21 replies to this topic

[Roger Clark]

Ugolini is well known in our world as the long-serving, successful and, by ll accounts, popular sporting director of Scuderia Ferrari and Maserati. Associated with Ferrari from 1932 until the war he retuned in 1952 and managed the racing team until 1955 when he moved to Maserati, also with some success until their withdrawal in 1957. From 1977 to 1960 he was director of the CSAI an later sporting director of Scuderia Serenissima and Filippinetti.

As if that wasn't enough, in the years before 1952 he switched his attentions to football, serving as sporting director for Fiorentina, Bolgna, Turin, Venice and Modena. Does anybody know more about this phase of his career?

[arttidesco]

I hope you will excuse my google translation but I found this :-

Numerous prestigious awards including the football field: it was Fiorentina's sporting director, of Bologna, Turin (with immediate promotion from Serie B to Serie A) of Venice (from C to A) of Modena (third place in Serie A in 1947, the best result of all time). Since 1952 is an international keeper. He has held and holds important positions. It 'widely considered one of the "grand old" Italian sport.

(reconstruction performed by Nunzia Manicardi based on an interview by Nello Ugolini rilasciatale in 1998)

In Italian on the Motor Valley page, hope that helps :-)

[Roger Clark]

Thanks, I'd seen that, or something like it. I assume that "since 1952 is an international keeper" doesn't mean that he played in goal for Italy! He was, of course, back with Ferrari by then.

I don't know what "sporting director" means in Italian football. Was he a coach or was it an administrative position?

[arttidesco]

Translate
In 1931-32 the club relegated to Serie B with yellow and blue to Brescia. Chairman of the Company, the Rag. Donati, was succeeded by the lawyer. Arangio Ruiz, followed by the lawyer. Cavazzoni Pederzini.

From 1933 to 1937, the association remained in Serie B Modena. Remember that during the 1936-37 season was inaugurated the stadium named after Caesar Marzari, former Gialloblu fell in the war in Africa. In those years the name of Modena F.C. Football changed in Modena to follow the directives of the regime.

In the 1937-38 season there was a return to Serie A. At the head of the team there was still a Hungarian, Nehadoma. The following season, the Modena is saved to a point. The 1939-40 was the year in which the numbers appeared on the shirts of players. That season also Dugoni, flag of the canaries, he left football. The team was renewed, but the boxes were empty and the results did not arrive at the end of the season, the yellow and blue were again in Serie B.

The 1940-41 season was difficult. The war reduced the staff of the Modena team and had to resort to subterfuge to arrange a competitive training, but was eventually achieved the goal of returning to Serie A. It was the year of Feelings, Vittorio and shiny and Braglia, Nights Banfi. The following season was not as favorable, sold themselves to budget problems and feelings Banfi at Juventus and there was relegation to Serie B.

The only bright spots were the revelations Maino Blacks and Ermanno Malinverni. In 1942-43 Zironi new promotion with the nickname "The Gazelle", Blacks, Malinverni, Braglia and Galli I. Between 1943 and 1945 the Modena High participated in the championship round in Italy Emiliano mixed.

After the war, they reappeared in large yellow and blue sweep: he was elected President Adolfo Orsi, Sports Director Ugolini In the teacher and coach, "Geba" Mazzoni. The 1946-47 was the year of wonders, it came third behind the great Torino and Juventus.

In 1947-48 he finished fifth and the Modena Menegotto four canaries, Pernigo, Blacks and Cassani were summoned to the London Olympics.

Bears in 1948-49, the President resigned, Mazzoni also left for other shores, and there was relegation to Serie B. He began a difficult period in which many returned from Modena who had sought fortune far, but failed to change the fortunes of the team.

Translated from Modena FC website

[arttidesco]

Thanks, I'd seen that, or something like it. I assume that "since 1952 is an international keeper" doesn't mean that he played in goal for Italy! He was, of course, back with Ferrari by then.

I don't know what "sporting director" means in Italian football. Was he a coach or was it an administrative position?

No I've never been sure what a Sporting Director is either, as I understand it the title seems to have become a part of some Formula One team structures of late

[Arjan de Roos]

Little, just after the war he was at Modena FC while Adolfo Orsi had been elected for president of the club. Then they reached third classification to Torino and Juventus in the serie A.

