Erwin Ballabio

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Erwin Ballabio (20 October 1918 – 8 March 2008) was a Swiss football goalkeeper. He played for FC Grenchen and the Swiss national team. Known as the Black Panther he kept goal for eight years for the Swiss team.

[edit] As a player

[edit] 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 injuries to the first team keepers before the cup final in 1959 meant that he came out of retirement to play in the final, which FC Grenchen won.

[edit] 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 achievment considering the lack of fixtures due to the war.

[edit] As a manager

[edit] FC Grenchen

Almost immediately after retiring as a player, Ballabio took charge of the FC Grenchen team. During his ten year reign he took the team to their only Schweizer Cup win in 1959, and led them to a final defeat the following year. With Ballabio at the helm FC Grenchen recorded their best league perfomances finishing runner-up in 1959 and to third place in 1964.

[edit] Switzerland

Ballabio was appointed as national coach on May 24, 1967, replacing Alfredo Foni. In his first match, a Euro 1968 qualifier, his side recorded a 7-1 win against Romania, however they failed to qualify. He remained in charge for World Cup qualification but after a 1-1 draw with Portugal on November 2, 1969 meant they failed to qualify he was sacked.

[edit] Statistics^[1]

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	L	D	Win %
FC Grenchen		1955	1965
Switzerland		01967-05-24 24 May 1967	01969-11-02 2 November 1969	17	5	4	8	29.4

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• (German) The Black Panther
• (German) Der schwarze Panther im Tor

v • d • e Switzerland squad - 1938 FIFA World Cup FW Abegglen • FW G. Aeby • FW P. Aeby • FW Amadò • GK Ballabio • FW Bickel • GK Bizzozero • FW Frigerio • FW Grassi • MF Guinchard • GK Huber • FW Kielholz • DF Lehmann • MF Lörtscher • DF Minelli • MF Rauch • FW Rupf • MF Springer • DF Stelzer • MF Vernati • FW Wagner • FW Walaschek • Coach: Rappan