Italo-Eritrean footballer (1940–2021)
Italo Vassallo (1940 – 30 July 2021) was an Italian-Eritrean footballer. He played for Ethiopia internationally, scoring in their 1962 Africa Cup of Nations final victory over Egypt. His half-brother is Luciano Vassallo, a former footballer for the Ethiopian team.
Club career.
Vassallo made his debut at Hamasien where he won the Ethiopian First Division for the first time in 1957.
When Vassallo's half-brother Luciano moved to Cotton Factory Club, Italo joined him at 17 years old. They would go on to win the Ethiopian First Division four times at Cotton FC before retiring in 1973.
International career.
Once Eritrean-born footballers were allowed to be called up for the national team, Italo and Luciano were selected for the 1962 Africa Cup of Nations. Italo scored a goal in Ethiopia's extra-time victory in the final against Egypt.
After football.
During the Eritrean–Ethiopian War, Italo was expelled from Ethiopia and returned to Eritrea. He ran a restaurant in Asmara.
"Scores and results list Ethiopia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vassallo goal."
References.
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