He was with Torino when they promoted back to the serie A. And was with AC Venezia during the time Count Volpi's SSS raced.

At the end of the sixties he was also involved in Palio or the famous horse race in Siena. In the nineties he was presidents of a veterans sports club.

[Roger Clark]

He was with Torino when they promoted back to the serie A. And was with AC Venezia during the time Count Volpi's SSS raced.

Does that mean in the 60s?

[Roger Clark]

Since 1952 is an international keeper.

The Italian sentence is: "Dal 1952 è anche cronometrista internazionale."

He was, of course, well known in motor racing circles for his time keeping ability, but does this imply something in another field?

[arttidesco]

The Italian sentence is: "Dal 1952 è anche cronometrista internazionale."

He was, of course, well known in motor racing circles for his time keeping ability, but does this imply something in another field?

Glad that is sorted out

I can't imagine a sporting director also being the goal keeper but I am sure someone better informed than me will correct me if I am wrong

Afraid the only Italian I know is "A posse a Porte et duo persona a Avelino porfavore ?' and I doubt that is spelt correctly

[LittleChris]

No I've never been sure what a Sporting Director is either,

Presumably similar to what it is in UK football ie a way of the owner / board sidelining rather than sacking a non performing team manager by "promoting" them to a non specific role thus not having to pay them compensation.

[arttidesco]

Presumably similar to what it is in UK football ie a way of the owner / board sidelining rather than sacking a non performing team manager by "promoting" them to a non specific role thus not having to pay them compensation.

I am sure the good folks at McLaren, who have recently employed some one in such a capacity from a rival team might think differently

[Graham Gauld]

No I've never been sure what a Sporting Director is either, as I understand it the title seems to have become a part of some Formula One team structures of late

The term Sporting Director in motor racing terms means in charge of all motor sport activities including team management. Ironically I was with former Ferrari team manager Danielle Audetto last week and he referred to his role at Ferrari and Luca di Montezemolo's role as being "Sporting Director"

[Roger Clark]

The term Sporting Director in motor racing terms means in charge of all motor sport activities including team management. Ironically I was with former Ferrari team manager Danielle Audetto last week and he referred to his role at Ferrari and Luca di Montezemolo's role as being "Sporting Director"

Presumably he was referring to di Montezemolo's role in the 70s, not his current one.

[Graham Gauld]

Presumably he was referring to di Montezemolo's role in the 70s, not his current one.

Yes, of course

[Arjan de Roos]

Ironically I was with former Ferrari team manager Danielle Audetto last week and he referred to his role at Ferrari and Luca di Montezemolo's role as being "Sporting Director"

Which each one interpretted completely different. Luca working to make the no. 1 driver win races and the title. While Audetto thought it would be best to have Clay win a race after Niki started the season (1976) with two straight wins.

[D-Type]

Presumably similar to what it is in UK football ie a way of the owner / board sidelining rather than sacking a non performing team manager by "promoting" them to a non specific role thus not having to pay them compensation.

And at the same time denying their expertise to the opposition! (well, the fault may lie with the team and not with the manager).

[Arjan de Roos]

Does that mean in the 60s?

Early sixties, count Volpi was then also president of Venezia.

[Arjan de Roos]

Are you saying that Long Beach was planned rather than earned by Clay? Could you please elaborate further. Just asking.

Audetto suggested such in a drivers meeting and Niki was stunned. Propably he saw his task as to make it a team effort. Also a win for Clay would have ment a stronger position for him in the team given Clay's popularity with the fans.

[Roger Clark]

Early sixties, count Volpi was then also president of Venezia.

Thanks. I had thought that his football involvement was from the war until 1952 during the period he was out of motor racing. I didn't know that he came back to it.

[David Beard]

As if that wasn't enough, in the years before 1952 he switched his attentions to football, serving as sporting director for Fiorentina, Bolgna, Turin, Venice and Modena. Does anybody know more about this phase of his career?

Shouldn't you try a football forum, Roger?

[Roger Clark]

Shouldn't you try a football forum, Roger?

Can you recommend one?

[David Beard]

Can you recommend one?