Erwin Ballabio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 October 1918 | ||
| Place of birth | Bettlach, Switzerland | ||
| Date of death | 4 March 2008 (aged 89) | ||
| Place of death | Grenchen, Switzerland | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| FC Grenchen | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1934–1956 | FC Grenchen | ? | (?) |
| 1940–1941 | → Lausanne Sports | ||
| 1946–1948 | → FC Thun | ||
| International career | |||
| 1939–1947 | Switzerland | 27 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1955–1965 | FC Grenchen | ||
| 1967–1969 | Switzerland | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Erwin Ballabio (20 October 1918 – 4 March 2008) was a Swiss football goalkeeper. He played for FC Grenchen and the Swiss national team. Known as the "Black Panther"[1] he kept goal for eight years for the Swiss team.
In 1941 Ballabio became the town of Grenchen's third policeman.[2]
As a player
FC Grenchen
Ballabios was originally a youth player at FC Grenchen, 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.[3] 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 II.
