 defeat. Memorable games were in particular the 2-1 victory against Germany in Bern on April 20, 1941, the encounter against England on May 11, 1946 in London, where the British proved their home strength with 4-1, and the anniversary of the 25th international match on November 10, 1946 in Bern with the 1-0 success against Austria with strikers Franz Binder and Wilhelm Hahnemann on the side of the Austria-Elf. Ballabio's best time as a goalkeeper fell in the aftermath of World War II . This has to be taken into account in the number of his missions and the participation in major tournaments (failed World Championship tournaments in 1942 and 1946). Karl Rappan, the Swiss national coach for many years, once judged Ballabio as follows: “He was an excellent keeper with a keen sense for positional play. Resolutely and energetically, he intervened in each event. His stature, height and weight gave him decisive advantages. Thanks to his athletic skills, he was a real ruler of the six-yard space. What should be emphasized is the conscientiousness with which Ballabio prepared each time. "

Trainer, 1956-1969

In 1956 he ended his playing career at FC Grenchen after relegation from the National League A and immediately took over the training management at his club. He led FC back to National League A immediately in the 1956/57 series. In the cup final on April 19, 1959 in Bern against Servette Geneva , he jumped in as an active player for his injured goalkeeper and celebrated winning the title in a 1-0 victory as a 41-year-old. In the league they had already reached the runner-up behind Young Boys Bern in 1959 . As defending champion, he led his team back to the cup final a year later. Lucerne prevailed with a 1-0 win against the Ballabio protégés. In the 1963/64 round, he made it to the top of the table again with third place. In the year of the 1966 World Cup in London, he ended his activity in Grenchen after 10 years. This was followed by the appointment as head of the national team in the technical department of the Swiss Football Association . When coach Alfredo Foni could not end a series of defeats in 1966/67, Ballabio was also used as national coach. With a memorable 7-1 win on May 24, 1967 in Zurich in the European Championship qualifier against Romania, he began his new job. The 2-0 away win in Lisbon on April 16, 1969 against the third place in the 1966 World Cup, Portugal, in the qualifying game for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico was a positive example of his work with the national team. After the game against Portugal on November 2, 1969 in Bern, he resigned from the office of national coach.

job

The trained upholsterer laid the foundation for a successful business career during his stays in Lausanne and Thun. In 1953 he became director of the largest cinema theater in Grenchen and joined a national cinema chain.

swell

• Football Lexicon, Copress Verlag, Munich, 1991, ISBN 3-7679-0330-X .
• The stars of sport from A - Z, Carl Habel Verlag, Berlin, editor Bodo Harenberg, book no. 3036'0980.
• The great European football book, Nuttelmann, Jade, 1999, ISBN 3-930814-02-1 .
• Special issue Swiss football 2005/2006, BLICK sports editorial office, Zurich, 2005.

Individual evidence

1. ^ "Black panther Ballabio died" article in the NZZ of March 7, 2008