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Antonio Valentin AngelilloArgentine-Italian football coach, former football player, striker
Date of Birth: 05.09.1937
Country:  Argentina |
Content:
- Early Life and Professional Football Career
- Rise to Prominence in Italy
- Later Career and Coaching Days
- International Career
- Coaching Career
- Legacy
Early Life and Professional Football Career
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Antonio Valentín Angelillo began his professional football career with Arsenal (Sarandí) in 1952. In 1955, he joined Racing (Avellaneda) and then moved to Boca Juniors in 1956.
Rise to Prominence in Italy
In the late 1950s, Angelillo, along with his fellow Argentines Omar Sívori and Humberto Maschio, emigrated to Italy and earned the nickname "Angels with Dirty Faces" due to their distinctive South American appearance and aggressive playing style. Known as the "Trio of Death," they terrorized opposing defenses with their clinical finishing abilities. From 1957 to 1961, Angelillo made 127 appearances for Internazionale, scoring an impressive 77 goals. In the 1958/59 season, he achieved the notable feat of becoming the first player in Serie A history to score 33 goals in 33 matches.
Later Career and Coaching Days
After leaving Inter in 1961, Angelillo spent four years with Roma, notching 27 goals in 106 Serie A appearances. He briefly played for Milan, scoring only once in 11 matches, and then joined Lecco, where he scored just once in 12 matches before their relegation to Serie B. Following a brief return to Milan, Angelillo ended his playing career with Serie B club Genoa.
International Career
Angelillo represented Argentina 11 times, scoring 11 goals. At the 1957 South American Championship, he played a pivotal role in Argentina's victory, finishing as joint-second top scorer with 8 goals in 6 matches. However, after moving to Italy and obtaining Italian citizenship, he also made two appearances for the Italian national team, scoring once.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Angelillo remained in Italy and became a football coach. He worked with numerous clubs in the lower divisions and had a brief stint as coach of the Morocco national team.
Legacy
As a player, Angelillo won the Serie A title with Milan in 1968, the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1968 with Milan, the Coppa Italia in 1964 with Roma, and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1961 with Roma. His 33 goals in the 1958/59 Serie A remains the highest single-season total by any player in the league's history. As a coach, he led Arezzo to victory in the Coppa Italia Serie C1 in 1982.
