From today, another historic item has been added to the Museo del Calcio of Coverciano collection: the shirt of Romeo Menti, Italian champion and part of the great Grande Torino side, who lost his life in the Superga tragedy on 4 May 1949.

“This donation is a proud and enjoyable moment; it is a huge honour and I thank Nicolò Menti. It is a truly generous gesture,” underlined Fondazione Museo del Calcio President, Matteo Marani, on receiving the shirt from the Italian player's grandson. Marani continued, “This is the first Azzurri shirt from a player of the Grande Torino side to become part of the our museum. That side was a symbol for the country and was everyone's team.”

The collection at the Museo del Calcio in Coverciano can also boast another shirt from a Grande Torino player, namely that of Virgilio Maroso, but it is not of the National team but of Torino. It is also the only shirt on display in the exhibition that is not of the National Team.

“I am happy to give the many fans who will visit the Museo del Calcio in Coverciano the chance to see up close the shirt that belong to my grandfather," said Nicolò Menti.

A superb right winger, Romeo Menti made his Azzurri debut on 27 April 1947 in Florence, in a friendly against Switzerland where he scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 win. In his career for the national team, tragically stopped just shy of his 30th birthday, he donned the Azzurri shirt seven times, scoring five goals.

Lapel pin badge and the Superga tragedy. There is also another piece of memorabilia that comes from the great player from Vicenza at the Museo del Calcio, a Fiorentina lapel pin badge, the team he played for and where he was much loved, even after leaving. Menti was so in love with Florence that he carried this lapel bin badge with him forever. After the tragic plane crash had happened on the hills of Superga, former head coach Pozzo was called to identify the victims, since many of the national team were composed of players from that Grande Torino side and he knew them well. And it was from this Fiorentina lapel pin badge that Pozzo recognised the body of Romeo Menti.

 

Photos

In the cover photo, Fondazione Museo del Calcio President, Matteo Marani (on the left), shows Romeo Menti's shirt toegther with Nicolò Menti.
IN the second photo: Nicolò Menti with the shirt that belonged to his grandfather, next to the display box that exhibits Virgilio Maroso's Torino shirt at the Nuseo del Calcio in Coverciano.
In the third photo: Romeo Menti at the end of the friendly played in Florence against Switzerland in 1947.