Gino Pariani (July 9 1928 – July 28 2005) was an American soccer player who played as a forward. He is most noted for being a member of the United States national team that competed in the 1950 FIFA World Cup, where the team achieved a historic victory over England.
Early life and education
Pariani was born in St. Louis, Missouri, a city with a strong soccer tradition. Details of his early education and youth soccer involvement are not widely documented.
Club career
Pariani spent the majority of his playing career with clubs based in St. Louis. His known club affiliations include:
- St. Louis Simpkins‑Ford (late 1940s): He played for the team that won the 1948 National Challenge Cup (now the U.S. Open Cup).
- St. Louis Raiders and St. Louis Kutis S.C. (early 1950s): Records indicate he continued to compete in the St. Louis leagues, though precise dates and statistics are limited.
International career
Pariani earned four caps for the United States men’s national team, all in 1950. He was part of the squad that traveled to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup. Although he did not score for the national team, his inclusion in the roster contributed to the historic 1–0 victory against England on June 29 1950.
Later life and legacy
After retiring from active play, Pariani remained involved in the St. Louis soccer community. He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the sport in the region.
Personal life
Pariani passed away on July 28 2005 in his hometown of St. Louis.
References
- United States Soccer Federation archives (player caps and World Cup roster).
- National Soccer Hall of Fame and St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame records.
Note: While the above information reflects widely accepted facts about Gino Pariani, certain details of his club career and post‑playing activities are not exhaustively documented in publicly available sources.